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What is Odyssey of the Mind?
What is Odyssey of the Mind?
What is OM? That's a tricky question to answer. A former team member said, "OM is whatever you want it to be. If you want to be technical, pick a technical problem. If you want to be theatrical, pick classics or performance. There is something for everyone in OM." Students select a long-term problem from five catagories: vehicle, technical, classics, balsa wood structure, and performance. Each page of this site details what the long-term problem consists of and shows DCHS teams from the past four years competing at the state competition. Come and join our Odyssey!
The second part of the competition is called spontaneous. Teams practice three types of spontaneous problems before the day of the competition: verbal, hands-on, and hands-on verbal. On the actual day of the competition, the teams are given a problem they have never seen before to solve with the most creative solution they can come up with. The spontaneous score makes up almost a third of the overall score for the competition. This is an exciting part of the day, with the element of surprise, the time constraints, and the value placed on creativity and teamwork.
Left: Problem 5 team members wait for spontaneous (2022).
Students compete at a state level competition at Iowa State University the first weekend of April every year.
World Finals is held Wednesday through Saturday of the week before Memorial Day
and the competition alternates sites between Iowa State University and Michigan State University.
From the OM website:
From the OM website:
Odyssey of the Mind (OM™) teaches students how to develop and use their natural creativity to become problem-solvers. Imagine being faced with a problem that requires an original solution. It can be frightening. Now imagine not being afraid to solve that problem – that is what OM members learn. This skill and self-confidence will carry over to all areas of their lives. OM brings the classroom to life as students apply what they learn and combine it with their interests and passions to solve our unique open-ended problems. OM also emphasizes teamwork, budgeting, time management, public speaking, and so much more. This international program is designed to help students at all learning levels grow as individual learners, grow as team members, and to reach their full potential.
Email Kate Leo kleo@dowlingcatholic.org with questions about joining
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