Destination Imagination Overview - March 2015

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Inspire, Engage & Prepare

the Next Generation of Innovators & Leaders

2  Welcome to Destination Imagination!

Des'na'on  Imagina'on,  Inc.  (DI)  is  a  501  (c)(3)  nonprofit,  cause-­‐driven  organiza'on  commi@ed  to  inspire  and  equip  students  to  become  the  next  genera'on  of  world-­‐class  innovators  and  leaders.  Our  customized  Project  Based  Learning  Challenges  ready  students  for  the  emerging  STEM-­‐C  (science,  technology,  engineering,  mathema'cs  &  computer  science)  related  economy  by  giving  them  the  opportunity  to  learn  and  experience  the  crea've  process  from  imagina'on  to  innova'on.  DI  is  honored  to  stand  among  the  world’s  most  progressive  ins'tu'ons  in  crea'vity,  innova'on  and  21st  century  skills.    More  than  200,000  (48  U.S.  states  &  30  countries)    students  worldwide  par'cipate  annually  in  DI’s  21st  century  skills  program  under  the  guidance  of  38,000  passionate  volunteers.  Global  Finals,  DI’s  annual  interna'onal  compe''on,  is  the  world’s  largest  celebra'on  of  innova'on  &  crea'vity  drawing  more  than  17,000  students  and  supporters.  DI  programs  have  impacted  more  than  1.5  million  par'cipants  since  it  was  founded  in  1982.      

“STEM-­‐C  knowledge  should  be  integrated  across  the  curriculum,  and  schools  should  use   a<er-­‐school   programs,   such   as   the  ones   offered   by  DesAnaAon   ImaginaAon,  to   develop   pracAcal   skills  while   fostering  a   sense  of  wonderment,  which   is  needed  fo r   pas s ion ,   pe r seve rance ,   and  innovaAon.”   -­‐   Dr.   Chuck   Cadle,   CEO  Des'na'on  Imagina'on  

Transforming the Educational Experience for Our Global Community of Learners!

3  Destination Imagination – Imagination to Innovation!What Innovation is All About!Des'na'on  Imagina'on  is  what  innova*on  is  all  about:  idenAfying  an  opportunity,  coming  up  with  a  soluAon  &  understanding  the  path  to  developing  the  soluAon    1.   Not  Just  Following  a  Blueprint  

§  Students  learn  and  experience  the  crea*ve  process  from  imagina*on  to  innova*on  ü  Express  their  unique  ingenuity  in  analyzing  problems  and  crea'ng  new  concepts  and  processes  ü  Develop  their  crea've  &  innova've  idea  from  concept  to  Challenge  solu'on    

2.   More  Than  Science,  Technology,  Engineering,  Math,  Computer  Science  and  Design  §  Students  learn  how  to  connect,  create  &  collaborate  through  exposure  to  a  range  of  problems  and  issues  from  which  

they  become  far  more  knowledgeable  by  honing  their  STEM-­‐C,  interpersonal  &  management  skills  and  knowledge  including:  

 3.   What  Can  I  Do  To  Make  The  World  A  BeOer  Place?    

§  Students  learn  &  understand  they  can  make  a  difference  in  their  world  by  working  on  projects  that:  ü  Exceed  their  own  expecta'ons  by  learning  to  iden'fy  &  build  on  their  strengths  ü  Develop  strong  sense  of  self  through  the  opportunity  to  learn  their  crea've  style  and  ego  strength  ü  Cul'vate  expert  intui'on  that  will  enable  quick  and  decisive  approaches  to  problems,  opportuni'es  and  challenges  ü  Inspire  a  love  for  life-­‐long  learning  strengthening  academic,  career  and  life  skills  achievement  success  that  will  enable  them  to  

become  the  next  genera'on  of  leaders,  innovators,  entrepreneurs  &  workforce  to  create  a  more  sustainable  world    

ü  Project  Management  ü  Cri'cal  Analysis  ü  Leadership  ü  Team  Building  

ü  Risk  Management  ü  Perseverance  ü  Rapid  Prototyping  ü  Collabora'on  

ü  Conflict  Management  ü  Crea'vity  ü  Mul'-­‐cultural  Competency  ü  Communica'on  &  Nego'a'on  

4  Destination Imagination DNA!Not Just a Program – It’s a Movement!!

VISION:  To  be  the  global  leader  in  teaching  

the  creaAve  process  from  imaginaAon  to  innovaAon  

MISSION:  To  develop  opportuniAes  that  inspire  a  global  community  of  learners  to  uAlize  diverse  

approaches  in  applying  21st  century  skills  and  creaAvity  

HISTORY:  Incorporated  in  1982  uniAng  a  

dynamic  community  of  innovaAve  partners  driving  a  collaboraAve  

movement    to  further  the  educaAonal  inspiraAon  of  

Kindergarten  to  University  students  through  Project  Based  Learning  

opportuniAes    

5  Destination Imagination Challenge Overview!Core Program Challenges!

Who  •  2  to  7  members  per  team  •  Kindergarten  through  University  level  •  1  Adult  Team  Manager  per  team  (educator  or  parent  to  provide  guidance  &  

mentorship  to  skills  &  knowledge  only  –  no  interference  in  Challenge  solu'on)  

What  •  7  new  core  program  Challenges  annually  (Technical,  Scien'fic,  Structural,  Fine  

Arts,  Improvisa'onal,  Service  Learning  &  Early  Learning)  •  Developed  by  a  team  of  educators  &  industry  experts  •  Challenges  are  curriculum  relevant  &  align  to  Na'onal  Educa'on  Standards,  

STEM  Standards,  ELA  Common  Core  Standards  &  Mathema'cs  Common  Core  Standards  

When  •  Challenge  program  season  takes  place  during  the  school  year  (August  to  May)  •  Teams  spend  3  to  4  months  developing  &  honing  their  Challenge  solu'ons  •  Season  culminates  in  May  with  Global  Finals  (Interna'onal  Compe''on)  

Where  •  Teams  solu'ons  are  assessed  by  DI  trained  appraisers  at  regional,  state  and  

country  tournaments  •  At  compe''ons  teams  solve  two  types  of  Challenges:  1)  Team  Challenges  and  

2)  Instant  Challenges  •  Annually  more  than  38,000  volunteers  help  run  200  compe''ons  world-­‐wide  

6  Destination Imagination Team Challenges!Core Program Challenge Categories!

•  Technical:  prompts  student  teams  to  complete  tasks  by  using  skills  including  engineering,  research,  strategic  planning,  project  management,  presenta'on  and  related  skills  

•  Scien*fic:  prompts  student  teams  to  blend  the  research,  engineering,  curiosity  of  science,  project  management,  presenta'on  and  related  skills  with  the  thrill  &  crea'vity  of  theater  arts  

•  Structural:  prompts  student  teams    to  research,  design,  build  and  test  load-­‐bearing  structures  out  of  specific  materials  by  using  skills  including    structural  engineering,  technical  design,  theater  arts,  project  management,  presenta'on  and  self-­‐directed  learning  

•  Fine  Arts:  students  flex  their  ac'ng  and  ar's'c  muscles  as  they  explore  some  of  our  most  fascina'ng  works  of  literature  and  media  while  using  skills  including  technical  design  process,  engineering  concepts,    art  form  research,  project  management  and  theater  arts    

•  Improvisa*onal:  is  all  about  spontaneity  and  storytelling.  Teams  receive  topics  and  produce  skits  right  on  the  spot  using  skills  including  crea've  &  cri'cal  thinking,  effec've  integra'on,  risk  taking,  perseverance,  presenta'on  and  theater  arts  

•  Service  Learning/Project  Outreach:  engages  students  in  community  service  to  address  real  community  issues  through  personal  expression  using  skills  including  community  partnerships,  research,  marke'ng,  branding,  project  management,  ci'zenship  and  presenta'on  

•  Early  Learning/Rising  Stars:  to  solve  the  Challenge,  4-­‐  to  7-­‐year-­‐old  children  work  together  on  performances  complete  with  characters,  props  and  scripts  using  skills  including  design/mechanical  engineering,  life  science,  team  work,  project  management  and  theater  arts  

7  Destination Imagination – Global Finals!Celebrating Our Young Innovators!•  9,000  of  the  most  crea*ve  &  innova*ve  

students  world-­‐wide  represen'ng  top-­‐'er  teams  from  48  U.S.  states  &  30  countries  present  their  innova've  solu'ons  for  top  honors  

•  8,000  educators  from  around  the  globe  support,  mentor  &  cheer  on  their  Global  Finals  teams  

•  More  than  100  skills  workshops  give  par'cipants  of  all  ages  the  opportunity  to  learn  from  industry  experts  while  further  exploring  their  own  curiosi'es  and  enhancing  their  skill  sets  

•  Innova*on  Expo  offers  par'cipants  the  opportunity  to  network  with  officials  from  some  of  the  most  innova've  companies  in  the  world,  including  NASA,  the  U.S.  Space  &  Rocket  Center,  Na'onal  Geographic,  3M,  Vizitech  &  Oracle  Academy  

8  Our Community of Innovative Partners!Furthering the Educational Inspiration of the Next Generation of Innovators & Leaders !Des'na'on  Imagina'on’s  success  is  due  in  part  to  our  strong  network  of  generous  partners  who  provide  significant  funding,  volunteers,  'me,  talent,  and  resources  to  the  students  we  serve.        

We  are  proud  to  have  respected  na'onal  &  global  corpora'ons,    professional  ins'tu'ons,  corporate    &  private  founda'ons  and  educa'onal  organiza'ons  invested  as  valued  strategic  partners  in  our  mission  to  develop  opportuni'es  to  inspire  our  global  community  of  learners.    

Together  we  can  foster  the  next  genera'on  of  risk  takers,  cri'cal  thinkers,  problem  solvers,  leaders  and  world  class  innovators.        

Join  the  mission  to  provide  a  stronger  founda*on  for  our  world’s  future  workforce  and  sustainability.    

CONTACT:  Wendy  Niemann  

Associate  Director,  Outreach  [email protected]  

856-­‐324-­‐4782      

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Destination Imagination, Inc. 1111 South Union Avenue

Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

destinationimagination.org