2014 IMSO國小奧林匹亞競賽心得

雙語部熊明德組長 Ted Hsiung

This year is IBSH’s second time to participate IMSO (International Mathematics and Science Olympiad). We chose six participants by two screening tests (one is paper test and the other is experiment test) and science teachers’ suggestion at the end of last semester. Finally we chose five sixth graders and one fifth grader to form this team.Students all studied very hard to prepare for the IMSO event. They also practiced an aboriginal dance to perform for the cultural night. IBSH students formed science team and another six students from other parts of Taiwan formed the team.

We arrived at Bali, Indonesia at 16:00 on October 5th. The Ministry of Education of Indonesia sent nine people to welcome us at the front door of the international airport. They took photos and filmed us immediately. Then we took a bus to Hotel Aston Denpasa. Our liaison officers, Linda and Michelle, helped us settle down at the hotel.

Second day was the opening ceremony. Fourteen countries participated in this year’s IMSO.

Third day was the first day of contest. Students had a three-hour test in the morning.

In that afternoon, we Taiwan team provided a puzzle challenge game for all the other participants.

Fourth day was an experimental test. It lasted three hours. Some students were too tired to finish these two experiments. Students first got a standard sample vitamin c solution with starch inside it. They had to drop iodine solution into that solution until it changed into purple. Then students had to use this standard solution to compare another three samples, and tell what the concentrations of vitamin c of that three samples are. Second experiment was a Gr.12 physics experiment. Students needed to time how long for an 80-turn, a 40-turn, and a 20-turn springs to oscillate 20 times. Using a formula to calculate spring constant k, and then tell the mass of the hanger.

In that afternoon, students learned how to perform a Bali traditional dance. At night, it was cultural night. Every country showed its cultural dances or songs. Students traded souvenirs and took photos. They all had a wonderful night.

MOEI (Ministry of Education of Indonesia) provided a one-day tour for students, parents, and tutors. We saw a traditional Bali dance and the best sand beach.

During the closing ceremony, our students won four bronze medals. We raised our national flag and took photos. Students and parents were very happy and they told me they learned many things. If next time they have this opportunity, they will wish to come again. Other countries, like Thailand and Singapore, won more medals than us. They started to screen their students starting from last December. Students started to prepare for the IMSO when they were in third grade.

Participating this IMSO activity opened a window for me to know how other countries nurture their elite students. We can start screening our students earlier and choose students who are interested in science and give them a long-term training so let we will have better performance at next year’s IMSO.

< Jillian Ho>

My favorite event of the IMSO 2014 in Bali,

Indonesia was the Culture Party, where all the 14 different countries performed a show about their religion, beliefs, cultures, or traditions. The Culture Party also included exchanging presents and name cards with other people and in so doing, make friends with them.

This event was an unforgettable experience for me. Each country performed something really unique. I was really happy to see them showing us so much of their culture. For the Present Exchanging, each person from the Taiwan team had about 50 presents to give away, and that wasn’t enough! After giving out all the presents, I eventually started using the name cards to exchange with them. In the end, my bag was full of exchanged presents and name cards from different people of different countries. I really like these kinds of events where we can meet different people and makle new friends, hopefully there will be more in the future.

Many thanks to Mr. Ted, who helped us with our training and supported us throughout the whole event.

<Bella Lin>

One of the best part from IMSO is the Culture Party, because we don’t have to do anything, just sit and watch the performance from other countries. Also, I thought it was cool that there are so many countries, each performing their own traditional dance. The performance I liked the most was from South Africa. They did a lot of up and down movements with colorful fabric, it was really cool.

Another fun part of IMSO was the Puzzle challenge. We get to set up our own booths about science games. My game is building a arch bridge from the wooden blocks that I provided. I think it is fun watching the kids from other countries try and build a bridge while I just sit there and watch them.

Many thanks to all the science teachers who taught us many facts which helped us complete the test.

<Kuan-Wei Wu>

My favorite part of the events at IMSO 2014 Bali, Indonesia was the Culture Party. It was just like a carnival, starting from gift exchange with participants from other countries. The sourviors I received include keychains, pens, stamps, notes, coins, and many small things. That was a good opportunity to make new friends. We exchanged name cards and took photos. After that each country performed something different. It was really interesting and fun to watch. Our dance got a lot of applause from the audiance. At the end of the party, many people came to the stage and danced.

I also liked the puzzle games. Taiwan team organized some sort of game or puzzle and contestants from other countries were welcome to come and play. It was memorable to play puzzles with many new friends, even though the time for the puzzle games were a bit too long. The educational tour to the beach at Jimbaran was also fun because you get chance to play with the sand there. Overall, I really enjoyed the events at IMSO 2014 Bali, Indonesia.

<Katelyn Chen 6A>

It was very fun meeting people from other countries. The test was very hard, with two theoretical tests and a three- hour long experiment. I was nervous and kept looking at the time because I was afraid of not be able to finish everything in time. When I knew I got a bronze medal, I was thrilled. The most fun of all was cultural night, when we got to watch other countries dance, and trade gifts with them. We also had to dance the Taiwan aboriginal dance and wear aboriginal clothes. There was also a day when we (Taiwan group) set up games and puzzles for other countries to play. They would come over and ask us how to play the puzzle, and we would teach them. I did the Chinese rainbow bridge, and lots of people came to play. I learned a lot in this six day competition and activity. I am glad I have the chance to participate in this competition. I will definitely go for the chance to enter more things like this.

<HaoSen Hsu>

I'm very honored to go to an international competition, IMSO 2014 in Bali; also, I thank all the science teachers in IBSH for trying to train us to get ready for the contest. I feel that other country's contestants are more passionate and enjoy the whole competition than us in many different ways, they are not only showing us their science knowledge in the tests, but also showing us their country's traditional performances perfectly in cultural night. I hope that contestants of Taiwan can be as competitive as other country's students someday.

After the competition, I feel that our science classes should have more experiments included and I'm hoping that next year will be more intelligent students join us in IMSO.

I'm very proud of myself and I'll do my best to improve my knowledge in science and become a scientist in the future.