How Does An Instant Challenge Work?

(from an article by Tina Shafer on destinationimagiantion.org)

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Destination Imagination Instant Challenges are designed to help children understand that by working collaboratively and following their innate curiosity, they can approach any problem with confidence and tenacity.

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Instant Challenges can be performance-based, task-based or a combination of the two. Many require materials—most of which are everyday items that can typically be found at your home. The best part is that you can also modify the Instant Challenge materials to better suit your needs.

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Unlike a Team Challenge where teams have months to prepare, plan and create their solution, Destination Imagination participants will have to solve an Instant Challenge in a matter of a few minutes. This is designed to help students build their quick, creative and critical thinking skills. (Think of it as mini brain training!) At a tournament, Instant Challenges are kept confidential and teams will not know the details, including what type of Challenge they’ll have to complete, until they walk in the room to solve it.

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One of the most important things to keep in mind is that there is no right or wrong way to solve an Instant Challenge. They are intentionally designed to have multiple solutions, which means your team can do the same Instant Challenge over and over again to come up with new ways to solve it.

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You can read more about Instant Challenges in the Rules of the Road resource (page 30), which is available with the printed Program Materials or as a download in the DI Resource Area.