Student Essay
by Madeleine (High School Student)
In today's workplace, people need to be able to find simple solutions to difficult problems while working in a team environment. Yet, as class sizes increase and learning becomes more teacher directed, opportunities for children to develop problem solving skills in a team environment are quickly disappearing from the classroom.
What can parents do to ensure that their children will have the skills they need to participate in the workplace of the future? The answer for at least one parent, my mother, has been Odyssey of the Mind.
The Odyssey of the Mind Program, under the auspices of Creative Competitions Inc, promotes creative thinking in students from Kindergarten through College. Each year the CCI drafts five problems, each with a different creative emphasis. Children with a linguistic bent can choose problems which call for creative writing and dramatization while children with a more mathematical inclination can choose problems which involve building structures or devices that meet certain cost and performance specifications. Students work in teams of five to seven students to create 'solutions' to their chosen problems and present their solution at local, state and world level competitions.
My mother first learned about Odyssey of the Mind when her daughter, then in sixth grade, came home asking to participate in the program. She recalls, ""What really sold us on the program were the strict rules on outside assistance of any kind. It forces kids to think for themselves and rely on the ideas and abilities of team members to develop solutions."
Two years later, when the school fielded more teams than coaches, my parents volunteered to coach separate teams to ensure that their daughter and also their son could participate. As Mom explained, "We watched our daughter's confidence blossom because of her involvement in CTOM. She had learned how to present her ideas and how to listen and appreciate what other people have to offer. She learned how to evaluate ideas and provide and accept constructive feedback. And best of all, she learned that problem solving could be fun. We thought it was important for both our children, and the others who had volunteered, to have the same opportunity.
oaching added a new dimension to the CTOM experience for the our family, by including the parents in the learning process. Since coaches are not allowed to provide direct assistance with the problems, the parent coaches have been forced to develop their skills as facilitators. "Coaching has taught us the value of letting others take ownership for solving problems. By asking questions instead of giving any advice we encourage the team members to draw on their skills to work through problems and ensure that they can take full credit for their accomplishments".
Why does she do it? Mom explained, :"Knowing the demands of today's workplace, I'm convinced that conventional textbook learning alone will not equip children with the skills they need to contribute and solve problems in the fast changing workplace of tomorrow. Odyssey of the Mind, with it's child centered approach and emphasis on creative problem solving fills that gap.
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ConnecticuT Odyssey of the Mind (CTOM) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational creative problem-solving program for student teams K-12. Whether participating on a team, coaching, or volunteering -- our programs offer exciting experiences for growth in creativity, teamwork, and effectiveness for everyone. Learn More!
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"It teaches kids to work as
a team and that hard work and creativity will get you anywhere!"
- Team Member, Middle School