Coaching a FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team on the Innovation Project: Difference between revisions
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=Famous FIRST LEGO League Innovative Solutions= | |||
= Famous | |||
* 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 7: | ||
* 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= | |||
* Scientific method can be | |||
** State a hypothesis | |||
** Research what is already known | |||
** Design an experiment | |||
** Collect data | |||
** Analyze data | |||
** Make a conclusion | |||
** Identify future research | |||
** Publish | |||
Engineering method can be | |||
** Identify a real-world problem | |||
** Research and analyze existing solutions | |||
** Identify possible improvements or new solutions | |||
** Develop prototype(s) | |||
** Pick a solution | |||
** Get feedback | |||
** Refine the solution | |||
** Communicate and deploy | |||
== | =Engineering Design Process= | ||
[[File:Example.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= | ||
* | * Consider ]https://tinyurl.com/fllinnovation annual theme] regarding types of problems and the constraints it imposes. | ||
* | * Watch the [http://youtu.be/Azlq4bWumxI annual video] | ||
** | * 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? | ||
* a | * 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 | =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. | ||
* Opportunity to introduce FLL to the professional community | * 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. | |||
= Cover all the criteria on the rubric! | * Solution: Plastic bag collection bins in parks. | ||
* Clearly | ** 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 | |||
* Share | * 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? | |||
=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! | |||
=Videos of Project Presentations= | |||
* [http://youtu.be/7CN9vfeaBo0 Robation Project Performance at Oregon Championship] | |||
* [http://youtu.be/VJ3cs9W83Ug Impressive presentation from a past season] |
Revision as of 10:24, 15 September 2020
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
- State a hypothesis
- Research what is already known
- Design an experiment
- Collect data
- Analyze data
- Make a conclusion
- Identify future research
- Publish
Engineering method can be
- Identify a real-world problem
- Research and analyze existing solutions
- Identify possible improvements or new solutions
- Develop prototype(s)
- Pick a solution
- Get feedback
- Refine the solution
- 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 ]https://tinyurl.com/fllinnovation annual theme] regarding types of problems and the constraints it imposes.
- Watch the annual video
- 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?
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!