This book spends a lot of time on the Robot Game, but we haven’t forgotten the Project! We’ll discuss the Project in this chapter.
For the Champion’s Award, the Project counts as much as the Robot Game. Since it varies widely from year to year, we won’t discuss it at the level of detail we discussed the Robot Game. However, we can discuss some of its main components and make some general suggestions for ways to tackle it.
The Project usually consists of three main parts: research, community outreach, and a presentation to judges. During the season, the teams research and solve a real-world problem and create a presentation based on the Project. A team is also encouraged to share its research and solutions with the community in some way. At a tournament, each team presents before a panel of judges and answers questions.
Teams can choose specific topics based on a general theme. For example, for the Nano Quest season, the Project was based on nanotechnology. As part of the Project, teams had to choose and research an application of nanotechnology, including scientific developments and the challenges scientists face. Because the field of nanotechnology is broad, teams could choose many different topics. For example, one team might have chosen to research an application of nanotechnology in medicine, while another could have researched nanorobotics.
Before deciding on a research topic, consider having each member research a variety of topics related to the Project theme so you have a better idea of which one to pick. You may want to have only members of the Research Team (discussed in Chapter 6) do this preliminary research, depending on how much work the Building Team has and how many topics you want to research.
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FLL themes are always fairly large in scope. The theme of alternative power, for example, can cover a variety of subjects such as solar, wind, ethanol, and so on. When selecting your topic, try not to choose one that’s too generic (such as home solar panels) because you will likely find that other teams selected the same topic. Think differently! Have the team brainstorm about some truly wild ideas. For example, instead of researching home solar panels, how about researching a solar panel jacket that can charge your cell phone and other portable devices? Stand out as a team by picking a topic that is unique and interesting but also extremely fun!
Once your team members finish researching the topics, have each give a short presentation of the findings to the entire team. The team should discuss each topic, perhaps suggest a few more, and eventually vote for the final one (a secret ballot is a good idea here). Feel free to change the topic if the team finds it isn’t as good as originally thought.
However you choose a topic, include all the members in the decision-making process to keep the group happy.
Once you decide on a topic, it’s time to begin the research. Research can take many different forms, from researching on the Internet to doing your own experiments. A great place to start your research is on the FLL challenge website, where you should find numerous Project resources. These resources commonly include links to helpful websites and a list of helpful books and videos.
During the research phase, include as many team members as possible. Remember that the judges will ask all the participants about the research topic during the Project judging session, so be sure that they all have a good grasp of it.
When researching, consider splitting the tasks among several members. For example, if the team needs to research the advantages and disadvantages of solar power for a building, a couple of members might find the average cost of power purchased from an electric utility company, while another could look up the average cost of solar power, and other members could be assigned to look up the advantages and disadvantages of each source. This way, each member has a specific, manageable task.
The team Captain or the Research Team Leader can determine assignments, or the team members can decide. Either way, let the members discuss which assignments they’d like to tackle, and make your final assignments with their desires in mind.
When doing research, be sure to document your findings well. For example, you might have a fantastic interview with an expert, but then forget what was said when you prepare your presentation! Be sure to write everything down or record your interviews.
Similarly, when you find useful web articles, bookmark them or copy the article in a Word document so you have easy access to it later. You may find it helpful to have a single document in which you keep all your notes and findings, with references to sources. This not only helps you quickly find a previously researched item, but it can also help you organize it into a presentation.
It’s important to keep track of your sources so you can give credit in your presentation. This is one of the items in the rubrics, so the judges will probably look to see how many sources you cite in your presentation.
In addition, citing sources enhances your presentation. For example, simply stating, “Solar power costs 58 percent more than power from the electric utility,” doesn’t sound as professional or convincing as, “The National Power Research Institution conducted a study in 2006 on the costs of different power options. This study indicated that solar power costs 58 percent more than power from the electric utility.” You don’t need a formal bibliography, just something that shows the source of the information included in your presentation.
The Internet makes it easy to find information about a subject. But how do you begin to research? The following are some helpful resources that many teams find useful for research.
One of the most obvious information resources is an Internet search engine such as Yahoo! or Google. Simply type the subject of your research, and thousands of links usually come up in response (though many will be irrelevant). Many times, you can find a website out there that has just what you need!
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Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com/) lets you search scholarly books, magazines, journals, and more. The information returned by searches using Google Scholar is typically more relevant than the information returned from normal searches.
Online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/) can also provide useful information. Wikipedia has a huge collection of articles on many different subjects; simply do a search for your subject. Typically, Wikipedia is best for learning about general subjects (such as nanotechnology), but it can also be very helpful with finding more specific information.
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Remember that Wikipedia’s content is provided by users and may not always be correct. Therefore, consider double-checking important information you find on Wikipedia with other sources.
Some websites have a feature called ask-a-scientist, where you can submit questions to real scientists! If you can’t find what you’re looking for by searching the Internet, you could try using one of these websites to get more specific information. For example, suppose you were wondering about the ideal shape of a solar panel. If you couldn’t find this from other sources, you could submit a question on an ask-a-scientist website. One such site is http://www.madsci.org/, but you can find many ask-a-scientist websites simply by searching for ask a scientist.
Sometimes it helps to interview scientists or other people about the Project topic. In addition to helping you get more specific information, interviewing can improve the team’s score, since one of the rubric items includes talking to science professionals.
A great way to find experts is to call or write to local universities. Call a specific department (such as engineering or physics), and briefly explain about FLL, the team, and the Project. Secretaries in these departments will often help you find the correct person to speak with and help set up interviews. And don’t worry about distance; you can always interview someone over the phone.
You may also be able to interview people at businesses that sell related products. Most businesses are happy to help students and may be able to provide photos, technical information, and more. When your team calls businesses, always be polite, don’t ask for too much help, and don’t overstay your welcome. If one business won’t help you, try another one.
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Be sure to send thank-you cards to all your interviewees. Remember, they’re volunteering their time to help you. Some teams have a team picture made and send copies to sponsors and interviewees along with thank-you notes or cards.
Libraries are, of course, great places to begin research. Find lots of up-to-date information by looking at technical journals and, in most libraries, a reference librarian who is trained in doing research. You might also be able to get a subscription to online books. Most libraries participate in a system that loans books, videos, and other resources between one another. If you can’t find what you need at your local branch, ask a librarian to show you how to request resources from other libraries.
Field trips are probably one of the more exciting ways to do research. Besides being fun and great for team building, they can give the team a lot of help with background material about the topic. For example, if the Project is about space shuttles, your team could take a field trip to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to learn some background information about shuttles and space exploration in general. Be sure to take pictures on your field trips to use to enhance your presentation.
Judges like seeing teams make new discoveries and inventions. Maybe you can think of a possible new application for a cutting-edge technology or a way to improve an existing application. Keep in mind that the Project includes finding a solution to a real-world problem related to your topic. This might consist of inventing a new application, such as a machine. But remember, you don’t need to completely finalize an invention or idea; just having the idea is an advantage.
Don’t rule out including in your presentation any prototype devices or possible software applications your team created during its research. Original research can be more difficult and time consuming, but judges won’t overlook the hard work your team puts into doing its own experiments.
Once you collect the raw information from the research, it’s time to integrate it into a well-flowing, five-minute presentation. You want to clearly convey the information in an easy-to-understand way to the judges, and your team will need to share what it learned with the community to inspire others to become interested in science and technology.
Presentations usually include at least three main components: information, discoveries, and examples of community outreach. Usually, you’ll want to spend a good part of your presentation talking about the information you collected from research and your ideas like a solution to a problem. One good way to show examples of community outreach is to create a poster board or binder with pictures of your research, and show it to the judges when describing your work.
FLL allows teams to give presentations in any style. Your style will affect your performance greatly, so choose wisely.
The following are some different ideas for presentation styles:
- Skit
Don’t forget your costumes, and practice your lines to perfection.
- Song or poem
These are always entertaining, and it is impossible for a judge not to smile at them.
- PowerPoint presentation
This is a standard presentation method and is still extremely useful, but avoid cramming too much info on each page.
- Hands-On Activity
Involve the judges by having them participate in an experiment or act as assistants to the other team members.
- “Panel of Experts”
Have one team member interview the other team members about the Project.
- Storyboard
Instead of a video, create a storyboard, and have the team of “movie directors” explain how they will film the video.
- Menu
Provide the judges with a restaurant-style menu, and have the team members (dressed as waiters) explain the various “dishes” that contain Project details.
When choosing a presentation style, pick one that involves the participation of as many team members as possible, such as a skit. A PowerPoint presentation can also involve a large number of members if they each give part of it.
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If your team doesn’t own a copy of PowerPoint, you can use the free Google Presentations tool, which has the same functionality. Find it by signing up at http://docs.google.com/.
Also consider how well the team members present under pressure; some students get nervous when speaking to large groups or tournament judges. If some of your team members are nervous, they might want to do more “behind-the-scenes” support work, such as setting up laptops, poster boards, or other props used during the presentation. This allows them to participate in the presentation without actually presenting.
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FLL offers a great opportunity for nervous team members to learn to control nervousness and practice the valuable skill of speaking under pressure. One of the best ways to achieve this is through practice. Remember, the teams you will compete against are composed of other students. The judges will undoubtedly appreciate a valiant effort to do something that they can see is hard for team members.
If you’re considering a skit, opera, or any other presentation style that involves acting, consider how well your team members will perform. Some people can act out characters very well, which is a great advantage to this kind of style. However, other people find it hard to act naturally, resulting in a strained and unrealistic performance. If you have concerns about many of the members’ acting skills, be careful.
There are several good habits to observe during your presentation and the follow-up interview afterward. The following is a list of some:
When talking to judges, make eye contact with them; don’t look at the floor or at other team members. Remember to smile! Show the judges that you enjoy FLL and are enthusiastic about your Project.
If your presentation involves interaction with the judges, consider involving them in some way. For example, if you’re talking about an everyday product that could be made much less expensively when using a new technology, show the product to the judges, and ask how much they think it costs. Once they make some guesses, surprise them with the cheaper price.
Project presentations are limited to just five minutes. Usually there is plenty to talk about, so make your points “short and sweet.” Practice to refine your presentation.
If you will use visuals in your presentation, be sure to use them at the right times and with appropriate references, rather than just flashing them up on the screen. Don’t assume that your audience will follow along or understand what you’re trying to communicate if you don’t tell them.
Avoid using presentation time to set up equipment. For example, if you will use a computer halfway through the presentation, set it up before you begin, or have one member set it up the while others give earlier parts of the presentation. Laptops are notorious for not working when you need them to. If you use a laptop, have it turned on and ready before you walk into the room of judges.
If the members will talk, remember to talk at a normal speed and with your normal style, like you would in a regular conversation. Speaking too quickly or slowly can make the presentation sound unnatural or hard to understand.
If your presentation is too long, you must make some hard decisions about what to cut. Keep in mind that you can bring up new information during the follow-up interview. For example, rather than discuss community outreach for 30 seconds during your presentation, you could talk about it during the follow-up interview instead.
It’s important to be well prepared for your presentation. When the members stumble over their parts, the presentation is hurt. The following are some ways to prepare for the presentation that will help to ensure that things run smoothly:
Plan and outline your presentation. Rather than write down what you will say word for word, which could make the presentation sound unnatural, create a detailed outline and give your presentation using that. Have the members who will give the spoken parts of the presentation prepare their own outlines so that they can customize the pieces to fit their personalities.
Once you outline the presentation, have the team members learn the pieces and practice. Each member should be able to deliver his or her piece smoothly, without needing to study his or her notes.
Have coaches, parents, and mentors listen to the team practice and then comment on its performance in areas such as talking speed, posture, clarity, and so on.
Have someone film the presentation, and then have the team review the performance.
One portion of the Project involves sharing the team’s research with the community. This can enable others to benefit from your work, inspire others to become interested in science and technology, and will be a great experience for the team. In addition, a Project’s score is partly based on how much the team shares its research with others. This section discusses presenting your research to the community as well as taking other kinds of community action.
Unlike the presentation you give to judges, community presentations aren’t limited by time or to a certain topic. Teams often expand community presentations to include information about the FLL competition itself and the robot. Some teams even bring the robot, field mat, and mission models to demonstrate what it can do. This can add a lot of excitement to the presentation, especially if the audience includes young children. Team videos and hands-on activities can also improve a presentation.
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Be sure to take pictures of your community outreach, and find ways to include the pictures in your presentation to the judges. Perhaps include a Community Outreach binder that documents the team’s work in the community. Try to have a team member call local newspapers to inform them about upcoming community presentations; newspaper clippings that cover the event are a great way to share the team’s community work with the judges.
Many community organizations are happy to have FLL teams give presentations to members. For example, try one or more of the following:
You might even consider giving a presentation to the general public rather than a specific organization. For example, you could present in a building suitable for the occasion (such as a public library), and publicize the event with flyers and other advertisements. Figure 15-1 shows an actual flyer that a team used to advertise a presentation on its Project and robot.
Or talk to organizations about doing something based on the team’s research. For example, a team that is researching the use of nanotechnology to create stain-resistant clothes might talk to a hospital about switching to nurses’ uniforms made out of this material. Some teams go even further by working with politicians to pass legislation related to their research or even applying for patents for new inventions they create.
If you have an idea that is related to your research and can make a positive impact on your community, look for ways to make it happen! Though it might seem unlikely that organizations will listen to an FLL team, you may be surprised. Many organizations enjoy hearing what FLL teams have discovered and are open to suggestions for how they can use those ideas.