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DIscussions - Volume 3, Number 3 (12/10/2009)

In this Issue:

  • Register Your Teams
  • Understanding Your Challenge
  • Research and Team Meetings
  • Finding Resources
  • Helpful Books and Materials
  • Quote to Remember
  • Corporate Volunteerism & Grants

Past Issues of DIscussions can be found at the Montana DI Website www.mt-di.org STATE DIRECTOR: Heather Geiger montanacq@mt-di.org 2319 Kyd Rd. Three Forks, MT 59752 406-285-3777 REGIONAL CONTACTS Southwest Region Hamilton/Missoula Connie Ackerman connieackerman@comcast.net Northwest Region Dawn Ann Anderson andersond@sd5.k12.mt.us Anne Castren castrena@sd5.k12.mt.us South Central Region Helena/Bozeman Heather Geiger montanacq@mt-di.org North Central Region Great Falls/Shelby Laura Jo McKamey ljmckamey@3rivers.net Southeast Region Billings/Hardin Linda Troyer troyermt@msn.com For complete contact information go to the MTDI Contacts page. DI Resource Sites http://diresources.wikispaces.com/  www.shopdi.org Team Building Activity: All Tied Up Objective: To work as a team. Materials: Bandannas or cloth strips.  Have team members stand in a circle facing each other and hold out thri arms.  Tie the group together so that each person is tied to both neighbor's wrists.  When the group is "all tied up" give them a task to do together. Task Suggestions:

  • Make root beer floats for everyone.
  • Wrap packages with gift wrap, bows, & card
  • Make a snack
  • Create an art project
  • Pour a cup of water for each team member.

  Instant Challenge: Remember it is important to practice Instant Challenges at each team meeting. Team Superhero: Materials: 10 Chenille Sticks (Pipe Cleaners) 3 Pieces of Paper 6 Mailing Labels 10 Straws 1 Plastic Bag 2 Paper Cups 3 Cotton Balls 6 Paper Clips A box of Markers A piece of paper 1 pair of scissors & pencil The markers and scissors may not be part of your superhero.  You may use the piece of paper & pencil to plan your PERFORMANCE. Scene: Every team would like to have a superhero to help it accomplish a task without interference.  Your team is having a problem with it's scenery and would like to call in a DI superhero to help.  Challenge: Your team is to use the materials provided to create a superhero that will help solve the problem you are having with your scenery.  Once you have created your superhero your team will perform a skit explaining the superhero's special talents and how it will save the day. 

Register Your Teams

To make sure you and your team managers get all the information about workshops and tournaments please register your teams as soon as possible.  Even if they have not yet chosen a challenge, make sure you reigster them at the Montana DI Website as soon as possible.  You can always go in and update their challenge and the names of the team members.  You will need to log in first before you can register your teams(s).

To register your teams you will need the following information

  • Team Manager's Name
  • Team Manager's Mailing Address and Home and Work Phone Number (please do not put the school address and phone unless he/she works at the school, often times to help a team manager it is necessary to call them at home.)
  • Team Manager's e-mail address
  • The team's challenge (if known)
  • Correct spelling for each team member and his/her grade or birth date).
  •  Any special requests (team manager has more than one team, etc.)

 

Understanding Your Challenge

Once your team has chosen a challenge it is important for them to understand what the challenge requires them to do.  

 

  • Make sure they know the definitions - those in the margins and words unfamiliar to them.
  • Consider having them use highlighters when reading the Chllenge.  Green = must do, Pink (red) = may not do, Yellow or blue = things to consider.
  • Summarize each part of the challenge in their own words:
  1. What must they do?
  2. What are the Limitations?
  3. What elements are most important?
  • What skills and information do they have and what do they need to learn?

 

Research and Team Meetings

 

  • Generate the ideas for these themes and then focus their options down to two or three, during team meetings.
  • Delegate two or three team members to do the extended research to be used to create the solution
  • Schedule a deadline for the research to be presented.

This then allows the team to move forward with planning how to build their device, create their scenery, props, costumes, soound effects, etc.

 

Finding Resources:

Sometimes the skills a team has will determine what Challenge they choose.  Sometimes the Challenge a team chooses will determine what skills they need to learn.

 

  • Have the team decide if they need to learn or improve skills in order to solve their Challenge.
  • Ask them what type of resource people or reference materials they need to learn these skills or information
  • Remember that the resource people should teach the team general concepts not how to create or build their idea(s) for their solution.

If you have questions on how to find resource people contact your regional director or write to askmtdi@mt-di.org

Helpful Books and Materials:

Montana Destination ImagiNation has a limited supply of two great books to help your team learn Creative Problem Solving Tools and practice Instant Challenges.
Creative Problem Solvers Practical Toolbox $15 +Shipping
Cream of the Crop (50 Instant Challenges) $15 +Shipping
You can order these by writing to montanacq@mt-di.org

Also check out the following at www.shopdi.org

Real Teams The DI Team Manager's Guide to Team Building
Instant Challenge Flip (4,000,000,000 quick ICs)
No Fuss Backdrops
Creative Problem Solving An Introduction

 

Quote to Remember


Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.   Lauren Bacall

 

 

Corporate Volunteerism and Grants

MT DI is seeking grant and volunteerism monies to defray the cost of running our program around the state.  We are looking for tournament sponsors, partners for innovative activities, and funds to offer this fantastic program to those who cannot currently afford to purchase a team number. Team Managers, Contacts, Coordinators, and Tournament Officials, if you work at a company that offers volunteerism grants, please consider naming MTDI as a recipient.  We would greatly appreciate introductions to foundations or contacts and welcome all ideas.

For example, The Verizon Foundation offers $750 grants to qualifying organizations when Verizon employees or reitrees donate 50 or more volunteer hours and enter those hours in online logs through their Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP).

 

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