Thank you, Ms. Allbach!

On Monday, our fabulous new Media Specialist, Ms. Allbach, led each team through a presentation about how to do research.  She spent half an hour with each team, walking them though a six step process for success!  Thank you, Ms Allbach!

Field Trip to NCDC

Thank you to Ann Warnick for hosting us at NCDC on Friday!

We had a GREAT field trip.  Here's a picture of some of our kids experimenting with the resistance friction provides as part of understanding when and how a flash flood can wash a car off the road.

Kids learned the difference between WEATHER and CLIMATE.  They looked at which types of weather events cause the most loss of life (annual average), and looked at flash floods in detail.  They walked through a specific scenario (a car in flood water) and learned how they could predict when the car would wash away.

Then we went down to look at the archived paper weather observer records... dating back to 1748 (good eye, Anna!).  They learned about how weather observers are trained and the way data collection has changed over the years.  They learned about the work involved in converting the paper records to digital and when and how records are used (engineers, transportation and...LEGAL).

Finally, we had a tour of ERC Broadband.  The kids learned about data transmission, fiber optics and how the Internet works.  They also learned about the role ERCB plays in providing the infrastructure that helps make the data at NCDC available to those who rely on it.  Ask your kids what the Internet looks like and how it relates to getting a loaf of bread from the grocery store.

Thank you, Ann and to all of those who contributed to making our first outing such a success!

Thank you, Betsey Bent & Nancy Smith-Hunnicut!

On August 27th, Betsey Bent and Nancy Smith-Hunnicut from Mission Hospital's Senior Services Team came out for an interactive training with our teams.  They focused on creating an understanding of how age related conditions impact daily activities.  From picking out an outfit that matches, to typing shoes, to threading a needle and picking the right medications, the kids got some first hand experience with issues that many of us will face as we age.  

Thank you, Ms. Bent and Ms. Smith-Hunicut for so graciously sharing your professional knowledge with our teams!

Thank you, Robin Morrison!

On Friday, August 24th, Robin Morrison generously shared her time with the kids. Robin is an Occupational Therapist with an obvious passion for helping people -- particularly older people who struggle to continue being successful with the tasks they face in everyday life.  

Robin focused on broadening students ideas of aging and living as an elderly senior.  She led the students in several simulations that reflected the aging process, as well current adaptations/solutions seniors use for greater independence.  In one of the students’ favorite simulations, students were asked to try on ski gloves and try to perform a fine motor task such as buttoning a shirt or counting change.  This illustrated the limitations of arthritis. In another simulations students were asked to pinch their noses while eating a peppermint.  This illustrated the relationship between smell and taste, which are sense that fade with aging. These activities were a great way for students to begin to grapple with real challenges and solutions that affect the elderly, as well as making this year’s FLL challenge a more personal experience.  Robin did a session with each team.

Our teams have long appreciated Robin as a regular volunteer.  We're especially glad to be able to rely on her depth of professional knowledge as the kids pursue their Senior Solutions research this year!

Thank you, Neil Rosenberg!

Teams 4892 and 4894 would like to thank Neil Rosenberg for his generosity in developing and teaching the Beginning NXT Programming course at UNCA's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.  

Neil is also the driving force behind the Robotics Opportunity Committee of Western North Carolina, an organization that provides leadership and support to FIRST teams of all varieties across our region.