Proposal Part 5 -Challenges+Solutions=Results

CSR Rationale for the '09 - '10 Robotics Proposal

A formal class or an After-School Class

Nick Clark

Monday, May 18, 2009

The rationale for a new robotics program at SWW takes a Challenge/Solution/Results (CSR) approach to the design and development of an After-School class. It represents a holistic learning environment. Thus, it lists some of the major Challenges observed over the last few years that act as obstacles to learning; it suggests Solutions to those challenges; it defines the Results that are anticipated. While not exhaustive, the four challenges focused on in this proposal are ones that generally impede healthy growth and development of many kids.

Challenge A: Inconsistent and haphazard long-term attendance.

Solution: Design and develop the robotics program as a formal class or an Extended Class that lasts the entire school year. This class would carry grades with the expectation of completion of a series of projects/products in an inter-related curriculum that integrates math, science, and engineering with technology, media and communications.

Results:

1. Regular attendance
2. The opportunity to build a team with a "cause"
3. The opportunity to introduce all team members to the variety of skills and professions that FIRST includes in its approach
4. The opportunity to provide an over-arching context that connects their learning experiences and lays the foundation for added and diversified learnings.
5. The opportunity for the participants to gain a consistent and reliable set of learning experiences and environments that yields projects and products for which they earn credit.
6. The opportunity for each student to take learnings they gain from math, science, engineering, technology, media, communications and other liberal arts into an integrated body knowledge and a useful array of skills sets.

Challenge B: Lack of awareness/appeciation for the variety of tasks and timings a team requires to be successful.

Solution: Engage in a concentrated and integrated learning program that focuses on teaching a planning process based on Smart Goals.

Results: Students will learn how to create action structures that promote

1. Creativity
2. Critical Thinking
3. Predictive SkillS
4. Realistic Goal Setting
5. Detailed Project/Product Assessment and Evaluation
6. Time Management
7. Resource Identification and Management

Challenge C: A lack of sustained, long-term group/team-based collegial and cooperative experiences.

Solution: Design, development and implementation of a cohesive multifaceted curriculum that actively involves faculty and administration with students, parents and mentors from supporting organizations and businesses to promote active, interactive and dynamic learning.

Results:

1. Faculty, administration and mentors will form lasting and powerful bonds with students
2. Resources will become evident as the class progresses
3. Students will learn how to identify their needs
4. Students will learn how distinguish between personal and team/project needs and between needs and wants.
5. Students will learn how to solicit appropriate assistance and support

Challenge D: The often undefined and untested need for personal and ethical responsibility and accountability to both themselves and others.

Solution: A practical and "real-life" setting where the consequences of personal and group decisions, including the decision to not make a decision, are allowed to have their impact on themselves and others; a ritualized setting that encourages and supports the honest and open support for acknowledging errors, discovering constructive solutions as well as making appropriate decisions and successfully completing tasks.

Results:

1. The growth and refinement of a set of personal ethical "rules"
2. The ability to assess and evaluate various propositions in light of these personal ethical rules
3. The development of a sense of responsibility that the student can apply to both him/herself and as a member of a group
4. The learning what it means to be accountable as it (accountability) applies to others both as a member of a group and as the group is accountable to others.

Don't fight forces, use them.

R. Buckminster Fuller