Destination Imagination

Destination Imagination, Inc.
	File:Destination Imagination Logo.png
Location	Cherry Hill, New Jersey;
Area served	US, Canada, and 30 other countries
Products	Educational Programs that teach 21st century skills
Members	1 million alumni
Owner	501(c)(3)
Key people	Michele Tuck-Ponder
Revenue	$10 million
Employees	30
Volunteers	38,000
Formerly called	OM Association, Inc.

Destination Imagination (DI) is a volunteer-led, educational non-profit organization that teaches "21st century" skills and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) principles to kindergarten through university level students by collaborative problem solving challenges.

History[edit]

Founded in 1999, Destination Imagination emerged as the result of a dispute between splinter factions within the Odyssey of the Mind Organization, which was founded in 1978 as a creative problem solving competition at Glassboro State College in New Jersey. On September 24, 1999, Odyssey of the Mind Association, Inc. (the non-profit group responsible for holding international creative-thinking competitions), and Creative Competitions, Inc. (the company holding intellectual property of support materials), reached an agreement wherein Creative Competitions would retain intellectual property rights and both organizations would sponsor separate creative competitions. During the dispute, some Odyssey volunteers formed another problem-solving organization, Destination Imagination, because they feared the legal dispute would hold up the year's competition. Destination Imagination subsequently merged with OM Association "to help unify [its] volunteers and make (our group) the pre-eminent world-class problem-solving program for students," according to then-OM Association Executive Director Robert Purifico.^[2]

Challenge Program[edit]

The standards-based challenges have both long and short-term components. In August of each year, Destination Imagination releases seven new challenges, pertaining to different subject matter areas that a team must solve. Teams then have until the date of their first tournament to work on the challenges. All challenges include a presentation portion, rehearsed or on the spot. The types of team challenges include technical, scientific, fine arts, improvisational, structural, service learning, and early learning challenges.^{[citation needed]}

Types of Team Challenges[edit]

Each year, Destination Imagination releases seven challenges geared to specific learning objectives. These challenges are then solved by teams.

Technical[edit]

The Technical Challenge requires teams to build equipment, such as vehicles, in order to solve their challenge. They must also include a performance, in a specific form or about a general topic supplied with the challenge. In addition, the challenge requires teams to create specific elements unique to the team that will count as Team Choice Elements. The team will be evaluated on their creativity and originality, the quality, workmanship and effort, and the integration of the elements into the presentation. Normally, Team Choice Elements account for 15% of a team's score. The Team Choice Element can be anything that the team chooses, as long as it is not a scoring element.^{[citation needed]}

Scientific[edit]

The Scientific Challenge requires teams to do research on a specific aspect of science, and then create a performance based on it. Sometimes, there is also a specific requirement to build a certain kind of prop or costume. In addition, the challenge requires teams to create two specific elements unique to the team that will count as Team Choice Elements. The team will be evaluated on the creativity and originality, the quality, workmanship and effort, and the integration of the element into the presentation. Normally, Team Choice Elements account for 15% of a team's score. The Team Choice Element can be anything that the team chooses, as long as it is not a scoring element.

Fine Arts[edit]

The Fine Arts Challenge requires teams to create and act out a performance that demonstrates some theatrical technique. It may be to use a certain method of presentation or to make a certain type of prop. In addition, the challenge requires teams to create two specific elements unique to the team that will count as Team Choice Elements. The team will be evaluated on the creativity and originality, the quality, workmanship and effort, and the integration of the element into the presentation. Normally, Team Choice Elements account for 15% of a team's score. The Team Choice Element can be anything that the team chooses, as long as it is not a scoring element.

Improvisational[edit]

The Improvisational Challenge requires teams to think on their feet and create a skit within a short window of time, and then present it. There is usually a theme, of some sort, as well as a prop requirement that requires teams to create or incorporate different props. The team will also be evaluated for teamwork in this challenge.

Engineering[edit]

The Engineering Challenge requires teams to create a structure, with material and weight requirements, as well as an accompanying performance that has to do with some aspect of the structure. The structures are scored using a weight held ratio (WHR), where the weight held at the tournament is divided over the weight of the structure, to create a fair comparison of team structures. Some years, there have been additional elements that the team had to incorporate into their structures, such as holding golf balls. By performing these extra tasks, the team may receive additional weight held credit. In addition, the challenge requires teams to create two specific elements unique to the team that will count as Team Choice Elements. The team will be evaluated on the creativity and originality, the quality, workmanship and effort, and the integration of the element into the presentation. Normally, Team Choice Elements account for 15% of a team's score. The Team Choice Element can be anything that the team chooses, as long as it is not a scoring element.

Service Learning[edit]

The Service Learning Challenge, also known as projectOUTREACH, requires teams to do a service project that benefits their community, and then create a performance to present at the tournament. The challenge always has a theme that the team has to incorporate into their skit, or the way they carry out their project. For some program seasons, the challenge requires teams to create two specific elements unique to the team that will count as Team Choice Elements. The team will be evaluated on the creativity and originality, the quality, workmanship and effort, and the integration of the element into the presentation. Normally, Team Choice Elements account for 15% of a team's score. The Team Choice Element can be anything that the team chooses, as long as it is not a scoring element.

Early Learning[edit]

For kids 4-to-7 years of age, Destination Imagination offers the Rising Stars! for Early Learners Challenge. The challenge encourages kids to be creative and is noncompetitive, which allows kids to play and experiment with their solutions without pressure. The children can also partake in the showcase option, which allows them to present their solutions at a tournament.

^[3]

Instant Challenge[edit]

Once entering the restricted Instant Challenge area, teams are directed to a holding room where they turn in paperwork, and take the Instant Challenge Promise, which states, "We promise not to talk about ANYTHING that we see, hear, do or say in this room UNTIL AFTER GLOBAL FINALS. If we are heard or are found to have shared this Challenge with anyone, we will be disqualified from the Tournament. However, we can talk about it privately among our team and Team Manager(s)." ^[4] After taking the promise, the team is directed to an Instant Challenge room, where they complete the Instant Challenge. Once the Instant Challenge is complete, teams are either taken to a "chill-out" room, or released from the Instant Challenge Area. In a "chill-out" room, teams may quietly discuss the Instant Challenge among themselves and their team manager.

Tournaments[edit]

Team solutions are assessed at a regional tournament, an affiliate (state, province or country) tournament or Global Finals. Every year, local volunteers help run over 200 Destination Imagination tournaments around the world.

At the tournament, Destination Imagination teams will solve two types of Challenges: Team Challenges and Instant Challenges. Teams will perform their Challenge solutions to a group of Appraisers. Destination Imagination Appraisers are local volunteers who have been trained to assess the Challenges.

Global Finals[edit]

Destination Imagination teams that advance past regional, state, and country tournaments are invited to participate in Global Finals. (Note: When global finals are held in the US, US teams bypass country tournaments and go straight to global finals. Not all countries host a regional or state competition.) Global Finals is the culminating event of every Destination Imagination season.