Thinking Cap History and Info
Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl is a company formed in 1989 by Harvey and Shirley Kimble in Urbandale, Iowa. Both were avid Trivial Pursuit players and Harvey coached very successful high school quiz bowl teams. At that time, no company offered computer quiz bowls for elementary school and they decided to fill that need. Harvey tried successfully a 5th and 6th grade contest in Iowa. They formed a company and offered one in Illinois as a test quiz and found teachers and kids very receptive and glad to have a computer team activity. A few years later they began offering 7th and 8th grade quiz bowls too.
How Thinking Cap Works
Their intent is that the students have fun while doing a scholastic, computer team competition in their own school. Harvey and Shirley have tried to keep it inexpensive so many students can participate. The number of students per team is up to the teacher and schools may do as many teams as desired. Some teachers and teams really enter it to win and hand pick selective teams while some teams just do it for a fun, educational activity including any students who are interested.
The tests are self-scoring, computer contests of 100 multiple-choice questions. Areas covered include math, geography, government, sports, spelling, science, literature, English, history, general information and just plain fun trivia. It is meant to be a team activity with all takers around one computer. Two chances to answer correctly are given. Points are awarded based on how fast they answer as well as on accuracy. Therefore, teams who do well usually are teams who can come up with a consensus answer quickly. An adult is needed to monitor but no adult help can be given.
Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl is a company formed in 1989 by Harvey and Shirley Kimble in Urbandale, Iowa. Both were avid Trivial Pursuit players and Harvey coached very successful high school quiz bowl teams. At that time, no company offered computer quiz bowls for elementary school and they decided to fill that need. Harvey tried successfully a 5th and 6th grade contest in Iowa. They formed a company and offered one in Illinois as a test quiz and found teachers and kids very receptive and glad to have a computer team activity. A few years later they began offering 7th and 8th grade quiz bowls too.
How Thinking Cap Works
Their intent is that the students have fun while doing a scholastic, computer team competition in their own school. Harvey and Shirley have tried to keep it inexpensive so many students can participate. The number of students per team is up to the teacher and schools may do as many teams as desired. Some teachers and teams really enter it to win and hand pick selective teams while some teams just do it for a fun, educational activity including any students who are interested.
The tests are self-scoring, computer contests of 100 multiple-choice questions. Areas covered include math, geography, government, sports, spelling, science, literature, English, history, general information and just plain fun trivia. It is meant to be a team activity with all takers around one computer. Two chances to answer correctly are given. Points are awarded based on how fast they answer as well as on accuracy. Therefore, teams who do well usually are teams who can come up with a consensus answer quickly. An adult is needed to monitor but no adult help can be given.