Information Afternoon

1
Information Afternoon
2
What we hope to achieve?

• Introduce new facilitators to Tournament of Minds
• Provide guidance for team selection and ways to
  approach ToM
• Explain the structure of ToM and necessary
  procedures
• Offer resources that are available

3
The two components of ToM

• The teams are given 6 weeks to work through a
  Long Term Challenge to be presented before a
  panel of judges and a live audience on Finals
  Day. Teams receive the challenges early in Term
  3. The teams receive NO assistance from teachers,
  parents or peers.
• On Finals Day, they then participate in an unseen
  Spontaneous Challenge before only a panel of
  judges. This challenge requires rapid
  interchange of ideas, the ability to think
  creatively and well developed group cooperation
  skills. The team receives only 3-4 minutes to
  develop a creative response to the challenge.

4
Which kids gain from the ToM experience?

• Look for the Gifted
• Look for the Able Bright Learner
• Look for the student with a Specific Talent
• Look for the student who is motivated and
  enthusiastic
• Look for the Collaborator

5
Selection Procedures

• There are three main issues
• Which students to select?
• How to select?
• How to put teams together?

6
Which students to select?The following criteria
can be useful

• Gifted, general high academic achievement or a
  specific talent (music, art, technology,
  mathematics, drama)
• Enjoys creative thinking
• Able to work independently
• Good public speaking ability or dramatic talent
• A good leader or good cooperative skills
• Motivated, willing to give up their own time and
  shows a sense of commitment
• Energy and enthusiasm

7
How to select?

• Teacher nomination
• Student nomination
• Open invitation
• Auditions/applications
• Mock ToM finals (spontaneous challenge)
• Combination of above

8
Team requirements

• Teams are made up of 7 students, with a
  maximum of 4 from any year level.
• Secondary (Middle in Darwin) teams must have
  two team members from their year of entry.  

9
How to put teams together?

• Teacher selection based on prior knowledge of
  students and performance
• Student choice
• A combination of the above

10
Facilitators responsibilities

• Become familiar with the Important Dates Calendar
• Return the School Registration Form by 16 May
• Read the 2008 ToM Instructional Manual
• Return Team Nomination Forms by
• 8 August

11
All following information available on our web
page

• http//www.tom.edu.au/
• Click link to Northern Territory
• Announcements
• Important dates calender
• 2008 Information Letter
• 2008 Resource Order Form
• School Registration Form
• Ongoing Forms/information

12
Important Dates Calendar
13
Registration Form
14
How to prepare students for ToM

• Some possible ways to allocate time for ToM
• A ToM Club meets at lunch time
• A whole class activity
• Within school activity lesson time is provided
  across classes
• Mini Tournament students work in own time

15
Facilitators should assist teams with the
following but teams must complete their own admin
requirements

• ToM rules and school expectations
• ToM administration requirements of the team
  (allowable materials, cost form, performance
  skills form, copies of script, outside assistance
  form etc.)
• Practise Spontaneous Challenges (includes role
  definition and time management)
• Provide a plan of attack for the Long Term
  Challenge

16

A typical ToM Session may include

• Warm up games 5 minutes
•  
• Skills and strategies 30 minutes
• Drama skills
• Public speaking practice
• Cooperative games
• Brainstorming techniques
• Creative thinking strategies
• Role definition
• A plan of attack for the Long Term Challenge
•  
• The Long Term Challenge 30 minutes
• Time to work through some Challenges as a group
  with an aim to presenting one for practice
  judging at the end of Term 2
• Reflection and Evaluation 10 minutes
• Self and team evaluation

17
Resources

• ToM Manual
• Spontaneous Challenge CD
• Long Term Challenge CD
• 3 Hour Challenge CD

18
Resource Order Form
19
Potential Disciplines for 2008

• Will be chosen from
• Language/Literature
• Maths/Engineering
• Social Science
• Technology

20
Addition Support / Opportunities for teams and
facilitators

• Full day Skills workshops for teams and
  facilitators
• Tony Ryan Thinkers Keys
• Full day workshops

21
A final note

• It is a good idea to send notes home to parents
  or hold a parent meeting, to ensure everybody is
  aware of their obligations
• All facilitators and students participating in
  ToM should be aware that the NT finalist teams
  and their facilitators will travel to Melbourne
  for the Australasian Pacific Finals to be held on
  Saturday 25 October 2008.

22
Enjoy the Challenge!