Odyssey Academy

Odyssey Academy is a series of 15 short videos to watch with your team. It explains the basics of the Odyssey of the Mind program and how to approach together with the team. It will help you walk through the steps of problem-solving.

A big Thank You to Creative Opportunities Unlimited (COU) for putting those together for all OM teams, in particular Dr. Jim Mourey, OM alum and longtime volunteer.

 
 
 

Lesson 1: What is OM?
An introduction for students, parents, teachers, and coaches to the OM experience:

(22-minute video)

  • What is OM?

  • What is divergent thinking?

  • STEAM

  • Who else does OM?

  • The three parts of OM

  • What this class will do

 
 

Lesson 2: What You Will do in OM. Find out about your role in OM and what’s expected from your team:

(15-minute video)

  • Working with a Team

  • With whom you cannot work

  • What is Outside Assistance

  • How Odyssey Academy works

    Update since 2021-22: presenting a pre-recorded or virtual solution is no longer an option.

 
 

Lesson 3: The Long-Term Problems
The heart of the Odyssey of the Mind Program:

(24-minute video)

  • What is a Long-Term Problem

  • The SIX LT Problem Categories

  • The LT Problem Structure

  • Age Divisions

  • Choosing your LT Problem

 
 
 

Lesson 4: Creativity and Brainstorming
Tools on HOW to come up with creative ideas:

(29-minute video)

  • What is creativity?

  • Associative network

  • What is brainstorming?

  • Brainstorming tools

  • Limitations, boundaries & creativity

 
 

Lesson 5: Solving Your Long-Term Problem
A walk-through on HOW to solve a LT problem:

(24-minute video)

  • What is your LT problem about?

  • What are the required elements?

  • How will those elements be scored?

  • Thinking about a calendar/schedule

  • Big picture/details/big picture

 
 

Lesson 6: Focus and Style
How to focus on your LT solution and the scored STYLE element:

(20-minute video)

  • Scoring and point allocation

  • Teaching Moment: Rubrics & Evaluations

  • What is Style?

  • Avoiding Style & LT Overlap

  • Points, points, points!

 
 

Lesson 7: How to Write a Skit
A skit-writing lesson from a professional and why it is needed in OM:

(39-minute video)

  • What is a skit?

  • Five-point scene structure

  • Proper formatting for scenes

  • Skit through the lens of point allocation

 
 

Lesson 8: Building Your Solution
Making your creative ideas reality:

(31-minute video)

  • What are props?

  • What are costumes?

  • What is a backdrop/scenery?

  • What MUST you have? Improv approach

  • Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT)

  • Problems 1, 2, & 4

 

Lesson 9: Tweaking for Improvement
You’re well on your way! Now’s a good time to take a step back and see if there’s room for improvement:

(18-minute video)

  • Does your solution actually solve the problem?

  • Room for Improvement: Revisit creativity

  • Keep it simple, silly

  • The curse of knowledge

  • Completely foreign v. Familiar with a twist

 
 

Lesson 10: Spontaneous
The third (but important!) component of OM:

(19-minute video)

  • What is Spontaneous

  • The three types of Spontaneous Problems

  • How to practice Spontaneous

  • The importance of keeping the “Sponto Secret”

  • Creativity, teamwork, & quick thinking

  • Use the skills you’ve acquired

 
 
 

Lesson 11: Practice, Practice, Practice!
You have created your solution, decided on Style and worked on Spontaneous, now what? Practice!

(19-minute video)

  • What is Stage Presence?

  • Maximizing the 8 minutes

  • Choreographing every movement (even backstage)

  • Pacing v. Speed Running

  • Your Millionth Time, The Audience’s First

  • Getting Feedback from Reactions

 
 

Lesson 12: The Paperwork
What is required and why you need it. Sound boring? Psst…it’s a way to get maximum score!

(19-minute video)

  • What is paperwork

  • Style form

  • Cost form

  • Outside Assistance form

  • Team List

  • Paperwork-not an afterthought

 
 

Lesson 13: How to Compete
It’s competition time, oh boy! Get rid of nervousness and get even better at OM:

(29-minute video)

  • Competition

  • Registering with your Association

  • Checking in and competition schedule

  • The LT flow

  • The Spontaneous flow

  • Virtual competition (if applicable)

 
 

Lesson 14: Understanding Judge Scores
Making sense of what the judges are telling you:

(25-minute video)

  • Why is creativity scored?

  • Understanding the LT scoresheet

  • Understanding Style scores

  • Understanding Spontaneous scores

  • Raw scores v. Calculated scores

  • Special Awards

 
 

Lesson 15: Reflecting on What You Have Learned
Congratulations! You have have completed Odyssey Academy. Reflect back on what you have learned and get creating!

(9-minute video)

  • What World Finals is like

  • Reflecting on your “Odyssey”

  • One last question…