DI : Destination Imagination
What is DI?
Leander ISD sponsors the creative problem-solving program, Destination ImagiNation (DI). DI is an extracurricular, school-sponsored program that fosters creativity and team-based problem-solving skills and life skills for students. Leander ISD DI is open to all students in third through twelfth grades.
Why do DI?
Short Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdwhi7oDl4U&&safe=active# (To register use the forms below)
Destination Imagination® is not really a program, it’s a process. Team members engage in creativity, Creative Problem Solving, and teamwork all year long, individually and together, with DI Challenges. Otherwise known as a great practice drill for the challenges of real life! Participants will develop life-long skills that carry over into everyday life – but most of all, they will have fun, discover talents they never knew they had, become friends with kids they might not have ever met, and reap the rewards of teamwork and friendship as they grow and learn.
How much time does DI take?
Kids need to commit to an hour or two per week for team meetings. Exactly how long, where and when is up to each individual team.
Even though the kids have to solve the problem, we still need grown ups!
Adult volunteers are needed to help with instant challenges, snacks, shuttling kids around, teaching skills the children want to learn, and most of all for team management. The more adults who commit to helping out, the less time intensive it is for everyone, and the more fun DI is for the kids.
Top 10 Reasons to be a Destination Imagination® Team Manager:
Minimal qualifications, can you spell DI?
Party conversations become a breeze…you'll always have an answer to "What's new with you?"
Keeping up with your team keeps you forever young (or gives your hair those distinguished silver ... highlights).
"Destination Imagination Team Manager" looks good on resume.
The "No Interference" rule means "It's not your job to solve the Challenge".
Team managing expands your shopping horizons... hardware stores take on a whole new look.
You have the opportunity to travel with lots of children to exotic locations... by van and bus.
Destination Imagination® expands your stockpile of useful junk.
Team materials hide nasty scratches on your dining table.
Destination Imagination® cures the mid-winter blues. Time flies when you're having fun!
Bonus Reasons to be a Destination Imagination® Team Manager:
Opportunity to teach real-world life-long skills to a bunch of kids you'll learn to love.
The satisfaction of seeing a bunch of disorganized kids come together as a team to create a unique solution that they can be proud of.
They'll rub off on you and you'll become more creative as well.
You can have a tremendous impact on a great bunch of kids.
Without volunteer Team Managers, there can be no teams!
General Information About the Teams
Take a team of five to seven kids who are roughly the same age/grade, add a mind boggling Team Challenge, shake it up with some on-the-spot thrills called Instant Challenges, add some costumes, props, a story line and, oh yeah, DON’T FORGET THE DUCT TAPE!
INSTANT CHALLENGES are short problems designed to test a team’s creative, “thinking on their feet” skills. Destination ImagiNation® uses 3 types of Instant Challenges: PERFORMANCE-based Challenges, TASK-based Challenges, and Challenges which combine both elements.
Please consider:
Each year, there are a number of children who don’t get onto a team because there aren’t enough adults who can manage the teams. We have adults with experience as team managers who have offered to serve as mentors and consultants for new team managers. Additionally, there are virtual self-paced team manager training videos ready when you are! https://www.heartoftexasdi.org/manager-resources/manager-training-presentations
If your child is interested in DI, please consider volunteering as a team manager or appraiser. It’s loads of fun, and it’s a very rewarding experience.
How do I join a DI team?
If your student is interested in participating in DI, look over the Challenge Previews below, then please request a registration form from the Cypress Elem. QUEST teacher. Complete and return the REGISTRATION FORM to the campus QUEST teacher NO LATER THAN October 7th.
Current Challenge Previews and Team Challenges :
Go to https://www.destinationimagination.org/ and CLICK TEAM CHALLENGES. You'll notice the pull down that has all the current years previews and challenges, as well as FAQ's!
Your team will review all the challenges and select the one the team is most interested in and make it the first choice.
Our Local Creative Problem Solving Organization:
The Heart of Texas CPSO is a division of the Texas Creative Problem Solving Organization (TXCPSO). Currently, the Texas CPSO is the largest affiliate of the national organization, as well as the global organization, Destination Imagination. Heart of Texas CPSO organizes the DI tournaments for our region.
Participating School Districts within Heart of Texas CPSO:
Round Rock ISD
Leander ISD
Georgetown ISD
West ISD
Waco ISD
Killeen ISD
Midway ISD
Florence ISD
Various Private/Charter Schools
Link to Heart of Texas Region: http://hearttx.txdi.org