On behalf of the Students for a Creative Iowa (cre8iowa) board, I would like to say THANK YOU for participating in the Destination Imagination® program through the Iowa Affiliate organization, cre8iowa. Whether you are a veteran or a new participant, you should be congratulated on a great season.

To view the State competition results please go Competition Results page. We want to congratulate all of the first place teams in every Challenge and level that have qualified to advance to Global Finals at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville on May 22-25, 2013. If you want to watch as our proud Iowa teams participate in the largest creative thinking and problem solving competition in the world, stay tuned to DITV. Congratulations also to Joe Bantz, Team Manager for West Des Moines team 112-46655, Jenius Gellybeans, for earning a Spirit of DI Award.

If you have not yet done so, this would be a great time to have a DI celebration. Have a party, have the students perform their Challenge one last time, have the parent do an IC, the sky is the limit. I would encourage all teams to celebrate their success, whether that is competitive success and/or successful completion of a journey through the creative process.

Are you asking yourself what (if anything) have you learned from participating? I bet if you start listing all the skills and research factoids, you would be surprised. The 2013 Students for a Creative Iowa Student Scholarship and the 2013 Kitch-Eilerts Memorial Scholarship winner, Virginia Bantz, has some encouraging words on why to participate in DI:

DI has given me the tools I need to easily adapt to new situations, help people use their strengths, and lead those around me to a common goal. And though I have not yet had the opportunity to save the world with a bed sheet and Popsicle sticks, I know I will be ready.

Congratulations Virginia on being selected as this year’s scholarship winner and thank you to all who applied.

If you have more questions after your first year as a participant or you are an old hat at this, you should keep checking out our website, www.cre8iowa.org, and the Members Only Gallery. We have all sorts of materials and activities including ideas on how to keep all those creative juices flowing (stay in DI mode all year), how to get even better at Instant Challenge (you want to take home the new IC medal home don’t you?), how to help jump start your team (it’s never too early to be thinking about next year). Speaking of next year, take a gander at the 2013-14 Challenge Previews. Where do those previews lead you?

Also consider submitting a design for the Pin and T-shirt Design Contest.  Please check the Contest page for more details. The 2012 team members of “Deafened by the Sneeze,” in addition to Avery Travis from Fairfield, are co-winners of the 2013 Pin & T-shirt DIsign Contest. Congratulations!

Still have more questions? Please email us at cre8iowa@gmail.com.

Creatively yours,

Alisha Heisterkamp

Affiliate Director, Students for a Creative Iowa

Go to our Competition Schedule page to download the State Tournament schedule, as well as to locate driving directions to Ames Middle School. The download link for the schedule is AFTER the map, so make sure you scroll past the map.

You may find the following Tournament reminders helpful:

• When you first arrive at the Tournament, visit the Registration table to check in your team. This is located in the Commons.
• Parking:
  • Please note that buses should NOT park in front of the school. Those that have done so in the past get parked in until the end of the Tournament, and cannot get out until everyone else has left. Instead, park in the back of the school in the north lot.
  • Challenge A teams can drop off their props by going to the East parking lot. Look for the doors with a large letter “A” on them.
  • Do not park in the center turnaround. This is a Cy-Ride turnaround, and you will be towed away if you park here.
• Schedule:
  • When you check your schedule, please note that there are 2 performance times: one for the Team Challenge, and one for Instant Challenge. Check-in is 20 minutes before any performance, so give yourself enough time to move from one location to the next.
  • Challenge E teams have a structure weigh-in time, for a total of 4 scheduled times: Structure Check-in, Team Challenge Check-in, Team Challenge and Instant Challenge.
• Prop Storage:
  • We are asking Team Managers and Coordinators for their assistance in monitoring Prop Storage. Prop Storage is NOT supervised, so do not leave your valuables unattended. Many teams choose to leave their solution in a vehicle until it is time to perform.
  • If you see something that shouldn’t be happening, please let the Prep Area Appraiser for that Challenge know, or talk to the Challenge Master (identified by a neon-colored safety vest).
• Things to do during downtime:
  • There will be a photo station somewhere in the Commons, so bring your camera and take a team photo.
  • Your team is encouraged to watch other teams’ performances, since this is a great learning opportunity.
  • Got a restless team? There are games that teams can borrow to keep them occupied. The Games Table is located in the Commons Area. Also, check out the state team packet for some more ideas.
• No dumping of any part of your solution is allowed. We appreciate being able to use the Ames Middle School facility, and want to insure that we are welcome in the future. Dumping of any part of your solution can be grounds for an Unsportsmanlike Conduct deduction, even after the Tournament is completed.
• Paperwork: Make sure your team shows up with the appropriate completed paperwork. This is turned in to the Prep Area Appraiser. Team Managers can complete paperwork for elementary teams as long as they write the exact words the team dictates. Middle and high schoolers should complete their own paperwork. It is important that these forms be legible! To insure legibility, take advantage of the fillable forms found in the Resource Area. If you run out of space, type on the back, or attach a second sheet. Keep in mind, however, that Appraisers do not have time to read a novel!
  • All teams: Declaration of Independence (2 copies – one for the Prep Area Appraiser, and one for Instant Challenge Check-in)
  • All teams except projectOUTREACH® (see below) – 5 copies of Tournament Data Form (each Appraiser gets a copy)
  • projectOUTREACH® teams: 6 copies of Project History for Continuing Projects and 6 copies of Tournament Data Form (each Appraiser gets a copy)
  • All teams – Medical Information Form for each team member (kept by the Team Manager in case of an emergency)
  • All teams except for Challenge D – Expense Report (make sure this is a photocopy, since it will not be returned to you). Also bring copies of receipts in case questions arise about Expense Report.
  • All teams – 5 photocopies of Team Clarifications (if your team asked for any)
• Things to know:
  • All teams are required to familiarize themselves with Published Clarifications. These clarifications supersede all other rules and can be published ANYTIME.
  • Make sure you review the Tournament policies page. No weapons (real or facsimile) are allowed, and requests for the use of dry ice must be pre-approved by the Tournament Director. Students must be supervised by adults at all times.
• If you have not already scheduled a dress rehearsal, now is a great time to do so. Please remind audience members that it is Interference for them to provide any kind of constructive feedback. Have your team practice set-up, entering from the left, entering from the right, and having something go wrong (such as having scenery fall down, or a prop being forgotten at home). Remind teams that their solution must fit through a standard doorway.
• Now is a good time to have the team brainstorm a list of “what if” scenarios in case something goes wrong at the Tournament. Simultaneously, have the team brainstorm a list of items needed for an emergency repair kit.
• Remind parents and supporters that they may not help students put on makeup and costumes, and that it is the team’s responsibility to make any repairs to their solution. It is the team’s solution!

As always, feel free to contact us with your questions.

So, what’s next? To prepare for the State tournament, teams are encouraged to analyze their Sub-state tournament standings, and to use that information to make changes to their Team Challenge solution. Your team’s tournament score is comprised of individual components detailing whether your team did an above average, average or fair job. To learn specifically where your team needs to make changes, it’s important to examine the individual components of its score very carefully, and to compare them to the Reward Points section of your team’s Challenge.

Raw Score vs. Scaled Score

Let’s start by discussing what the 2 rows of numbers mean that comprise your team’s score. Although there are some exceptions that we’ll get to in a moment, in general the bottom row of numbers is the team’s Raw Scores, or the number of points Appraisers award the team for its performance in the Central Challenge, Team Choice Elements and Instant Challenge. It is important to note that these are preliminary scores. Together, these points add up to a maximum combined 400 points: 300 points for the Team Challenge (240 Central Challenge points + 60 Team Choice Elements points), and 100 points for Instant Challenge. If your team is doing Challenge D, the improvisational Challenge, you have no Team Choice Elements and therefore your Central Challenge alone accounts for three-fourths of your team’s score, or 300 points.

The top row of numbers is your team’s Scaled Scores. What this means is that the preliminary or Raw Scores are turned over to the Score Room, where they are stacked against other teams’ scores in your Challenge and Level, and curved on a scale, much as grades in a typical classroom are curved on a scale. If Team ABC’s Raw Score of 76.75 is the highest Instant Challenge score for its Challenge and Level, for example, then its Scaled Score is 100 points, and all other teams in that Challenge and Level are scored proportionately beneath it.

The significance of the Raw Scores versus the Scaled Scores is that between the two is a narrow time frame when your team can get some initial feedback. Thirty minutes after a team performs its Team Challenge, one Team Manager and one team member may pick up the team’s Raw Scores and discuss them with the Head Appraiser or Challenge Master. If your team has not been doing this, there is no guarantee that the Raw Scores will be accessible later. More importantly, you have missed a great opportunity to learn more about the team’s performance. The official reviews areas of strength and areas where you team may need to improve, asking open-ended questions that the team should take to heart and discuss during a team meeting. The official will not suggest specific ways to improve scoring areas, of course, for this would be Interference. After this meeting, the Raw Scores go to the Score Room for final computerized calculations.

Breakdown of Reward Points

Where you will find your team’s Scaled and Raw Scores can be found in the bulleted list below. Note that the scores correspond directly with the Reward Points section of your team’s Challenge. It is critical that your team examine each column of its scores in relationship to (1) its own Total Scaled Score, and (2) other teams’ individual scoring elements, since this will help your team understand where it would be most impactful to make changes and/or focus additional effort. Point out to your team the pie charts that are in the Reward Points section of their Challenge. This will help them understand visually the impact of different scoring elements.

Challenge A:

• Column 1: The top number is the Total Scaled Score (max. 400 points). Below it are deductions (if any).
• Column 2: The top number is the Scaled Zone Score (max. 120 points). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 3: The top number is the Scaled Vehicle Score (max. 50 points). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 4: The top number is the Scaled Travel Score (max. 25 points). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 5: The top number is the Scaled Story Score (max. 45 points). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 6: The top number is the Scaled Team Choice Elements Score (max. 60 points). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 7: The top number is the Scaled Instant Challenge score (max. 100 points). Below it is the Raw Score.

Challenges B, C & projectOUTREACH®:

• Column 1: The top number is the Total Scaled Score (max. 400 points). Below it are deductions (if any).
• Column 2: The top number is the Scaled Central Challenge Score (max. 240 points). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 3: The top number is the Scaled Team Choice Elements Score (max. 60 points). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 4: The top number is the Scaled Instant Challenge score (max. 100 points). Below it is the Raw Score.

Challenge D:

• Column 1: The top number is the Total Scaled Score (max. 400 points). Below it are deductions (if any).
• Column 2: The top number is the Scaled Central Challenge Score (max. 300 points). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 3: The top number is the Scaled Instant Challenge score (max. 100 points). Below it is the Raw Score.

Challenge E:

• Column 1: The top number is the Total Scaled Score (max. 400 points). Below it are deductions (if any).
• Column 2: The top number is the Scaled Weight Held Ratio (max. 140 points). Below it is the Raw Score, based on the numbers in Column 3.
• Column 3: The top number is the Total Weight Held by the Structure (in pounds). The bottom number is the Structure Weight (in grams). If you take the top number and divide it by the bottom number, this gives you the Raw Score for Column 2.
• Column 4: The top number is the combined Scaled Score (max. 100 points) for Element 2 (Creativity and Workmanship of Structure), Element 3 (Structure Bill of Materials), and Element 4 (Story with Twist and Prop/Costume). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 5: The top number is the Scaled Team Choice Elements Score (max. 60 points). Below it is the Raw Score.
• Column 6: The top number is the Scaled Instant Challenge score (max. 100 points). Below it is the Raw Score.

Types of Scores

Teams are awarded Subjective, Objective or Zero Scores for various scoring elements.

An objective score is awarded for fulfilling a specific requirement: If you do this, it is worth X number of points. If it is there, the points are awarded; if it is not, that scoring element receives a Zero Score. Make sure that your team is not losing easy points by missing required elements! Often, objective scores are awarded for problem-solving, i.e., solving a specific task.

Whenever you see a range of points awarded for a scoring element, this is a subjective score that is the result of the Appraisers’ opinions. Subjective scores are usually awarded for creativity, innovation, the Team Choice Elements, and Instant Challenge. Is your team getting the most out of its subjective scoring areas? Let’s examine these areas in more detail.

Creativity and Innovation

In general, anywhere that creativity is scored, the team needs to ask itself: Is our solution really original, innovative, unique, uncommon, or unexpected? Is the team making sure that every element is its OWN solution, rather than being produced by someone else? This could be an Interference issue and result in a deduction, especially at State, where scoring is stricter.

Some Challenges (often the technical ones) call for an innovation score. Innovation is related to complexity of the solution. Ask your team what else it can do to elaborate, or add details. Is there something new the team can research that would result in a different, possibly more complex solution? Often (though not always), higher complexity results in a higher innovation score.

Team Choice Elements

Many teams do not score as highly as they can for their Team Choice Elements. Keep in mind, first of all, that Appraisers can only score what the team describes on its Tournament Data Form. If this information is not detailed enough, then the Appraisers will not have a clear understanding of what they should score. The Appraisers MUST use what the team describes on the Tournament Data Form. If the information is not there, the Appraisers cannot make assumptions about where the team wants them to award points.

Has the team selected the right Team Choice Element, or is there something else that would be a better choice? Make sure that the Team Choice Element is not something that is already being scored elsewhere. If your team’s costumes are a required part of the Challenge, for example, then you should not list them as a Team Choice Element. You may, however, single out one of the costumes because of its special properties; make sure you describe what is special on your Tournament Data Form!

A very important fact to keep in mind is that a Team Choice Element is awarded points in 3 areas, worth 10 points apiece: creativity and originality; quality, workmanship or effort that is evident, and integration into the Presentation. Creativity and originality are often apparent when common materials are used in uncommon, unintended or unexpected ways. Quality, workmanship or effort become evident by the details invested in the outcome, by the amount of time it takes to develop the final product, and by the learning that takes place during the process. Integration into the Presentation concerns how well the Team Choice Element fits into the story; would the story be the same if this Team Choice Element were not present?

Instant Challenge

A team’s Instant Challenge score is 25 percent of its final score, and often has a huge impact on the overall competitive outcome. Doing well in Instant Challenge is usually the result of practicing often and consistently, and of debriefing after every practice. A team should practice Instant Challenge at every team meeting. Ideally, a balance of different types of Instant Challenges should be included.

Instant Challenges are either task or performance-based, or a combination of the two. Task-based Challenges involve moving, guiding, controlling, building for weight, height and/or strength (or weakness!), modifying, narrowing down choices, or communicating. In contrast, performance-based Challenges require a performance involving a beginning, middle and ending. They may involve props and/or materials, or simply a team’s imagination. Any Instant Challenge may be non-verbal, in whole or in part.

Team Managers should feel free to modify practice Instant Challenges to address a perceived need that a team has. For example, a Team Manager can add or subtract time for a Challenge, remove or add steps, or substitute other materials that are smaller (or larger) in scale than the ones described in a published Instant Challenge. They can require a non-verbal solution, ask the team to split into two parts, remove or add materials, and so on. Have a team member or two sit out and make critical observations. Always debrief your team afterward, asking your team to evaluate itself: What do you think you did well? What could you do better? What would you change the next time around? Don’t be afraid to repeat the same Instant Challenge, requiring a completely different solution the second time around!

Swap out the roles that team members play; in business this is known as cross-training. Do the same with your team, making sure that different people act as facilitator, timekeeper, rules keeper, builder, planner, and so on. The ways in which your team members communicate with each other through these roles is an important part of their teamwork score. Most Instant Challenges have a planning component, when teamwork is evaluated. Keep in mind that a team that cannot be heard can also not be awarded points; do not whisper at any time during Instant Challenge!

A useful exercise is having your team write its own Instant Challenge, which makes them much more aware of the components of Instant Challenge, as well as the problem-solving process.

To best prepare for Instant Challenge, help your team build a library of experiences from which it can draw when faced with Instant Challenge in a competitive situation. At the very least, your team will feel more comfortable in dealing with the unexpected if it has practiced Instant Challenge often and regularly. Resources for Instant Challenge are found in cre8iowa’s Instant Challenge Library, as well as in the Destination Imagination Resource Area and at ShopDI. Next year, make sure your team attends cre8iowa’s annual Instant Challenger workshop.

Advancing to the Next Level

In moving from one Tournament level to the next, all teams are expected to evaluate how they did previously, set new goals and modify their solutions. The best teams often triple the level of complexity between the Sub-state and State tournaments, and triple it again between State and Global Finals tournaments. We are looking forward to seeing the results of that process!

The Sub-state Tournament schedule is now available for viewing. Please note that room assignments and times are subject to change with notification. The deadline for special schedule requests has passed. If a special situation arises between now and the Sub-state Tournament, you may contact another team and exchange places, as long as that team is competing in the same Challenge and Level. However, both teams must notify cre8iowa by emailing cre8iowa@gmail.com. If your team withdraws, please notify us immediately, as this affects the schedule.

Go to our Competition Schedules page to download the Sub-state Tournament schedule, as well as to locate driving directions to Ames Middle School. The download link for the schedule is AFTER the map, so make sure you scroll past the map.

• When you first arrive at the tournament, visit the Sales & Registration table to check in your team. This is located in the Commons.
• Food service will be available from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. You will find the menu Here.
• Please note that buses should NOT park in front of the school. Those that have done so in the past get parked in until the end of the tournament, and cannot get out until everyone else has left. Instead, park in the back of the school in the north lot.
• Challenge A (In the Zone) teams can drop off their props by going to the East parking lot. Look for the doors with a large letter “A” on them.
• Do not park in the center turnaround. This is a Cy-Ride turnaround, and you will be towed away if you park here.
• When you check your schedule, please note that there are 2 performance times: one for the Team Challenge, and one for Instant Challenge. This includes Rising Stars!® teams. Check-in is 20 minutes before any performance, so give yourself enough time to move from one location to the next.
• Challenge E (Hold It!) teams have a structure weigh-in time, for a total of 4 scheduled times: Structure Check-in, Team Challenge Check-in, Team Challenge and Instant Challenge.
• Prop storage is NOT supervised, so do not leave your valuables unattended. Many teams choose to leave their solution in a vehicle until it is time to perform.
• There will be a photo station somewhere in the Commons, so bring your camera and take a team photo.
• Your team is encouraged to watch other teams’ performances, since this is a great learning opportunity.
• Got a restless team? There are games at the Sales & Registration table that teams can borrow to keep them occupied.
• No dumping of any part of your solution is allowed. We appreciate being able to use the Ames Middle School facility, and want to insure that we are welcome in the future. Dumping of any part of your solution can be grounds for an Unsportsmanlike Conduct deduction, even after the Tournament is completed.
• Make sure your team shows up with the appropriate completed paperwork. This is turned in to the Prep Area Appraiser. Team Managers can complete paperwork for elementary teams as long as they write the exact words the team dictates. Middle and high schoolers should complete their own paperwork. It is important that these forms be legible! To insure legibility, take advantage of the fillable forms found in the Resource Area. If you run out of space, type on the back, or attach a second sheet. Keep in mind, however, that Appraisers do not have time to read a novel!
  • All teams except Rising Stars!®: Declaration of Independence (2 copies – one for the Prep Area Appraiser, and one for Instant Challenge Check-in)
  • All teams except  Rising Stars!® (see below) – 5 copies of Tournament Data Form (each Appraiser gets a copy)
  • Rising Stars!® teams: 5 copies of Starry Showcase form (each Appraiser gets a copy)
  • All teams - Medical Information Form for each team member (kept by the Team Manager in case of an emergency)
  • All teams except for Challenge D and Rising Stars!® - Expense Report (make sure this is a photocopy, since it will not be returned to you)
  • All teams except for Challenge D and Rising Stars!® – Copies of receipts in case questions arise about Expense Report
  • All teams – photocopy of Team Clarifications (if your team asked for any)

• All teams are required to familiarize themselves with Published Clarifications. These clarifications supersede all other rules and can be published ANYTIME.
• Make sure you review the Tournament policies page. No weapons (real or facsimile) are allowed, and requests for the use of dry ice must be pre-approved by the Tournament Director. Students must be supervised by adults at all times.
• If you have not already scheduled a dress rehearsal, now is a great time to do so. Please remind audience members that it is Interference for them to provide any kind of constructive feedback. Have your team practice set-up, entering from the left, entering from the right, and having something go wrong (such as having scenery fall down, or a prop being forgotten at home). Remind teams that their solution must fit through a standard doorway.
• Now is a good time to have the team brainstorm a list of “what if” scenarios in case something goes wrong at the Tournament. Simultaneously, have the team brainstorm a list of items needed for an emergency repair kit.
• Remind parents and supporters that they may not help students put on makeup and costumes, and that it is the team’s responsibility to make any repairs to their solution. It is the team’s solution!

Shirts are available for $10 for sizes Youth Medium through Extra Large and $15 for 2XL and 3XL.

In order to pre-order, you must fill out the order form (link below) completely by February 5th 2013. Once your pre-order has been received, you will receive an email from cre8iowa letting you know if the desired t-shirt size(s) and quantities are available and providing you with the official total. At that time you will be asked to mail in your check or purchase order for the total amount, which must arrive within 7 days to the address below.

Once payment has been received, you will receive an order confirmation email from cre8iowa.

You will be able to pick up your order at the sales table at the Sub-State Tournament on March 9th. Pick-ups may only be done by the person placing the order or other approved person named on this form. No other person may pick up the shirts.

You can find the order form here: 2012-13 T-Shirt Pre-Order Form

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at cre8iowa@gmail.com.

For more information, see the brief description below, check out the 2013 DI Video Contest rules, or visit the Show Us Your Skills contest announcement. Deadline: April 15, 2013 (midnight Eastern Standard Time)

The challenge with any improv situation (whether a job interview, a first date, or an ice breaker game) is how to move the scene forward. This is called advancing. This sounds like a fairly simple concept until it comes time to do it. So how does one advance the scene? By accepting what is going on. This means that the improviser embraces the offers, any dialog or action, made by other performers in order to advance the scene. This requires a fair amount of teamwork and trust and most of all a willingness to say “yes . . . and”.  A good improviser will always try to accept what occurred before which is where this technique becomes handy. Below is an example of the technique.

 Person A: I made a pair of fingerless gloves.

Person B: Yes, they are very pretty. And maybe you should think about trying to sell them?

Person A: Yes, that would be a great idea and maybe you can help me market them?

Voila, you go from one person making something to a new business venture. All thanks to the “yes . . . and” technique which helps the scene advance. The opposite, blocking, is when an improviser rejects information or ideas offered by another player. This most often results in the scene coming to a standstill. This is where a team needs to learn to trust that each member is working to move the skit, conversation, or interview forward.

Once you get a scene going, the next concern is how to make the exchange as engaging as possible. This often requires conflict or a disagreement or argument. Think of your favorite movie or play. Do all the characters get along, have common goals, and work well together? Probably not. Skits without conflict are usually dull, there needs to be some sort of friction between characters. Other tips for how to make the scene as engaging include:

• Make sure the story has a beginning, middle, and end. The sections do not necessarily need to be in that order, but cohesion between scenes is important. Otherwise, your audience gets lost.
• If using imaginary props remember to give the object dimension and weight. Think of how you would normally hold a big box or a bowling ball versus holding a can of soda pop or a pillow.
• Go with your gut. You do not want to over analyze what you are going to say. Over thinking the next line causes awkward pauses. There is no right or wrong response, so just go for it.
• Make everyone else in your group look good. You do not want to be driving the scene. Driving means that one person take over a scene and does not letting other performers influence its direction. Just to be clear, this is not a good thing! Successful improve requires give and take to keep advancing the conversation or story.

Still, not quite sure you get it? Try to go to YouTube and watch episodes of “Who’s Line Is It Anyways?’. This comedy show makes four performers go out and do silly things, like work with unusual props, only ask questions, or come up with 30 second skits about a randomly selected scene (like alien abduction).

Now that we have talked about improv, it’s time to do it. Not only is the internet full of different improv warm-ups, exercises, and games, our document library and member’s only gallery has some activities too. My personal favorite is the “Word At A Time” exercise.

Word At A Time Description:  Each player in the circle contributes a word into the story. If the first person to speak says “Johnny” the next person could say, “set”, the next person would say “out”. And so on. This is the most commonly used of all the improv exercises and handles. It is also one of the most misused. The best way to help the players build stories is to try and keep them in the present tense. In improvisation present tense always works the best. The word at a time stories should also make sense. The players need to be listening to the story so far. Instead of offering the witty word that will make everyone laugh, they should add the next most logical word. This exercise takes control away from those players that tend to drive scenes. If you are finding that sentences are going on too long allow for any of the players in the circle to call out ‘period’ to end the sentence. Banning ‘and’ and ‘but’ are also good ways to keep people from prolonging things and leading to formed sentences.

Now how does this tie in with Destination Imagination®? Well, if you know about the DI Challenges, then you probably have heard of a little thing called Instant Challenge (for more information please check out our 2013 ICer Blog) and well as Challenge D which is the (you guessed it) Improv Challenge. Teams can elect Challenge D as their Central Challenge. All teams participate in Instant Challenge at tournament.

So go out and try to improv a scene with your team! It’s not only helpful exercise to develop on your feet thinking, but also a fun way to spend some time.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net/jscreationzs

Iowa Membership

The Iowa Membership Registration Form deadline is right around the corner.

Early Bird Registration: January 14, 2013

Early Bird Iowa membership fees are $65.00 per competitive team (Elementary, Middle, Secondary Level, or College & University Level) and $45 for each non-competitive team. Non-competitive teams include Early Learners (Rising Stars!^®) and those Elementary, Middle, Secondary, or College & University Level teams that choose to participate at an Iowa tournament without being scored.

Final registration: January 21, 2013

Registrations received after January 14, 2013 will have an Iowa membership fee of $85 per competitive team and $65 per Early Learners or non-competitive team.

Go to Iowa Membership Registration for more information including the registration form

Appraiser Training Dates

Each competitive and non-competitive team that performs in Challenges A – E plus projectOUTREACH® is responsible for providing an individual, who will be trained by Students for a Creative Iowa, to represent your team as a Challenge Appraiser at the Destination Imagination^® tournaments in Iowa. The team volunteer must attend one of the following training dates:

• Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 – Kirkwood Community College – Iowa City Campus
• Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 – Kuemper Catholic High Schools – Carroll
• Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013- Ames Middle School – Ames

See Appraiser Information for additional details

2013 ICer

Registration for the 2013 Instant Challenger opened on November 16^th and we have already booked more than half the available time slots. If you want to come to this popular team workshop being held on January 12^th, register ASAP.

To register fill out the following online form: 2013 ICer Registration

Clarifications

Remember to regularly check for new Published Clarifications. Also, don’t forget you get to ask the International Challenge Masters 10 Team Clarifications as related to your solution. The deadline for asking Team Clarifications is midnight PST on February 15th.

To check out the Published Clarifications and to ask Team Clarifications go to Destination Imagination Clarifications

The Audience

If you remember nothing else, please remember the audience is your focus. First, you need to define your audience. Who are the people that need to hear and see what you are doing in the performance? Let me give you a hint: it is difficult to appraise and give points if you can’t hear and see what is going on. Second, whatever you are doing or saying, direct it towards the audience. Performing is significantly different than everyday life in this. Most of us are taught that you look at the person you are speaking to or the person speaking. So it seems correct that Character A is looking at and facing Character B. However, if Character A has his back to the audience, then it is not correct since it makes it hard for the audience to hear and see what is going on. However, you want your performance to seem real right? So you don’t want to just face the audience and talk. In fact doing that has a name in the acting world; it is called breaking the fourth wall and it’s considered to be a big mistake. Instead of letting the audience see someone’s back and another person’s front or both people just talking at the audience, try letting the audience see both people from the side. This mean you need to think about the performance area.

The Stage

Knowing the space you have to work with is the next step in creating a better performance. Did you know a stage has its own directions? These directions are based on where the audience is located; take a look at the diagram and definitions below.

• Stage Left—the actor’s left facing the audience
• Stage Right—the actor’s right while facing the audience
• Upstage—towards the back of the area (away from the audience)
• Downstage—towards the front of the area (towards the audience)

Now, using these definitions, you can figure out where you want everything to go (people, props, scenery, etc.) For example, place the main scenery stage left, upstage so there is plenty of room for the actors to move in front of the set. Place the main technical device downstage, stage right to allow the engineer to get everything set up behind the device away from the audience. I would recommend each team makes a diagram of their set. Having a plan laid out will help when it comes to the tournaments. If someone forgets where something goes, then a glance at the diagram should solve the issue. There have been quite a few teams I have watched trip over their props and sets, because they are not used to where everything goes. However, you also do not want to damage your props and sets by practicing too much with them. So what is a team to do? How about substituting another item for your props during practice? There are plenty of household items that will be roughly the same dimension as your props. Using placeholders will allow your team to practice with the space they will have. Once you are comfortable on the set, you can then work on your skills as an actor.

The Character

Pretending to be someone or something other than you is difficult. But it becomes easier if you know who that character is. Try getting to know the character like you would a person. Where did he come from? What culture did he grow up in? Is there a defining moment in his life? What does he want to do/accomplish? Does he have a bad habit? Who is his role model or hero? What is his personality like: loud and over-the top or quiet and reserved? What are his talents? How does the situation affect his mood and attitude? Practice being your character outside of the main performance such as in a short improv skit, and see what happens. Don’t worry about portraying the character badly. If you don’t like how something happened, then figure out how you would change it to work better. Once you figure out the character, you can work on getting the script down and reciting it.

The Recital

Like I mentioned earlier, trying to remember what you need to say when is difficult. When trying to memorize the script, repetition is key and so is giving yourself breaks. Read the first line and then say it without the paper, ready the first and second line and then say it without the paper, and continue this process until you can say all the lines without looking at the paper. If you cannot do it, then just keep going back to the beginning. Once you have worked on it for a bit, take a break and do something else. It is easy to derail the memorization process if you try to learn and remember everything at once. Now beyond just repeating the lines, you need to make sure your audience can hear. So when reciting a script, work on breathing, projecting, and enunciating. Before you speak, try taking a deep breath. This will allow you to say the whole line through without any pauses (you know the pauses that happen when you need to breathe). Make sure you project your voice, allowing more than just the people in the performance area to hear you. Pretend that you are trying to get someone to hear you across the library or another place you just can’t yell. When you speak, over enunciate (e-Non-C-aTe). You want to emphasize consonants to allow your audience to understand what you are saying. Yes, doing it in everyday conversation sounds weird and you may feel ridiculous, but it will help you to speak clearly.

If a team works on focusing on their audience, planning their staging, creating realistic characters, and reciting the script well, then that team’s potential success will increase. Yet success is not always an easy road. One of cre8iowa’s experienced Team Managers recommends practicing one more thing, preparing for a disaster. Try having the team brainstorm and write down all the things that can go wrong (everything from someone missing a line to a prop being forgotten at home to the scenery falling down). Let the team briefly discuss what to do to fix each problem. Then, while the team is practicing their performance, select a problem randomly and shout out the disaster. The team has to then think on their feet and solve the problem while the show continues on. Repeat this exercise a few times with different problems and times the problem takes place. As the saying goes, if you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail. But most of all, remember and prepare to have FUN!

Image courtesy of worradmu / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

To register fill out the following online form: 2013 ICer Registration. Registration will close on January 5th, 2013 or before if all available slots are filled.

What is the Instant Challenger (ICer)?

It is workshop where teams practice three (3) performance based Instant Challenges (IC) and three (3) tasked based ICs. Each team is given individualized attention for a period of 2 hours, beginning at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Ames Middle School in Ames. The team is given feedback by experienced DI volunteers who serve as the Appraisers for this event. The fee for this workshop is non-refundable $20 to cover the supplies used by the teams. For more information please read over the instructions found on the form.

What is Instant Challenge?

The Rules of the Road states that Instant Challenge “is a Challenge that teams are asked to solve in a very short period of time at their tournament, without knowing ahead of time what the Challenge will be” (5). IC encourages teams to use their problem solving abilities and creativity in a collaborative manner to solve a never before seen problem under a tight time constraint which promotes time management skills. At tournament, IC makes up 25% of the total score or is worth 100 points. For more information about IC, types of ICs, and the rules, please refer to the Rules of the Road pages 27-29.

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