Re: Post from Susan Bohl

Well, The Screaming Outsiders finished thier first ever First Lego League Scrimmage on Saturday, November 21st.  The girls did good for thier first time ever to do this type of event.  And the determination is now increased and they really want to get "Alfred" (that's their robot's name) to do all the missions.  Your Go Girls!

Choosing Missions

We need to watch the missions and make decisions as to which ones we want to try to complete in the 2.5 minutes that we have for each match. Tomorrow, we will watch them all.
Here is the link for the missions: FLL Robot Missions
There are 10 options with points varying from 10 to 25 each. For the time we have tomorrow here are some suggested goals for the mission sub-team:

1. review all of the missions
   
2. try some simple programing of portions of more than 1 of the missions
3. get everyone familiar with how the sensors work and how to add/remove them
4. review the rules for the missions
5. make decisions as to which teammates would like to think about becoming "experts" on rules, missions, parts, etc
   

We need to keep in mind that only 2 team members can be at the table at anytime. You may "tag out" to switch with a teammate.
Here is the link for the rules: Mission Rules
There are additional questions that we may need answers to here: Game Q&A

Take your time to review these; even the teammates that are not specifically a part of the missions sub-team should take a look at them to become familiar with the robots missions.

Research by Team

Some initial internet research has turned up a lot of good information
to use in our Solar Bus skit. Here's what the girls researched and
selected at our last meeting as research material that would be relevant
to our project.

LANL Squeezes More Juice from Solar Panels

The researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory worked with nanocrystals to produce 35% more power than traditional solar cells. This is a 2004 article with a lot of technical jargon, but the jest of it is very interesting. Take a moment to check it out!

Squeezing more juice out of solar panels

FLL - FIRST/TWC Partnership in the US!

This message is directed at FLL Teams in the US.

From the Desk of Dean Kamen --

Hello FIRST Teams, Mentors, Coaches, Volunteers, Sponsors, and the entire FIRST Community...

I have an unscheduled, urgent assignment that will help us spread the word about FIRST and our mission in a new and exciting way.

This month, Time Warner Cable (TWC) will launch a new partnership with FIRST in the United States. We need to make sure the launch is successful, specifically the launch of TWC's new web site, http://connectamillionminds.com, which celebrates youth participation in science and technology. I'm asking you – through your incredible participation on the site - to let the executives and employees of TWC know that partnering with FIRST is the best decision they ever made. That's right, The Best. Ever.

Here's more on what I'm asking you to do and why --

What is the FIRST / Time Warner Cable Partnership?

It's a partnership that will put FIRST teams and events on TV and on the Web. TWC is investing $100 million (cash and in-kind) over 5 years in STEM. (No, not all of it in FIRST).

What is "Connect A Million Minds"?

It's the name and the goal of TWC's program - to connect a million kids to STEM. It's also the name of the TWC web site – http://connectamillionminds.com - where you can take the pledge to introduce young people to STEM programs – like FIRST – and inspire others to do the same.

Why is this web site launch important?

TWC is going to promote this website like crazy. By giving FIRST a priority presence on the site (we are the one and only group invited to participate BEFORE the site launches!), your photos and pledges can be the first thing visitors see!

What I'm asking you to do:

1. Visit http://www.connectamillionminds.com. As a beta user, you will have exclusive access to the site with the following (case sensitive) username and password -- username: RobotZ, password: Rule
2. Take the Pledge – commit to introduce one…ten…a hundred youth! to FIRST and STEM opportunities
3. Upload – post an inspiring FIRST photo and a few words about how you connected young people to STEM programs
4. Send us your feedback. E-mail your comments and suggestions for the Connect a Million Minds site to TWC.Camm@twcable.com.

Show TWC that FIRST is the best partner they've ever had!

When I'm asking you to do it:

FIRST will have special access to the beta site from 11/2 – 11/8, so you need to take the pledge and upload your content by November 8th. The official site launches to the public a few days later.

I look forward to seeing your content and hearing the reactions of TWC executives to the energy and commitment of the FIRST community. Thank you for all you do for FIRST!

Dean Kamen

Had a great time last week! We really completed alot on the project! We found out what the skit will be. Here's a quick summary, it takes place in a classroom with the science teacher, (ms. Explode) played by Raven, drives our solar bus through the wall and then introduces a speaker, played by Emily , who is a bus expert! Emily talks about the bus and the reaserch we did by answering the classes questions. Hope we can make it a bit more exciting! THX for READING!!! :-) !