Why PLP Loves Destination Imagination

by | Jan 2, 2020 | PLP 10, PLP 11, PLP 12, PLP 8, PLP 9 | 0 comments

Destination Imagination is a global educational nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators, leaders and creative problem solvers.

 

Destination Imagination’s Creative Process

 

Their vision is to inspire and equip participants to achieve anything they can imagine in life. They do that through their mission to engage participants in project-based challenges that are designed to build confidence and develop extraordinary creativity, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills.

 

Destination Imagination (DI) bases itself on these principles:
  • Fun learning: Explore STEM/STEAM concepts in a hands-on environment
  • Creative problem solving: Learn how to think, not what to think
  • Kid powered; team driven: Energize students to own all decisions, creations, and results
  • Friendly competition: Motivate teams to reach for the stars, while also rooting for each other
  • Global diversity: Encourage and celebrate differences in each other, and differences in ideas

 

When we first heard of Destination Imagination as PLP teachers, we knew this was the perfect fit to develop skills we wanted our learners to have too.

 

PLP @ DI’s BC Provincial Tournament 2019

 

When working on Destination Imagination in PLP we focus on:

 

  • No Interference: We CAN make this happen.

Skills and knowledge may be taught, but solutions and ideas may not be provided by an outside source. Adult leaders allow learners to find the answers on their own while developing new skills and exploring areas of STEAM.

 

  • Resource Awareness: We recognize the value of everything in our solution.

Learners use all of the resources available to them, including materials, strengths of team members, research, and experts. They learn to work within the constraints of a budget and within the requirements and guidelines of a Challenge.

 

  • Clarifying Questions: We ask important, critical questions for clarity.
Learners use questions to ensure understanding and to analyze all potential ideas and solutions. The questioning process allows learner- centric exploration and experimentation. Adult leaders use questions to deepen learning and understanding and to push learners beyond their assumed limitations. The DI Challenge Experience offers a Clarification system that allows for questions about the Challenge requirements and provides answers from International Challenge Masters, the Challenge experts.

 

  • Rapid Ideation and Implementation: We process and produce quickly and recognize that success can come from failure.

Adult leaders encourage learners to practice quick, creative, and critical thinking. Time constraints require fast idea generation, implementation, possible failure, and an immediate move to another possible solution for success.

 

  • Authentic Self-Expression: We purposefully express who we are through our innovative solutions.
Learners express individual and team creativity and belief systems while working collaboratively to solve a Challenge. Solutions are expected to include elements that express individual and team talents, strengths, and skills.
In January 2016, we registered our first PLP teams for the Destination Imagination Regional Tournament, with the support of then Director (and former Seycove parent!), Joan Vyner.

 

To compete in Destination Imagination, students are presented with a challenge – the same challenge that all teams worldwide are given – and they will work with a team of 2 to 7 classmates to create a solution to the challenge. Then they present it live at the regional tournament and provincial tournament.

 

The first year, our teams did surprisingly well. There were definitely some road bumps along the way (I will personally never forget Alex H frantically hacking at their project in the parking lot to try to get it to weight! – Lesson learned: always read the entire challenge!), but every road bump was actually an amazing learning opportunity. We signed up the next year to compete with even more teams and more PLP grades involved.

 

Two of the first DI ribbons that PLP won!

 

After more success and more learning, in the 2017/18 school year, we signed up to host the Lower Mainland Regional Tournament. Selfishly for our teams, that meant only taking all their projects to the provincials – not the regionals and the provincials! Also, it means that in one day, we have about 1000 people come through Seycove and see what an amazing school we have!
 

We are looking forward to seeing the culmination of months of preparation with the Lower Mainland Regional Tournament held at Seycove on February 29, 2020 and the Provincial Tournament held this year at Carson Graham on April 4, 2020!