You do not need to go to EV3

On Tue, Sep 16, 2014 at 12:17 PM, Kristina Romasser <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I was just wondering if we need to go to the new type of robot or if it will have to eventually be purchased. The $75 dollar kit is just the basic without the new EV3.  We have NXT.  Thanks

On Tue, Sep 16, 2014 at 10:59 AM, Wendy Newton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
My kids only meet once per week for a couple of hours because they have so many other things we are working around. Because of that they do research between meetings during the project phase and then put it together when they come to meetings.
So for last year they each researched and picked a natural disaster and community, then they came back together and talked about them, did some research together and decided between them which one to concentrate on. Then they each researched the natural disaster they picked at home and the problems that might result from that, came back together to discuss and pick the one to concentrate on. And so on. They are using the same method for this year but still working through it.
During the first part of the season they concentrate on project and once they feel they have a good handle on it, move to robot.
The first year (Senior Solutions) they did them concurrently but being all boys that was their favorite part. Judging feedback from their tournament indicated they were too robot focused. We kept the feedback sheets and they reviewed them prior to the start of last year and changed their strategy which worked very well.

On Tue, Sep 16, 2014 at 10:49 AM, Fredrik Nyman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I have been thinking about assigning project homework to my 4th and 5th graders that they would do with their parents' help. Nothing big, maybe 15 minutes of Internet research. 

Has anyone tried that approach?  Thoughts?

(My kids' parents are exceptionally supportive). 


On Tuesday, September 16, 2014, Gowri Kumar <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
There are  five teams from our school and each team gets to practice the mission once a week for two hours. Then they would meet at library or someone's place once a week and do the research and other team activities.

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 16, 2014, at 9:41 AM, "Poole, Aeronia" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I am curious if anyone has a school-based team and how you divide the practice time to cover research, building, programming, and team-building.  We have 1 hour, 15 minutes 1X/week, but just added a 2nd day.  Feeling a bit stressed about what to focus on before regional tournaments.

 

 

Mrs. Poole

MS Tech Lab

 

 

From: First Lego League in Virginia and DC [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott Rakestraw
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2014 4:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Robot Design for Rookies

 

Frank,

 

Every coach struggles with this, you are not alone.  There is a balance, my first year I was completely hands-off and evolved my approach with experience.  After my first year and after having some experience in Boy Scouts, I adopted the Edge Method from Boy Scouts, which is a method of learning by doing and a Robotics Badge Learning system. 

 

Explain how it is done – tell them

Demonstrate the steps – show them

Guide – learn as they practice – watch them do it

Enable – help them to succeed on their own

 

We apply the EDGE method with summer workshops and challenges that explain, demonstrate and guide.  By the time missions are released, they are on the enable step and have a strong foundation.   Once we have the missions, the team completes a robot design worksheet which defines the robot they will build. 

 

We also use a Robotics Badge Learning System as part of the process, a concept borrowed from Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  I use the badges to recognize team contribution and more importantly, to encourage team members to learn and try new things.   I think we have about 30 badges. For example, you can earn a line following or wall squaring badge. Because they want to earn badges, they take the time to learn about a concept.  When they are doing run strategy, they figure out how to apply a badge concept like wall or line squaring.  The badges are not just robot focused, they also cover project and core values.  My team this year is a Division II of all 7th grade girls that has won awards at States the last two years, they still want to earn badges. 

 

If you are interested in the Robotics Badge Learning System, challenges or worksheets, they are available on my robotics blog, www.fllstartingpoint.com, under resources.   

 

Thanks,

Scott Rakestraw

www.fllstartingpoint.com

 

Capital Teens

Capital Girls

Capital Girls Too

Code Crackers (4 Years)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: First Lego League in Virginia and DC [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Frank Levine
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2014 12:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VADCFLL-L] Robot Design for Rookies

 

Hi all,

  I was wondering where the line is between 'kids do the work' vs 'starter robot' is?  I have seen several suggestions (both here and on the interwebs) that this/that robot is a great robot for rookies, etc.  While my team has been trying to make a decent robot from scratch, I have taken many of the suggestions that I have seen from the internet and made what I think is a decent driving base.  Is it appropriate to hand that base over to the rookies and let them go from there?  Will the judges frown on a coach doing some of the initial legwork to get a base started?  What's the difference between that and finding a starting base on-line?  Ideally I would love to see them make it from scratch, but today's building session has me thinking that this may be a bit of a stretch.

 

Thanks,

Frank Levine

"The Construction Mavericks"

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From: First Lego League in Virginia and DC [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Frank Levine
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2014 12:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VADCFLL-L] Robot Design for Rookies

 

Hi all,

  I was wondering where the line is between 'kids do the work' vs 'starter robot' is?  I have seen several suggestions (both here and on the interwebs) that this/that robot is a great robot for rookies, etc.  While my team has been trying to make a decent robot from scratch, I have taken many of the suggestions that I have seen from the internet and made what I think is a decent driving base.  Is it appropriate to hand that base over to the rookies and let them go from there?  Will the judges frown on a coach doing some of the initial legwork to get a base started?  What's the difference between that and finding a starting base on-line?  Ideally I would love to see them make it from scratch, but today's building session has me thinking that this may be a bit of a stretch.

 

Thanks,

Frank Levine

"The Construction Mavericks"

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