" we had to change the batteries and it's like a completely different robot." Battery strength affects the power level of the motors. There is a good lesson to be had on having the kids observe how a motor's power setting influences the vehicle's speed and distance travelled . The kids should try this for motor duration as seconds as well as duration as rotations and then choose a solution that ensures that the vehicle maintains its accuracy regardless of the power level. -David Sent from my iPhone On Oct 30, 2009, at 5:57 PM, Laura Dysart <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Brian- while I thought our new young team finally had one consistent > mission down (which the team is ok with as a goal)- we had to change > the batteries and it's like a completely different robot. i really > feel like now we are at point when we could desperately use two > more weeks- I actually read the second paragraph in the "advice for > coaches" on page 8 of the coaches manual- for "rookie teams" to them > today- and I have reminded them that whatever happens Saturday- they > have worked hard and learned a lot- when I look at the rubric, I > feel the same way- but it's kind of too late now- I think as a > second year team we'll be able to work on more- I told them I'd be > willing to meet with them once a month or so just to "play around > with the Mindstorms." I think those of us who have Rookie Teams > should feel good about giving them this experience and reminding > them to learn at this tournament- I reminded them there would be > some teams that would be able to accomplish a lot of missions- but > we are a new team. Our team work is not quite fully developed as I > would like, and again, not enough time- but I'm proud of them. > You're not alone. Laura > On Oct 30, 2009, at 1:08 PM, Brian Nussbaum wrote: > >> Hello VDACFLL, >> (My thoughts with a question at the end) >> >> I am a first-year coach with a very young team of 5th graders. >> Earlier in >> this listserv there was some conversation about coaches who do not >> feel that >> they are ready for the competition. >> >> We have a week until our day at JMU, and I can definitely say that >> ateam and >> bteam from Thomas Harrison Middle School will be bringing up the >> rear. It >> will be quite amazing if our group is able to complete one task on >> the >> table, and have any sort of powerpoint with a linear thought >> process. We >> have not completed any of the requirements on the rubric for our >> research. >> >> HOWEVER, as coaches we are looking at the process rather than the end >> result. Learning has happened on the part of both the students and >> the >> coaches (for example, some of our students are learning that it is >> not a >> good idea to completely dismantle the robot a week before the >> competition). >> On the whole, it is a good example of how this particular group of >> 5th >> graders has some significant growing to do in the thought-process and >> maturity departments. >> >> As coaches, we have done significant scaffolding for them to try to >> break >> down the problem into smaller chunks, but we will just call our >> students >> 'creative thinkers' rather than linear or result-oriented thinkers. >> >> But this is OK, because we have made progress, even though very >> little of it >> will appear on Saturday. We are trusting that this will be a >> learning >> experience for this very young team. At this point they don't even >> realize >> what they don't know. Seeing other teams will be a good >> opportunity for >> them to realize their potential for the future. >> >> If we work together a few times in the spring to go back and solve >> a few of >> this year's tasks, and then get an earlier start next fall, we may >> be more >> in the middle of the pack next year (I'm thinking optimistically). >> >> This is to assure all of you that are feeling worried--it's OK. >> >> Question: will there be an opportunity for my teams to watch other >> groups' >> research presentations? I think they never really got a full >> understanding >> of what we were going for on the research end of things. Seeing a >> successful group could be helpful for them. >> >> Thanks. >> -- >> Mr. Brian Nussbaum >> Mathematics Teacher >> Thomas Harrison Middle School >> >> >> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message and any attachments are >> for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain >> confidential or >> privileged information. 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