We survived the Oregon State Lego Tournament this past weekend. Would you be surprised to know that many of the teams were from Hillsboro, Beaverton, Bethany, and Portland? Let's note, there were a few Intel influenced teams. Shall we?
Sixteen weeks of technology with an Architectural/World Class Learning focus is now over, at least for the competitive component. However, more adventures with architecture await, as does leisure robotics. Is there such a thing?
Our team made a good showing, while learning a lot and growing together. It's been way more work than most of us bargained upon. I hope we've become a team that not only asks for God's blessing, but steps up to the work that God's blessings surely ask of us. Every time.
Certainly, I was struck by the fact that to reach the State Lego tournament (or do robotics at all) there's privilege: parents who care, parents and coaches who invest time and money, parents and coaches who can afford to be present for 2-3 hour (or longer) robotics practices weekly, and parents who are not intimidated by computers and world class learning unleashed. Sadly, access to robotics is not made available to all. Some parents are just trying to get their kids through school and survive. Let us participate in robotics humbly, expecting to give back through the skills we've gained. These blessings of time and opportunity are not to be assumed upon. What are we to do with our new skills? Next year offers a new opportunity to live out our blessings by making our world a better place. FLL Trash Trek here we come.
We are pondering ideas. How about Wear your Trash Day? Might that motivate us to consume less? Or, how about visiting a local city in Oregon and learning how they've become so very green? Sorry, Eugene. Further, what about involving ourselves in trash at the state level? As we ponder FLL Trash Trek, we can't help but wonder why dumping trash in the ocean is regulated, but collecting, storing, and disposing of local trash in our communities isn't regulated nearly enough? And there's not nearly enough incentives to recycle. If I produce less trash, there's very little reward. We are pondering, and yes, sometimes pontificating at the dinner table how we produce and process trash.
Sixteen weeks of technology with an Architectural/World Class Learning focus is now over, at least for the competitive component. However, more adventures with architecture await, as does leisure robotics. Is there such a thing?
Certainly, I was struck by the fact that to reach the State Lego tournament (or do robotics at all) there's privilege: parents who care, parents and coaches who invest time and money, parents and coaches who can afford to be present for 2-3 hour (or longer) robotics practices weekly, and parents who are not intimidated by computers and world class learning unleashed. Sadly, access to robotics is not made available to all. Some parents are just trying to get their kids through school and survive. Let us participate in robotics humbly, expecting to give back through the skills we've gained. These blessings of time and opportunity are not to be assumed upon. What are we to do with our new skills? Next year offers a new opportunity to live out our blessings by making our world a better place. FLL Trash Trek here we come.
We are pondering ideas. How about Wear your Trash Day? Might that motivate us to consume less? Or, how about visiting a local city in Oregon and learning how they've become so very green? Sorry, Eugene. Further, what about involving ourselves in trash at the state level? As we ponder FLL Trash Trek, we can't help but wonder why dumping trash in the ocean is regulated, but collecting, storing, and disposing of local trash in our communities isn't regulated nearly enough? And there's not nearly enough incentives to recycle. If I produce less trash, there's very little reward. We are pondering, and yes, sometimes pontificating at the dinner table how we produce and process trash.
| I'm also pondering how we might participate with our best attitudes in place. There's always room for growth. Lego Robotics is not for the faint of heart. I'm quite sure it draws Type A's. Team work must be focused upon each and every session, for good reason. Thank heavens, we have a team that cares about the Lego Core Values, discussing and seeking to live them each week. |
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