1. Types of Instant Challenge and Strategies for Success

2. Instant Challenge Types
There are three types of Instant Challenges:
Performance-Based
Task-Based
Combination (Performance-Based)
Because your team has no guarantee which type of Instant Challenge it will be asked to solve at the tournament, your team should practice all three types.

3. Instant Challenge Types
Performance-Based:
Focus on the team working together to create and perform a theatrical solution
Team will be evaluated on teamwork, and may be evaluated on the creativity of the solution and the presentation and/or use of materials
Some component of the scoring will be objective
Team may be given real or imaginary materials to use for the solution.

4. Instant Challenge Types
Performance-Based (cont’d):
Team may be asked to use words, language, conversation and/or dramatic characterizations to solve the Instant Challenge, or the solution may be required to be non- verbal
Team may or may not be given time to practice the solution before presenting to the Appraisers

5. Instant Challenge Types
Task-Based:
Focus on the team members working together to move, build, change or protect materials they are given in order to complete a task
Team may also be asked to communicate information
Team will be evaluated on teamwork, and may be evaluated on the creative use of materials and on their success in completing the task
May or may not be allowed to talk during the Challenge

6. Instant Challenge Types
Combination (Performance and Task-Based):
Any combination of a task and a performance as part of a single challenge
Common Scenarios
Make Props + Use props in a performance
Create a performance to get materials + Use materials to complete a task
Complete a task to get materials/props + Use materials to make props for Performance

7. Instant Challenge Types
Performance
Combination
Task
With Props
Any Combination of Performance and Task
To Build (Height, Width or to hold Weight)
Without Props
Performance With Team Made Props
To Move
With Imaginary Props
Performance to get Materials for use in a task
To Protect
With Team Made Props
Complete a task to get materials for use in a performance
To Communicate
To Change

8. Instant Challenge Scoring
Objective and Subjective Criteria

9. Instant Challenge Scoring
Each Instant Challenge will have a specific section guiding Appraisers as to how the scoring is to be done.
Some criteria are objective with a clear indication of what needs to happen in order to earn points.
Some criteria are subject and based on the appraiser’s opinion. Rubrics for scoring creativity and teamwork will be available to the appraiser for each Instant Challenge.

10. Objective Scoring Criteria
All appraises agree on item and have same score
Discrepancies favor the team
Examples
Count of things
Measurement
Task (subtask) completed
Accepting a restriction

11. Objective Scoring Criteria
Count of Things
Number of balls in a bowl (marbles uncovered, cans moved)
Number of correctly placed pieces
Number of Spells Cast during performance
Measurements
Height, Length or Width of structure

12. Objective Scoring Criteria
Task (subtask) completed
Skit has a beginning, middle and end
Bridge was supporting ball at end of time
No words were spoken
Accept Restrictions
Use only the materials on one table
Use less time

13. Subjective Scoring Criteria
Appraisers do not have to agree
100% Appraiser’s individual opinion
Rubric provided to appraisers as a guide
Examples
Teamwork
Creativity
Creativity of an Idea
Creativity of a thing made
Creativity of Material Use
Creativity of Performance

14. Scoring Teamwork
Points
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
Qualities
Dominating individual who limits the participation of others.
Cooperation is minimal.
Little sharing of ideas.
Some evidence of individual team member roles.
Some cooperation. Some evidence of accepting ides of others.
Acceptance of team roles above average.
Good cooperation.
Sharing and acceptance of ideas of others.
Leadership and team roles are easily identified.
Diversity of skills mutually respected and evident.
Team dynamics exemplary.

15. Scoring Creativity of an Idea or Thing
Points
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
1-7
8-16
16-21
22-30
1-3
4-8
8-11
12-15
Qualities
Creativity is present and its somewhat enhanced
The solution applies
Creativity is present and its relevant
There is a theme.
The solution is complete.
Solved with related elements.
Creativity is present and it’s integrated.
Chiefly original work.  
Creativity is there and its innovative
AHA! WOW!!

16. Scoring Creativity of a Performance
Points
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
1-7
8-16
16-21
22-30
1-3
4-8
8-11
12-15
Qualities
Creativity is present and its somewhat enhanced
The solution applies
Attempt at application
Solved with marginal addition
Creativity is present and its relevant
There is a theme.
The solution is complete.
Solved with related elements.
Creativity is present and it’s integrated.
Chiefly original work.
Solved with integration.
Creativity is there and its innovative
AHA! WOW!!
Unrelated elements synthesized to create a new idea.

17. Instant Challenge – Tips for Success

18. Performance Based IC Skits need to have a Beginning, Middle, and End
Extremely important for teams to understand
Without this skit has no direction
Often the only “Objective” Scoring element in a performance based challenge.

19. Performance Based IC Creativity
Teams will usually be scored on Creativity of the Performance
Teams may be scored on the creativity of an “idea” that contributes to the Performance
Teams should constantly ask themselves if this idea is creative
What are other teams likely to do
Is this solution unique?
Don’t fall into the trap of creating a skit just based off the name of the challenge.
Rule of Three

20. Performance Based IC Suggested exercise
The team is to develop a skit which completes a scene, I would give them two minutes to plan, and then two minutes to perform their skit
Emphasize the idea of Beginning, Middle, and End during the debrief. Ask the team what was your beginning, middle and end? How creative was it?
Go over the 10 Important Questions to Ask After Every Instant Challenge Activity

21. Task Based IC Time management is crucial!!
Team will get usually have a larger component of objective scoring components.
Sometimes an IC proves to be either very hard or very easy and the only difference between all scores are the subjective components.

22. Task Based IC Practice having teams build structures
Practice having teams move or carry oblects
Practice having teams identify material types (connectors, extenders, controllers)
Which materials can be used in multiple ways
How a particular material can be altered
For example a piece of paper
Go over the 10 Important Questions to Ask After Every Instant Challenge Activity

23. Creative Use of Materials
Seen in task-based and combination challenges
Often see teams try to use as many items as possible rather than using the items in a creative fashion
During appraiser trainings I emphasize to appraisers the following:
a team may get slightly more points for using more items than a team that only uses one or two items in a common way
However, I reward a team that only uses one or two items in a highly creative fashion much more highly
If a team just begins adding “non-functional” stuff to their device/structure I do NOT reward them with more points.
However, the rubric given to appraisers for “creatvity of material use” rewards teams for the number of items a team uses as well as how creatively they are used.
Best bet for a team: be creative with the materials you use, make sure the materials you are using are for functional uses of the challenge.
CREATIVE = ITEMS BEING USED DIFFERENTLY FROM THEIR FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE

24. Creative Use of Materials
A suggested exercise:
hand the team one of the items from the next slides
give them one minute to think
have the team discuss their ideas and formulate a list of the 10 different ways that this particular item could be used creatively and decide which one is the MOST creative
Keep a list on a poster board or white board of the most creative, have this poster posted when they are meeting so it jogs their memories

25. Extenders
Used to achieve length

26. Connectors
Used to fasten objects

27. Controllers
Used to contain, confine, or carry

28. Examples

29. Contact Information
Affiliate Challenge Master - Instant Challenge
Sarah Whitney -