Coaching a FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team on the Innovation Project: Difference between revisions
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= | = [https://youtu.be/Ef4dEhXyRsc Video of Workshop Held on September 14, 2020] = | ||
{{#evt: | |||
service=youtube | |||
|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef4dEhXyRsc | |||
= Famous | }} | ||
= Outline of Workshop = | |||
==Famous FIRST LEGO League Innovative Solutions== | |||
* 3D printed hands for children | * 3D printed hands for children | ||
* Washable barcodes for produce to make sure food is fresh | * Washable barcodes for produce to make sure food is fresh | ||
Line 18: | Line 16: | ||
* Cigarette butt legislation in Washington state | * Cigarette butt legislation in Washington state | ||
= Scientific Method versus Engineering Method = | ==Importance of Innovation Project== | ||
* Scientific process vs Engineering process | |||
* Science asks questions, and looks for answers | |||
* Engineering identifies problems and develops solutions | |||
* Engineering process is often more practical in everyday life | |||
* Project provides opportunity to engage in the engineering process | |||
* Choose a problem | |||
* Research what has already be done | |||
* Develop a new or improved solution | |||
* Present the solution | |||
* It counts 25% towards overall tournament awards | |||
==Scientific Method versus Engineering Method== | |||
{| border=="1" | |||
!Scientific method can be | |||
!Engineering method can be | |||
|- | |||
| State a hypothesis | |||
| Identify a real-world problem | |||
|- | |||
| Research what is already known | |||
| Research and analyze existing solutions | |||
|- | |||
| Design an experiment | |||
| Identify possible improvements or new solutions | |||
|- | |||
| Collect data | |||
| Develop prototype(s) | |||
|- | |||
| Analyze data | |||
| Pick a solution | |||
|- | |||
| Make a conclusion | |||
| Get feedback | |||
|- | |||
| Identify future research | |||
| Refine the solution | |||
|- | |||
| Publish | |||
| Communicate and deploy | |||
|} | |||
==Engineering Design Process== | |||
[[File:EngineeringDesignProcess.jpg]] | |||
==This Workshop== | |||
* Presents a process that your team can use. | |||
* Shares more ideas than they’ll actually be able use. | |||
* Allows you to customize to age and experience of team. | |||
* Provides starting points for their creativity. | |||
== | ==It’s the kids’ project!== | ||
* | * Don’t get so attached to working the project that it becomes more your project than the team’s project. | ||
* Judges will ask how the team came up with their idea. | |||
* | * Kids need to do the work; not the adults! | ||
* | * Parents can play a supporting role. | ||
* | |||
== | ==Additional Things To Keep in Mind== | ||
* | * Important to have an accurate and correct understanding of the challenge. | ||
* | * Make sure team understands what kinds of problems are allowed by the challenge. | ||
* | * Kids may initially think of problems they have been studying in school and solve something outside the scope of the challenge. | ||
* | * Kids (like many adults) have a tendency to jump to solution space, without a clear and understood problem statement. | ||
= | ==The Innovative Project Rubric== | ||
* Identify: Clearly define a problem and research it well. | |||
* Design: Generate innovative ideas independently before selecting and planning which to to develop. | |||
* Create: Develop an original idea or build on an existing one with a prototype model or drawing to represent a solution. | |||
* Iterate: Share ideas, collecting feedback and including improvements in the solution. | |||
* Communicate: Share a creative and effective presentation of current solution and its impact on users. | |||
= Identify a Problem = | ==Identify a Problem== | ||
* Consider annual theme and the constraints it | * Consider [https://tinyurl.com/fllinnovation annual theme] regarding types of problems and the constraints it imposes. | ||
* | * Watch the annual videos | ||
**[http://youtu.be/Azlq4bWumxI Teaser] | |||
**[https://youtu.be/IxpXg5J5WdY Kickoff] | |||
* Answer the sample questions from the challenge materials. | |||
* Encourage personal interactions with the theme. | * Encourage personal interactions with the theme. | ||
* If you already know an expert, what are they working on? | * If you already know an expert or a professional in the field, what are they working on that relates? | ||
* What are local universities doing in the area of the theme? | * What are local universities doing in the area of the theme? | ||
* Consider anything your team already knows, or is already interested in with regards to the theme. | * Consider anything your team already knows, or is already interested in with regards to the theme. | ||
= Research | ==Brainstorming to Choose a Problem== | ||
* What is already being done to address the problem – why aren’t they working? | * Round 1: Each team member suggests a “crazy” idea | ||
* Has someone solved a similar problem, will that | * Round 2: Build on the initial suggestions | ||
* Are there solutions, but they aren’t being used? Why? How could | * Assign a team member to be the recorder | ||
* What is being developed, but isn’t finished yet? | * high-tech or low-tech options, make sure the record is shared afterwards | ||
* Team members vote to select the top 2 - 4 ideas | |||
* Is there a group that is excluded by existing solutions, can | * Make sure the final ideas are clearly stated | ||
* Begin research on the final ideas | |||
* Reconvene | |||
* Review the research | |||
* Choose one problem to pursue | |||
==Example from a previous season== | |||
Trash Trek: reduce, reuse, recycle | |||
Dive Deep: Research the possible problem statements | |||
* What is already being done to address the problem – why aren’t they working or working well? | |||
* Has someone solved a similar problem, will that work for your team’s problem? | |||
* Are there other possible solutions, but they aren’t being used? Why or why not? How could your team change that? | |||
==Dive Deep== | |||
* What is already being done to address the problem – why aren’t they working or working well? | |||
* Has someone solved a similar problem, will that work for your team’s problem? | |||
* Are there other possible solutions, but they aren’t being used? Why or why not? | |||
* How could your team change that? | |||
* What is being developed, but isn’t finished yet? Can you help or suggest changes based on your research? | |||
* Is there a group that is excluded by existing solutions, can your team help them to be included? | |||
* Keep track of sources and give credit. | * Keep track of sources and give credit. | ||
* | * Teams can interview experts during this step and later. | ||
==Contacting professionals== | |||
* Opportunity for kids to interact with adults | |||
* Kids realize the impact and importance and relevance of local engineering. | |||
* Opportunity to introduce FLL to the professional community | |||
* On site visits are best | |||
* seeing where engineers work | |||
* probably not feasible during pandemic | |||
* Remember to thank everyone the team works with. | |||
==Brainstorm Possible Solutions== | |||
* Brainstorm possible solutions | |||
* Solutions can be | |||
* physical | |||
* social | |||
* legislative | |||
* virtual | |||
* What technologies are needed? | |||
* Are they currently available? | |||
* Star Trek style solutions are still welcome, but they are a tough sell with Oregon judges. | |||
* Know your stuff! | |||
* Select finalists for further research | |||
==What is Innovative?== | |||
* Can be something completely new; or | |||
* Using an existing solution in a new way. | |||
* Be careful: The judges need to see how this is a new way too! | |||
* Improving something that already exists. | |||
* Improving access to or awareness of an existing solution. | |||
* Making an existing solution easier to use. | |||
= | ==Research Candidate Solutions== | ||
* What about team’s solution is new or different? | |||
* What about | * Why is it not already in place? | ||
* Why | * If your solution already exists in some form, | ||
* Is there a problem with the current version? | |||
* If your solution already exists, | * Can you design a solution to that problem? | ||
* | * How much would your solution cost? Who pays for it? | ||
= Example | ==Example: How can the problem of plastic bags be solved?== | ||
* Solution: Turn plastic bags into rope | * Solution: Turn plastic bags into rope | ||
* Solution: Pass legislation to ban the use of | ** Some technologies to do this already exist. | ||
* | ** Next steps: Cost analysis, efficiency improvements. Is the process environmentally sound? | ||
* Solution: Pass legislation to ban the use of single-use plastic bags. | |||
** Already in place in many municipalities | |||
** Next steps: Understand what other have done, consider improving and how to make it more widely adopted. | |||
= Research and | * Solution: Plastic bag collection bins in parks. | ||
* | ** Already present in many parks | ||
** Next steps: Are they being used? What happens to the bags once they are collected? | |||
* | ==Research and Consult Experts About Solution== | ||
* Who else is working on this problem? | |||
* Universities | |||
* Professionals | |||
* Businesses | |||
* Public groups | |||
* Who is in a position to use your solution? | |||
* Your experts will have opinions and knowledge. | * Your experts will have opinions and knowledge. | ||
* Listen to their criticism | * Listen to their criticism. | ||
* | * Be prepared to think critically about your solution given their feedback. | ||
* How would | * Does your team need to make changes? | ||
* How would your team address a similar criticism in the future? | |||
* Share this information with the judges. | |||
==Advisors and Potential Users== | |||
* Advisors can help team consider | |||
**how their idea could be implemented | |||
** what the challenges may be | |||
** how much it would cost | |||
* Potential users can help refine the idea | |||
** Who might use the idea? | |||
** How could the team reach them? | |||
* Consider surveying advisors or potential users | |||
** Can be done using a form or by interviewing | |||
** Use both multiple-choice and open-ended questions | |||
==Solution Research Considerations== | |||
* Remember the basics of a journal article: | * Remember the basics of a journal article: | ||
* Who, What, Where, Why, and How? | * Who, What, Where, Why, and How? | ||
* You should know all of this for your solution. | * You should know all of this for your solution. | ||
* What would your solution cost | * Nothing in life is free, everything has a cost | ||
* A good solution with a high cost needs to be | * What would your solution cost. | ||
* A good solution with a high cost needs to be rationalized as to why it is better than a lower cost solution. | |||
== Fact or Fiction?== | |||
= Fact | * Basics of research | ||
* There are | ** There are a lot of ideas out there | ||
* It is important to be able to tell | ** Especially about problems that impact people directly | ||
** what is | * It is important to be able to tell | ||
** what is | ** what is a fact | ||
** what is fiction | ** what is opinion | ||
** what is fiction | |||
= | ==Create a Prototype or Drawing== | ||
* When possible create a prototype and test it! | * When possible create a prototype and test it! | ||
* If | * Use cardboard, wood or something else. | ||
* | * If team can’t build a prototype they can create a drawing. | ||
* | * Prototype or drawing should | ||
* | * Show solution | ||
* | * Show how it will work | ||
* Identify challenges | |||
==Using Prototype or Model== | |||
* | * Drawing or building focuses the kids attention | ||
* | * One type of prototype is a cell phone app | ||
* | * For Android phones consider App Inventor | ||
* | * appinventor.mit.edu | ||
* | * A prototype doesn’t need to be complete or polished | ||
* | * A concept prototype or model | ||
* | * Illustrates team’s idea without actually implementing it | ||
* | * Could be | ||
* diagrams | |||
* illustrations | |||
* | * storyboard | ||
* | * Another alternative: Taking an existing product and modifying it | ||
* | * Test the prototype in some way: Function, usefulness, .. | ||
* | ==Styrofoam to Glue for School== | ||
* | * Existing Solution: Orange Oil dissolves Styrofoam and turns it into glue. | ||
* The team learned this in their online research and tested it in their homes. | |||
= Styrofoam to Glue for School = | |||
* Existing Solution: | |||
* The team learned this in their online research and tested it in their | |||
* They even tested the strength of the glue. | * They even tested the strength of the glue. | ||
* Possible Innovative Solution: | * Possible Innovative Solution: Two-Parts | ||
* a mixing device for making the glue | * Create a mixing device for making the glue AND | ||
* | * An app so that people | ||
* can find schools that own the mixing devices | * can find schools that own the mixing devices AND | ||
* | * can collect Styrofoam to make their own glue for schools. | ||
* | * Additional considerations: | ||
* Adjusting the proportions or formula to make the glue perform better in certain circumstances. | |||
= | * There will often be trade offs. | ||
==Developing the Presentation== | |||
* Can be any format that covers all the criteria, including: | |||
** Formal presentation | |||
** Skit | |||
** Anything creative | |||
= | * Remember that the medium should not distract from the message | ||
* Can be any format that covers all the criteria | * If there is a prototype: | ||
* | ** Show and tell | ||
* Formal presentation | ** Use a skit to show how it would be used | ||
* Skit | ** Make it personal and fun | ||
* Anything | ** Whole team participation | ||
* | ** Practice with a live audience if possible | ||
* | ==Sharing your work== | ||
* | * Beyond presentations at school | ||
* | * Present to experts in the field | ||
** | * Share with populations that could be impacted | ||
** | ** Who uses it? | ||
* Practice | ** Who benefits? | ||
= Sharing your work = | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* Gather feedback to make improvements this season or later for a future version | * Gather feedback to make improvements this season or later for a future version | ||
==Judging== | |||
Cover all the criteria on the rubric! | |||
* Identify: Clearly define a problem and research it well. | |||
* Design: Generate innovative ideas independently before selecting and planning which to to develop. | |||
* Create: Develop an original idea or build on an existing one with a prototype model or drawing to represent a solution. | |||
* Iterate: Share ideas, collecting feedback and including improvements in the solution. | |||
* Communicate: Share a creative and effective presentation of current solution and its impact on users. | |||
You will have 5 minutes to creatively share all of this in a memorable way! | |||
= | ==Videos of Project Presentations== | ||
* [http://youtu.be/7CN9vfeaBo0 Robation Project Performance at Oregon Championship] | |||
* [http://youtu.be/VJ3cs9W83Ug Impressive presentation from a past season] | |||
= | |||
* | |||
* | |||
Latest revision as of 20:00, 4 October 2020
Video of Workshop Held on September 14, 2020
Outline of Workshop
Famous FIRST LEGO League Innovative Solutions
- 3D printed hands for children
- Washable barcodes for produce to make sure food is fresh
- Baby temperature monitor for car seats
- Smart cane for visually impaired, using an ultrasonic sensor
- Easy grip spoon for seniors and individuals with diseases like Parkinson’s
- Cigarette butt legislation in Washington state
Importance of Innovation Project
- Scientific process vs Engineering process
- Science asks questions, and looks for answers
- Engineering identifies problems and develops solutions
- Engineering process is often more practical in everyday life
- Project provides opportunity to engage in the engineering process
- Choose a problem
- Research what has already be done
- Develop a new or improved solution
- Present the solution
- It counts 25% towards overall tournament awards
Scientific Method versus Engineering Method
Scientific method can be | Engineering method can be |
---|---|
State a hypothesis | Identify a real-world problem |
Research what is already known | Research and analyze existing solutions |
Design an experiment | Identify possible improvements or new solutions |
Collect data | Develop prototype(s) |
Analyze data | Pick a solution |
Make a conclusion | Get feedback |
Identify future research | Refine the solution |
Publish | Communicate and deploy |
Engineering Design Process
This Workshop
- Presents a process that your team can use.
- Shares more ideas than they’ll actually be able use.
- Allows you to customize to age and experience of team.
- Provides starting points for their creativity.
It’s the kids’ project!
- Don’t get so attached to working the project that it becomes more your project than the team’s project.
- Judges will ask how the team came up with their idea.
- Kids need to do the work; not the adults!
- Parents can play a supporting role.
Additional Things To Keep in Mind
- Important to have an accurate and correct understanding of the challenge.
- Make sure team understands what kinds of problems are allowed by the challenge.
- Kids may initially think of problems they have been studying in school and solve something outside the scope of the challenge.
- Kids (like many adults) have a tendency to jump to solution space, without a clear and understood problem statement.
The Innovative Project Rubric
- Identify: Clearly define a problem and research it well.
- Design: Generate innovative ideas independently before selecting and planning which to to develop.
- Create: Develop an original idea or build on an existing one with a prototype model or drawing to represent a solution.
- Iterate: Share ideas, collecting feedback and including improvements in the solution.
- Communicate: Share a creative and effective presentation of current solution and its impact on users.
Identify a Problem
- Consider annual theme regarding types of problems and the constraints it imposes.
- Watch the annual videos
- Answer the sample questions from the challenge materials.
- Encourage personal interactions with the theme.
- If you already know an expert or a professional in the field, what are they working on that relates?
- What are local universities doing in the area of the theme?
- Consider anything your team already knows, or is already interested in with regards to the theme.
Brainstorming to Choose a Problem
- Round 1: Each team member suggests a “crazy” idea
- Round 2: Build on the initial suggestions
- Assign a team member to be the recorder
- high-tech or low-tech options, make sure the record is shared afterwards
- Team members vote to select the top 2 - 4 ideas
- Make sure the final ideas are clearly stated
- Begin research on the final ideas
- Reconvene
- Review the research
- Choose one problem to pursue
Example from a previous season
Trash Trek: reduce, reuse, recycle Dive Deep: Research the possible problem statements
- What is already being done to address the problem – why aren’t they working or working well?
- Has someone solved a similar problem, will that work for your team’s problem?
- Are there other possible solutions, but they aren’t being used? Why or why not? How could your team change that?
Dive Deep
- What is already being done to address the problem – why aren’t they working or working well?
- Has someone solved a similar problem, will that work for your team’s problem?
- Are there other possible solutions, but they aren’t being used? Why or why not?
- How could your team change that?
- What is being developed, but isn’t finished yet? Can you help or suggest changes based on your research?
- Is there a group that is excluded by existing solutions, can your team help them to be included?
- Keep track of sources and give credit.
- Teams can interview experts during this step and later.
Contacting professionals
- Opportunity for kids to interact with adults
- Kids realize the impact and importance and relevance of local engineering.
- Opportunity to introduce FLL to the professional community
- On site visits are best
- seeing where engineers work
- probably not feasible during pandemic
- Remember to thank everyone the team works with.
Brainstorm Possible Solutions
- Brainstorm possible solutions
- Solutions can be
- physical
- social
- legislative
- virtual
- What technologies are needed?
- Are they currently available?
- Star Trek style solutions are still welcome, but they are a tough sell with Oregon judges.
- Know your stuff!
- Select finalists for further research
What is Innovative?
- Can be something completely new; or
- Using an existing solution in a new way.
- Be careful: The judges need to see how this is a new way too!
- Improving something that already exists.
- Improving access to or awareness of an existing solution.
- Making an existing solution easier to use.
Research Candidate Solutions
- What about team’s solution is new or different?
- Why is it not already in place?
- If your solution already exists in some form,
- Is there a problem with the current version?
- Can you design a solution to that problem?
- How much would your solution cost? Who pays for it?
Example: How can the problem of plastic bags be solved?
- Solution: Turn plastic bags into rope
- Some technologies to do this already exist.
- Next steps: Cost analysis, efficiency improvements. Is the process environmentally sound?
- Solution: Pass legislation to ban the use of single-use plastic bags.
- Already in place in many municipalities
- Next steps: Understand what other have done, consider improving and how to make it more widely adopted.
- Solution: Plastic bag collection bins in parks.
- Already present in many parks
- Next steps: Are they being used? What happens to the bags once they are collected?
Research and Consult Experts About Solution
- Who else is working on this problem?
- Universities
- Professionals
- Businesses
- Public groups
- Who is in a position to use your solution?
- Your experts will have opinions and knowledge.
- Listen to their criticism.
- Be prepared to think critically about your solution given their feedback.
- Does your team need to make changes?
- How would your team address a similar criticism in the future?
- Share this information with the judges.
Advisors and Potential Users
- Advisors can help team consider
- how their idea could be implemented
- what the challenges may be
- how much it would cost
- Potential users can help refine the idea
- Who might use the idea?
- How could the team reach them?
- Consider surveying advisors or potential users
- Can be done using a form or by interviewing
- Use both multiple-choice and open-ended questions
Solution Research Considerations
- Remember the basics of a journal article:
- Who, What, Where, Why, and How?
- You should know all of this for your solution.
- Nothing in life is free, everything has a cost
- What would your solution cost.
- A good solution with a high cost needs to be rationalized as to why it is better than a lower cost solution.
Fact or Fiction?
- Basics of research
- There are a lot of ideas out there
- Especially about problems that impact people directly
- It is important to be able to tell
- what is a fact
- what is opinion
- what is fiction
Create a Prototype or Drawing
- When possible create a prototype and test it!
- Use cardboard, wood or something else.
- If team can’t build a prototype they can create a drawing.
- Prototype or drawing should
- Show solution
- Show how it will work
- Identify challenges
Using Prototype or Model
- Drawing or building focuses the kids attention
- One type of prototype is a cell phone app
- For Android phones consider App Inventor
- appinventor.mit.edu
- A prototype doesn’t need to be complete or polished
- A concept prototype or model
- Illustrates team’s idea without actually implementing it
- Could be
- diagrams
- illustrations
- storyboard
- Another alternative: Taking an existing product and modifying it
- Test the prototype in some way: Function, usefulness, ..
Styrofoam to Glue for School
- Existing Solution: Orange Oil dissolves Styrofoam and turns it into glue.
- The team learned this in their online research and tested it in their homes.
- They even tested the strength of the glue.
- Possible Innovative Solution: Two-Parts
- Create a mixing device for making the glue AND
- An app so that people
- can find schools that own the mixing devices AND
- can collect Styrofoam to make their own glue for schools.
- Additional considerations:
- Adjusting the proportions or formula to make the glue perform better in certain circumstances.
- There will often be trade offs.
Developing the Presentation
- Can be any format that covers all the criteria, including:
- Formal presentation
- Skit
- Anything creative
- Remember that the medium should not distract from the message
- If there is a prototype:
- Show and tell
- Use a skit to show how it would be used
- Make it personal and fun
- Whole team participation
- Practice with a live audience if possible
Sharing your work
- Beyond presentations at school
- Present to experts in the field
- Share with populations that could be impacted
- Who uses it?
- Who benefits?
- Gather feedback to make improvements this season or later for a future version
Judging
Cover all the criteria on the rubric!
- Identify: Clearly define a problem and research it well.
- Design: Generate innovative ideas independently before selecting and planning which to to develop.
- Create: Develop an original idea or build on an existing one with a prototype model or drawing to represent a solution.
- Iterate: Share ideas, collecting feedback and including improvements in the solution.
- Communicate: Share a creative and effective presentation of current solution and its impact on users.
You will have 5 minutes to creatively share all of this in a memorable way!