Tournament of Minds is a problem solving program for teams of
students from both primary and secondary years. They are required to solve
demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following disciplines:
- Applied Technology
- Language Literature
- Maths Engineering
- Social Sciences
Tournament of Minds is an opportunity for students with a passion for learning
and problem solving to demonstrate their skills and talents in an exciting,
vibrant and public way.
Tournament of Minds has been one of the fastest growing national inter-school
programs to challenge the youth of Australia and is now expanding
internationally. It provides for the ever-increasing demand for sophisticated,
educational opportunities. The rapidly increasing and widespread involvement of
thousands of participants throughout Australia and internationally, demonstrates
that Tournament of Minds is not only a worthwhile investment in the education of
our youth, but is also an integral part of our collective future.
Tournament's aim is to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse
skills, enterprise, time management, and the discipline to work collaboratively
within a challenging and competitive environment.
Tournament of Minds offers Real World Benefits
Tournament of Minds looks beyond academic achievement and understands that the
pursuit of excellence knows no boundaries.
Tournament offers students a unique, total experience, providing challenge and
growth through its six week problem solving structure. The Tournament process
provides a platform for excellence and equips participants with strategies and
skills which will support future success.
Working in teams, effective problem-solving, thinking outside the square and the
use of technology are values that employers are searching for in the employee of
tomorrow. Tournament of Minds mirrors what successful businesses practise.
The Tournament Objectives:
- Provide the stimulation of real, open-ended challenges
- Develop creative problem solving approaches and techniques
- Foster cooperative learning and team work
- Promote knowledge and appreciation of self and others
- Encourage experimentation and risk taking
- Expand and reward creative and divergent thinking
- Stimulate a spirit of inquiry and a love of learning
- Develop enterprise
- Celebrate excellence
Bairsndale Primary School - 2009
Teams are required to work together on a Long Term Challenge
for six weeks without assistance from teachers, parents or peers.
They are encouraged to explore possibilities and experiment with ideas as they
endeavour to produce their best possible solution. They develop a creative and
original way to communicate this solution to others, working within predefined
parameters such as limited materials, complex challenge criteria and the
deadline of Tournament Day.
Students present the product of their ideas - their challenge solution - to a
panel of judges and an audience on Tournament Day. They have ten minutes in
which to present and must do so within a 3 metre by 3 metre performance area.
The teams must also participate in an unseen Spontaneous Challenge
on Tournament Day. This challenge requires rapid interchange of
ideas, the ability to think creatively and well developed group cooperation
skills.
Judges for both the Long Term and the Spontaneous Challenges are professionals
chosen from all areas of education, the arts and industry. They are thoroughly
trained to enable them to assess the creative performance and technical aspects
of the presentation.
Every school within Australia is invited to participate.
Tournament of Minds is a celebration of the talents and capabilities of our
youth. Thousands of parents, educators, and interested public flock annually to
watch and enjoy the exhilarating spectacle of the presentations and the
ingenious solutions created by motivated students who have accepted the
Tournament challenge.
Take up the challenge of the Tournament of Minds and help build a better future
for Australia.
Teams of seven students from school entry to year ten are invited to participate
within two divisions:
- Teams in the Primary Division must be a mix of students from at
least two year levels with a maximum of four students from any one year.
- Teams in the Secondary Division must be a mix of students from
at least two year levels (up to and including year ten) with a minimum of two
students from the year of entry to secondary school in your state, and a maximum
of four students from any one year.
They are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the
following disciplines:
- Applied Technology
- Language Literature
- Maths Engineering
- Social Sciences
We encorage involvement from anyone interested in the principals and aims of TOM
As a Judge: If you enjoy the exhilaration of youth excellence
and are enthused by creativity and challenge, you may be interested in becoming
a Tournament judge. To find out more about what is involved, please contact the
Tournament Director in your state or territory.
As a Sponsor: A number of exciting sponsorship opportunities
are offered within each state and territory, as well as on a national level.
Please contact the Tournament Director in your state or territory for state or
national sponsorship packages.
As a Challenge Writer: Tournament challenges are designed to be
complex, open-ended, challenging and appealing. Each year the program uses many
Long Term and Spontaneous Challenges. If you are interested in submitting ideas,
we would be pleased to hear from you.