At Smith’s Hill, we love ToM. What is ToM, you may ask, and the answer to that is that ToM is one of the most amazing experiences you can have as a student. Tournament of Minds, affectionately known as ToM, is a combination of problem solving and drama, which is open to high school and primary students from K – 10. There are four divisions that schools can enter: Social Sciences (problems are based around HSIE), Language/ Literature (problems are based around literature, and can include writing a poem, appropriation etc.), Maths/ Engineering (teams have to design a functioning model to solve a problem) and the new Applied Technology division (teams use digital technology to produce a solution).
The challenge? In teams of seven students, with no more than three students from any one year and at least two from Year Seven, students have six weeks to create a ten-minute presentation, which creatively solves the problem given. The team has to demonstrate creativity, dramatic presentation, originality, teamwork and also fulfil all the presented criteria. No outside assistance is allowed, and everything from the script to costumes and sets has to be created within the time frame by the team members. At the conclusion of the six-week period, teams perform their piece to a panel of three judges at the Regional Competition. At this stage teams are also required to participate in a Spontaneous Challenge, during which they are presented with a problem and have five minutes to solve and present a solution, whilst being judged on originality and the ability to work as a team.
From the Regional Competition, successful teams go onto the State Finals and even the Australasian Pacific Finals, which our school has now been to on three occasions. If you make it to that level, you have only three hours to complete the same requirements as the six-week regional challenge.
The process, however, all starts much earlier than the beginning of the six-week period, at the beginning on Term Two. Our dedicated ToM facilitator, Mr Cutler, along with senior ex-ToM participants, help select, via an audition process, the teams. Students are asked to create and perform a piece, either solo or in pairs, based around one of several topics given to them by the facilitator. Following this presentation they will take part in a group Spontaneous Challenge. After a very selective audition period, teams are formed based on year, dramatic ability, creativity, scriptwriting and experience. The teams then not only bond, but intensely practise problem solving and prepare for the long term and spontaneous challenges.
Tournament of Minds would not be such an amazing experience if not for the dedication of a few key participants. Our facilitator gives up his own time to help develop and encourage the teams, giving the students an extraordinary and memorable experience. The P&C have also provided us with valuable financial aid and encouragement, with the SRC also giving us great support. ToM has also been able to continue with the ongoing support from our dedicated principal, Mrs Mitchell. Finally, a huge ‘big up’ and congratulations must be given to all the students that get involved with ToM, who give up lunchtimes and weekends to practise, who are enthusiastic and dedicated and who are exceptionally passionate about every aspect of ToM!
Solange Handley (Australasian Winner 2005, State Finalist 2008, Junior Facilitator 2009)