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=Famous FIRST LEGO League Innovative Solutions= | = [https://youtu.be/Ef4dEhXyRsc Video of Workshop Held on September 14, 2020] = | ||
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= 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 7: | Line 16: | ||
* Cigarette butt legislation in Washington state | * Cigarette butt legislation in Washington state | ||
=Importance of Innovation Project= | ==Importance of Innovation Project== | ||
* Scientific process vs Engineering process | * Scientific process vs Engineering process | ||
* Science asks questions, and looks for answers | * Science asks questions, and looks for answers | ||
Line 19: | Line 28: | ||
* It counts 25% towards overall tournament awards | * It counts 25% towards overall tournament awards | ||
=Scientific Method versus Engineering Method= | ==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 | |||
Engineering method can be | |- | ||
| 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= | ==Engineering Design Process== | ||
[[File: | [[File:EngineeringDesignProcess.jpg]] | ||
=This Workshop= | ==This Workshop== | ||
* Presents a process that your team can use. | * Presents a process that your team can use. | ||
* Shares more ideas than they’ll actually be able use. | * Shares more ideas than they’ll actually be able use. | ||
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* Provides starting points for their creativity. | * Provides starting points for their creativity. | ||
=It’s the kids’ project!= | ==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. | * 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. | * Judges will ask how the team came up with their idea. | ||
* Kids need to do the work; not the adults! | * Kids need to do the work; not the adults! | ||
* Parents can play a supporting role. | * Parents can play a supporting role. | ||
==Additional Things To Keep in Mind== | |||
=Additional Things To Keep in Mind= | |||
* Important to have an accurate and correct understanding of the challenge. | * Important to have an accurate and correct understanding of the challenge. | ||
* Make sure team understands what kinds of problems are allowed by the challenge. | * Make sure team understands what kinds of problems are allowed by the challenge. | ||
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* Kids (like many adults) have a tendency to jump to solution space, without a clear and understood problem statement. | * Kids (like many adults) have a tendency to jump to solution space, without a clear and understood problem statement. | ||
=The Innovative Project Rubric= | ==The Innovative Project Rubric== | ||
* Identify: Clearly define a problem and research it well. | * Identify: Clearly define a problem and research it well. | ||
* Design: Generate innovative ideas independently before selecting and planning which to to develop. | * Design: Generate innovative ideas independently before selecting and planning which to to develop. | ||
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* Communicate: Share a creative and effective presentation of current solution and its impact on users. | * Communicate: Share a creative and effective presentation of current solution and its impact on users. | ||
=Identify a Problem= | ==Identify a Problem== | ||
* Consider | * Consider [https://tinyurl.com/fllinnovation annual theme] regarding types of problems and the constraints it imposes. | ||
* Watch the [http://youtu.be/Azlq4bWumxI | * Watch the annual videos | ||
**[http://youtu.be/Azlq4bWumxI Teaser] | |||
**[https://youtu.be/IxpXg5J5WdY Kickoff] | |||
* Answer the sample questions from the challenge materials. | * Answer the sample questions from the challenge materials. | ||
* Encourage personal interactions with the theme. | * Encourage personal interactions with the theme. | ||
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* 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. | ||
=Brainstorming to Choose a Problem= | ==Brainstorming to Choose a Problem== | ||
* Round 1: Each team member suggests a “crazy” idea | * Round 1: Each team member suggests a “crazy” idea | ||
* Round 2: Build on the initial suggestions | * Round 2: Build on the initial suggestions | ||
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* Choose one problem to pursue | * Choose one problem to pursue | ||
=Example from a previous season= | ==Example from a previous season== | ||
Trash Trek: reduce, reuse, recycle | Trash Trek: reduce, reuse, recycle | ||
Dive Deep: Research the possible problem statements | Dive Deep: Research the possible problem statements | ||
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* Are there other possible solutions, but they aren’t being used? Why or why not? How could your team change that? | * Are there other possible solutions, but they aren’t being used? Why or why not? How could your team change that? | ||
=Dive Deep= | ==Dive Deep== | ||
* What is already being done to address the problem – why aren’t they working or working well? | * 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? | * Has someone solved a similar problem, will that work for your team’s problem? | ||
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* Teams can interview experts during this step and later. | * Teams can interview experts during this step and later. | ||
=Contacting professionals= | ==Contacting professionals== | ||
* Opportunity for kids to interact with adults | * Opportunity for kids to interact with adults | ||
* Kids realize the impact and importance and relevance of local engineering. | * Kids realize the impact and importance and relevance of local engineering. | ||
Line 118: | Line 135: | ||
* Remember to thank everyone the team works with. | * Remember to thank everyone the team works with. | ||
=Brainstorm Possible Solutions= | ==Brainstorm Possible Solutions== | ||
* Brainstorm possible solutions | * Brainstorm possible solutions | ||
* Solutions can be | * Solutions can be | ||
Line 131: | Line 148: | ||
* Select finalists for further research | * Select finalists for further research | ||
=What is Innovative?= | ==What is Innovative?== | ||
* Can be something completely new; or | * Can be something completely new; or | ||
* Using an existing solution in a new way. | * Using an existing solution in a new way. | ||
Line 139: | Line 156: | ||
* Making an existing solution easier to use. | * Making an existing solution easier to use. | ||
=Research Candidate Solutions= | ==Research Candidate Solutions== | ||
* What about team’s solution is new or different? | * What about team’s solution is new or different? | ||
* Why is it not already in place? | * Why is it not already in place? | ||
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* How much would your solution cost? Who pays for it? | * How much would your solution cost? Who pays for it? | ||
=Example: How can the problem of plastic bags be solved?= | ==Example: How can the problem of plastic bags be solved?== | ||
* Solution: Turn plastic bags into rope | * Solution: Turn plastic bags into rope | ||
** Some technologies to do this already exist. | ** Some technologies to do this already exist. | ||
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** Already present in many parks | ** Already present in many parks | ||
** Next steps: Are they being used? What happens to the bags once they are collected? | ** Next steps: Are they being used? What happens to the bags once they are collected? | ||
=Research and Consult Experts About Solution= | ==Research and Consult Experts About Solution== | ||
* Who else is working on this problem? | * Who else is working on this problem? | ||
* Universities | * Universities | ||
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* Share this information with the judges. | * Share this information with the judges. | ||
=Advisors and Potential Users= | ==Advisors and Potential Users== | ||
* Advisors can help team consider | * Advisors can help team consider | ||
**how their idea could be implemented | **how their idea could be implemented | ||
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** Can be done using a form or by interviewing | ** Can be done using a form or by interviewing | ||
** Use both multiple-choice and open-ended questions | ** Use both multiple-choice and open-ended questions | ||
=Solution Research Considerations= | ==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? | ||
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* What would your solution 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. | * 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 or Fiction?== | ||
=Create a Prototype or Drawing= | * 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! | * When possible create a prototype and test it! | ||
* Use cardboard, wood or something else. | * Use cardboard, wood or something else. | ||
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* Show how it will work | * Show how it will work | ||
* Identify challenges | * Identify challenges | ||
=Using Prototype or Model= | ==Using Prototype or Model== | ||
* Drawing or building focuses the kids attention | * Drawing or building focuses the kids attention | ||
* One type of prototype is a cell phone app | * One type of prototype is a cell phone app | ||
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* Another alternative: Taking an existing product and modifying it | * Another alternative: Taking an existing product and modifying it | ||
* Test the prototype in some way: Function, usefulness, .. | * Test the prototype in some way: Function, usefulness, .. | ||
=Styrofoam to Glue for School= | ==Styrofoam to Glue for School== | ||
* Existing Solution: Orange Oil dissolves Styrofoam and turns it into glue. | * 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. | * The team learned this in their online research and tested it in their homes. | ||
Line 225: | Line 250: | ||
* Adjusting the proportions or formula to make the glue perform better in certain circumstances. | * Adjusting the proportions or formula to make the glue perform better in certain circumstances. | ||
* There will often be trade offs. | * There will often be trade offs. | ||
=Developing the Presentation= | ==Developing the Presentation== | ||
* Can be any format that covers all the criteria, including: | * Can be any format that covers all the criteria, including: | ||
** Formal presentation | ** Formal presentation | ||
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** Whole team participation | ** Whole team participation | ||
** Practice with a live audience if possible | ** Practice with a live audience if possible | ||
=Sharing your work= | ==Sharing your work== | ||
* Beyond presentations at school | * Beyond presentations at school | ||
* Present to experts in the field | * Present to experts in the field | ||
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** Who benefits? | ** Who benefits? | ||
* 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= | ==Judging== | ||
Cover all the criteria on the rubric! | Cover all the criteria on the rubric! | ||
* Identify: Clearly define a problem and research it well. | * Identify: Clearly define a problem and research it well. | ||
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You will have 5 minutes to creatively share all of this in a memorable way! | You will have 5 minutes to creatively share all of this in a memorable way! | ||
=Videos of Project Presentations= | ==Videos of Project Presentations== | ||
* [http://youtu.be/7CN9vfeaBo0 Robation Project Performance at Oregon Championship] | * [http://youtu.be/7CN9vfeaBo0 Robation Project Performance at Oregon Championship] | ||
* [http://youtu.be/VJ3cs9W83Ug Impressive presentation from a past season] | * [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!