Welcome to our 2016 Tournament of Minds blog!
We are SO excited about sending 2 teams of seven to this year's tournament on Sunday, 21st August.
This blog will be a place to find resources and to share our learning.
What is Tournament of Minds?
Tournament of Minds is a problem-solving program for teams of students from both primary and secondary years. They are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following disciplines:
Science Technology ... Language Literature ...Engineering Maths ...Social Sciences
It is an opportunity for students with a passion for learning and problem solving to demonstrate their skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant, and public way. (Please note that our students only compete against other primary schools).
Our Aim…
Tournament's aim is to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management, and the discipline to work collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment.
The Tournament Objectives
- To provide the stimulation of real, open-ended challenges
- To develop creative problem-solving approaches and techniques
- To foster cooperative learning and teamwork
- To promote knowledge and appreciation of self and others
- To encourage experimentation and risk taking
- To expand and reward creative and divergent thinking
- To stimulate a spirit of inquiry and a love of learning
- To develop enterprise
- To celebrate excellence
The Challenge…
Teams are required to work together on a Long Term Challenge for six weeks without assistance from teachers, parents or peers. They are encouraged to explore possibilities and experiment with ideas as they endeavour to produce their best possible solution. They develop a creative and original way to communicate this solution to others, working within predefined parameters such as limited materials, complex challenge criteria and the deadline of Tournament Day.
Students present the product of their ideas - their challenge solution - to a panel of judges and an audience on Tournament Day. They have ten minutes in which to present and must do so within a 3 metre by 3 metre performance area.
The teams must also participate in an unseen Spontaneous Challenge on Tournament Day. This challenge requires rapid interchange of ideas, the ability to think creatively and well-developed group cooperation skills.
