Think+Tank+Week+4+(Yelena)

==Session 4 ==    Hooray, the team now has a name - **The Apple Ice-Cream Builders** (more on how it came about is in the write-up)

===Team builder === Are You More Like This or That - from the middle of the room, students are asked to go “this” way if they choose answer A and “that” way if they choose answer B. Give 5 seconds of thinking time before they can move.  Questions: > > > > > > > > > ===Team Name === What do you want others to learn about you and your team after they see your team’s name? What does it mean you are a team? What do you all have in common? The kids remembered that they all preferred apples over bananas (this was the only time where they all ended up on one side of the room). They also figured out that since some like ice-cream and others like cake, if they had an ice-cream cake, everyone would be on board. Finally, the third thing they thought of was that they all liked building things.
 *  Minecraft Creative or Survival
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Board games or card games
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Video games or cartoons
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Apples or bananas
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Beach or mountains
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Sharks or dinosaurs
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ninja or pirates
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Robots or dragons
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ice cream or cake

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">At this point several said that they had ideas for a team name. I wanted everyone to have a chance to think about it. So I asked to take 1 minifig and 4-5 Lego pieces and using those, build a model that describes their idea for a team name. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Teja’s apples looked the most representative of the final name

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">As a result, we ended up with several names that included apples, ice cream, cakes, and the idea of building. These got the most votes in the first round. After removing least popular choices, we ended up with these two:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">And after a second round of voting, the team chose The Apple Ice-Cream Builders. They seem to have plenty of ideas for a logo too.

===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; vertical-align: baseline;">Challenge Discussion === <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">We reviewed the Identify section of the Challenge Description:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Identify a Place and a Learning Tool <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">First, choose a place where you or someone like you could learn. Choose a place from the list below. Then, choose a learning tool that could be found in that place. You may choose one of the examples below, or add your own ideas to the list. Choose one place and one learning tool you could use in that place.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Suggested places and tools were

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">SkyZone Trampoline park - trampolines <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Barbershop - magazines (to learn about hair styles) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">School - pencil and glue <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">School - brain and teachers <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Minecraft - pickaxe and iPad <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Minecraft - keyboard and craft table

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">We went around the table and each had an opportunity to describe what their idea would include, what would be the movable, motor-controlled part.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then they got to discuss their ideas in teams of two. As a result, the choices were narrowed down to 3:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">A person jumping on a trampoline while reading a magazine <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">A brain that sends messages to operate a pickaxe <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">A pickaxe that smashes LEGO bricks

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">After some discussion and voting, 4 votes went to the “person jumping on a trampoline” idea. One didn't vote. And one mentioned that it won't work because "a LEGO plate is as flexible as a brick". Good point and we might have to revisit the idea of a trampoline next time we meet.

===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; vertical-align: baseline;">LEGO Build === <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">The build assignment was to build a mock-up of a trampoline and show how a mini-fig would bounce on it and how a motor would be connected and what would a motor do.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Several students forgot that a motor rotated and suggested that a motor would move pieces forward/backward on a plane. The solution is not impossible, of course. But I drew their attention to the fact that it would not be as simple as “let’s just connect the motor”.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">After working on trampoline ideas for about 15 minutes, nobody managed to come up with an idea for a bouncy trampoline or a clear idea how to make the trampoline surface move without breaking the trampoline. Some believed that if they only had a motor, it would somehow magically solve the issue of inflexibility of LEGO plates. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">I asked a few questions: What do we learn when we jump on a trampoline? What do we learn when we read a magazine or a book? Can we learn both these things at the same time? To those who thought “yes”, I suggested conducting an experiment at home (or at a trampoline park).

===<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; vertical-align: baseline;">Homework === > > > > >
 * 1) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">  Draw or make your version of The Apple Ice-Cream Builders team logo. If you draw or make out of anything other than LEGOs, bring with you to the next meeting. If make out of LEGOs, then bring a picture.
 * 1) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">  If you believe you can learn news from a magazine while also learning a new jump on a trampoline, try it out. Report the results.
 * 1) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">  Look at real-life trampolines. What makes them bouncy? What makes their surface move? Is it possible to create a surface like this with LEGO pieces? (parents, please do not engineer for your kids; however, searching online for ideas and hints is perfectly ok since that's research)
 * 1) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">  If you don’t know about Minecraft yet, either try it out (a Demo version is free) or interview someone who plays it. Why apples are important in Minecraft? What are pickaxes used for? Who is Steve? What does a Minecraft world look like?
 * 1) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; background-color: transparent; color: #000000; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">  In case we can’t figure out the bouncy issue with a trampoline, think of some other ideas of a learning environment and a learning tool that you’d like to find out more about and build. Which part will be motorized? If you think of a new idea, be prepared to explain it to the team (think of it as a show and tell opportunity)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a lot to think about and research and do. But our next meeting will be October 20th. By the way, if you are in town on October 13th and don't have any plans, we can have a team meeting as usual. So e-mail me by this Sunday and let me know.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">   Yelena