On March 23, 2019, the Tournament of Minds Competition was held at Sha Tin Junior School in Hong Kong. This is the third year TIS has entered in the competition, and this year we were able to enter 13 students in 2 teams.
The students who represented the school this year were:
Grade 4 – Natalie, Xiangping, Breana, Alba and Theo;
Grade 5 – Cloris;
Grade 6 – Frank, Mayli, Clare, Phoebe, Freya, Daniel and Ethan.
Ms Lindsay Johnston was the facilitator for both teams. We caught up with her to find out a little more about the competition.
What is Tournament of Minds?
Tournament of Minds is a competition that requires teams of students to prepare for a Long Term Challenge. Students must work in teams of 7 to solve the problem presented in their challenge and perform it in a creative way. The teams must also complete a Spontaneous Challenge on the day of the competition. The focus is on problem solving, creativity, and critical thinking.
What does it involve?
Students have approximately 6 weeks to prepare for the Long Term Challenge. They must respond to a problem in the form of a dramatic presentation that not only solves the problem but also highlights two specific skills such as humour, voice, or costumes. The presentation must be created entirely by students, including all props. Adults are not allowed to help!
How did the students enjoy the tournament and what did they gain from it?
Tournament of Minds has many benefits for students. The main benefits include learning to work as a team and solving problems collaboratively as they arise. Students practise listening respectfully to the opinions and the ideas of all group members and make decisions that are best for the team. There is also the element of time — students learn to manage their time and delegate tasks. Finally, students must think creatively and draw on each others’ strengths to make the best performance possible.
Congratulations to all our students who participated in this year’s tournament. They represented the school with pride, positivity and enthusiasm.
Thank you to Ms. Johnston for facilitating the TIS teams for the third year running, giving our students the opportunity to take part in a such a wonderful, challenging event. A big thank you also to Ms. Sonia Iong and Ms. Kim Eunok who volunteered as judges for the tournament. Last but not least, thank you to our parents for their continued support.
