instant [in-stuh
nt] noun; an infinitesimal or very short space of time; a moment: They arrived not an instant too soon.
adjective: succeeding without any interval of time; prompt; immediate: instant relief from a headache.
challenge [chal-inj] noun: a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.
verb (used with object): to summon to a contest of skill, strength, etc.
In DI: Instant Challenge is a 5-8 minute test of the teams’ abilities to listen, read, understand, and think on their feet in a creative manner with teamwork and skill. The official definition from DI is here (along with sample Challenges.)
Teams have to practice IC. Really practice. Ask any long time appraiser and they will tell you it’s easy to tell teams who have practiced versus teams who have not.
So where do you get practice materials? The Internet has many sites for these.
- The Destination ImagiNation IC page has several.
- Ben’s IC Gold Mine has several files of IC’s
- Montana DI has pages dedicated to IC’s.
- NYDI has a “Create your own IC” page to play with.
- KY-DI also has a page of ideas on creating your own IC’s and how to train your team for IC.
- TXDI has a page of IC’s specifically for Rising Stars!
- The Destination ImagiNation Support Committee (DISC) has a page of IC info and links including a BETA of an IC generator.
Then, a Montana Team Manager supplied this idea to the the DINI Yahoo group on 11/01/2011:
“I haven’t been Doin’ DI for a couple of years now but, there are LOTS of state and regional DI sites that have IC’s. Also, check out the Instant Challenge books from IDODI.org. One volume, there are several, has 100+ ICs of all types. They were lifesavers for me in my less creative moments!”
“Don’t be afraid to mix up what you already have by:
- adding required length/distance;
- eliminating a critical supply;
- adding or substituting some odd supplies;
- adding another component (performance to present solution, etc);
- muting the team (no talking during the IC);
- blindfolding half the team who must then do the IC at the direction of the other half who cannot touch materials.”
“What’s the point? Be creative! You can also try having the team create their own ICs for team managers and parents, another team, etc. Some of my teams learned MORE about ICs by creating them (what makes it hard, fun, creative?)”
“I used to get together with TMs from my area in the fall and have an IC party packaging night. Someone would select enough ICs for 2 or 3 per week for the entire season and gather supplies/shop. We’d all get together and assemble ICs for the entire year in one night for all the teams! We tried to keep an even split between types if ICs (performance, task, hybrid) and we’d think up ways to make each one easier for younger teams and harder for those pesky high schoolers. Mostly we just talked about this while we assembled. Every TM went home with a large garbage bag full of ICs and lots of ideas. We would always end up with extra at the end of the year which we’d use at an end of year party with friends and family (or save to start off the next year!).”
Best of luck!
Kim
Great Falls, Montana”
