Technovation Challenge Fall 2012

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Task Navigation 

Pre-Survey + Team Registration for Students


1.  TAKE PRE-SURVEY

Welcome to Technovation Challenge! Before you begin the program, please complete a simple student pre-survey (each girl completes the survey). The survey takes about 5 minutes to complete.

At the end of the program, we will ask you to complete a "post-survey." Surveys help us learn what we can do to improve the program for our students. Thank you for your help.

Click here to complete your pre-survey.

2.  FORM TEAMS AND CREATE A TEAM P2PU ACCOUNT:

Once you have formed teams (4-5 girls), please create a Gmail account  account for each team. They'll use their Gmail account to access App Inventor, and they can also use it for team communication

Once you've created a G-mail account for each team, please register your team here. Each team needs to register individually so that they can earn their badges and post their materials.

3. SUBMIT PARENT FORMS

Each student needs to have their parents complete the survey and photo consent forms (also available in Spanish). Please scan and email signed forms to technovationchallenge@iridescentlearning.org. Include your school name in the file name that you send. Please do not send us student applications; these are for your review only.

Task Discussion


  • Sara Spiegel said:

    Have one team of 6, could not submit all of their names. Is 5 the absolute max??

    Thanks, Sara

    on Dec. 28, 2012, 11:14 a.m.

    Angelica said:

    Hi Sara

    Six is fine. I'll let AnnaLise know so she can add a space for submitting the sixth name.

    Thanks,

    Angélica

    on Dec. 28, 2012, 1:14 p.m. in reply to Sara Spiegel

    Ina said:

    Just a mentor here, but I think it is not fair at this point in the game to state that six girls per team are OK. It's not fair to all the five girl teams that have already formed. I think if they had known that six is OK, a lot of schools would have gone for six girl teams particularly if they have several teams.

    Six team members mean they can get 20% more work done (last year I mentored a four girl team and we clearly noticed the difference in the amount we could get done in a week). If six girls are really OK, I think it should have been made clear at the beginning as I think most teams operated under the assumption that it is five girls max.

    I know, it really sucks for the sixth girl, but otherwise it sucks for several hundred girls who are at an unfair disadvantage.

    on Dec. 29, 2012, 11:28 p.m. in reply to Angelica

    Elaine Mistretta said:

    I would add a sixth girl if this is acceptable, as many teams might. What is the decision on this? elaine mistretta On Sat, Dec 29, 2012 at 11:28 PM, inareichel <
    on Dec. 30, 2012, 2:24 p.m. in reply to Ina

    Ananya said:

    Hi Elaine, Great to cross paths again. Why dont we gather around the sixth girls to form a virtual team? Ananya On Dec 30, 2012 2:25 PM, "ElaineMistretta" <
    on Dec. 30, 2012, 6:25 p.m. in reply to Elaine Mistretta

    Elaine Mistretta said:

    Hi What do you mean? Are they allowing 6 girls or 5? A virtual team is so hard, I think it is hard enough to have a mentor who just would work with the girls via email, skype and not visit the school. Have you been assigned a team as a mentor? It is awesome you are making yourself available as a mentor. I am not sure why more young women professionals are not willing to mentor. I know time is at a premium for young professionals right now. I have been trying to contact everyone I know to find a mentor. I feel strongly that a mentor should be able to come to the team weekly, at least every other week and then fill in virtually. Elaine On Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 6:26 PM, asengupta <
    on Dec. 30, 2012, 6:43 p.m. in reply to Ananya

    Ananya said:

    Elaine, I have no idea what got decided, or whether any decisions got made by Technovation organizers, just put in my thoughts on the matter as I was following the thread. I can only be a virtual mentor this year with baby constraints and my relocation to Iowa with a new job. Best Ananya On Dec 30, 2012 6:43 PM, "ElaineMistretta" <
    on Dec. 30, 2012, 6:47 p.m. in reply to Elaine Mistretta

    Elaine Mistretta said:

    That is right... hope the baby and you are well!!! On Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 6:47 PM, asengupta <
    on Dec. 30, 2012, 6:50 p.m. in reply to Ananya

    Ananya said:

    Yes, we are both good! :) Thanks and happy 2013! Ananya On Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 6:51 PM, ElaineMistretta <
    on Dec. 30, 2012, 11:40 p.m. in reply to Elaine Mistretta

    Angelica said:

    Hi, this is a great point, thanks for raising it. Here are my thoughts and let me know what you think.

    The 6th person is an alternate. Last year in NYC, some teams had a 6th team member or alternate. Some of these teams ended the Challenge with 5 girls when the alternate replaced a girl on the team. The 6th person was someone who was ready to go and attended meetings as she wanted to, and stepped in officially when a spot was open, either because a girl stopped attending or because a teacher or mentors asked her to leave the group because of poor attendance/work ethic. 

    Having a 6th team member is not an advantage. In two other cases with alternates in NYC, teams ended up with 6 members. In one case a girl who was about to be replaced with the alternate asked for a second chance, proved herself, and stayed on, and in the other case, the alternate was never needed to fill a spot, but still showed up to all the meetings. In these two cases, I decided to let the teams of six pitch. My realization from seeing them work together was that, yes, they had more hands on deck, but they also had to overcome the challenge of keeping team work efficient with more people, more voices, more personalities, etc. These were teams with strong leadership from mentors and teachers and the result was being able to get along as a group of six for many weeks to agree on one product and present as a unified team.

    My suggestion is that if you do have a 6th student available at some point in the 12 weeks, do not turn her away. Why not consider giving her a role as an alternate?

    Having a smaller team can be an advantage. I have also seen groups of 3-4 girls complete the Challenge. We have some teams that are signing up with 4 girls. Having four girls means usually having everyone play a crucial role in the Challenge, and is also a great opportunity for girls who may have been more comfortable in the sidelines to jump in and actively participate since they will be "heard". These groups can become very student-driven and may find it easier to meet and more often because of the logistics of fewer schedules to manage, easier to all fit in one car or someone's house/apartment, etc.

    What are your thoughts?

    on Dec. 31, 2012, 10:05 a.m. in reply to Ananya

    annalise said:

    I want to echo Angelica's point that having more team members is not an advantage (that's why we suggest 4-5 as an optimal size). Having an alternate is a good idea, however, in case you lose a student.

    I've added a 6th team member as an alternate on the Team Registration Form, so if you have an alternate you would like to sign up you can add her name there when you register the team.

    Thanks for your input!

    AnnaLise

    on Dec. 31, 2012, 3:22 p.m. in reply to Angelica

    Elaine Mistretta said:

    I have no strong feelings on how many on a team. I am fortunate to have 5 interested girls. elaine On Mon, Dec 31, 2012 at 10:05 AM, AngelicaTechnovation <
    on Jan. 1, 2013, 2:06 p.m. in reply to Angelica

    Elaine Mistretta said:

    Hi Ananya Are you mantoring a team? I have had a hard time navigating the online materials, but I am getting there. elaine On Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 11:41 PM, asengupta <
    on Jan. 1, 2013, 2:07 p.m. in reply to Ananya

    Ananya said:

    Happy 2013! I am talking with a brooklyn teacher about mentoring her team. i did not contact you because, as I explained, I can only be a virtual mentor this year. Ananya On Tue, Jan 1, 2013 at 2:08 PM, ElaineMistretta <
    on Jan. 1, 2013, 2:12 p.m. in reply to Elaine Mistretta

    Elaine Mistretta said:

    Nice to hear from you Oh, no problem at all not contacting to mentor with us. I am sure whichever team you work with will value your input and leadership. I have a mentor who is a world renowned microbiologist who owns a successful bio-tech consulting firm in the device industry, a leader in molecular technology; She travels extensively so I also have a mentor TA who founded Haverhill Robotics with me and is a senior in Aeronautical engineering to help the girls with internet logistics and software. I am also working on speakers. We will do a pitch night with everyone involved invited. If I had not participated last year I would not be able to run it well at all on my own. The logistics of doing it at my school are much more difficult than traveling weekly. Let's stay in touch. elaine On Tue, Jan 1, 2013 at 2:12 PM, asengupta <
    on Jan. 1, 2013, 2:35 p.m. in reply to Ananya

    JennaB said:

    Hi Ananya!

     

    Did you find a team to mentor virtually? If not please let me know and I can help you find a team in need.

     

    Thanks!

     

    Jenna

    on Jan. 2, 2013, 2:58 p.m. in reply to Ananya

    chinmauche said:

    I need mentors for my teams. Any help will be appreciated.
    on Jan. 2, 2013, 5:09 p.m. in reply to JennaB

  • aneesa jamal said:

    Hi all

    Help needed with the pre-survey. Two of my team members were born in 2002 - a date that doesn't appear in the drop down box. What should be done?

    Regards

    Aneesa Jamal

    Chennai

    on Dec. 20, 2012, 10:56 a.m.

    dackner said:

    I'm out of the office and away from my mail for a while. I'll read your mail when I return. Thanks, Dalia
    on Dec. 20, 2012, 10:57 a.m. in reply to aneesa jamal

    TahaniZ said:

    Thanks for letting us know Aneesa, I modified the form and you should be able to choose 2002 now.

    Let me know if you still have any issues.

    Tahani

    on Dec. 20, 2012, 2:57 p.m. in reply to aneesa jamal

    dackner said:

    I'm out of the office and away from my mail for a while. I'll read your mail when I return. Thanks, Dalia
    on Dec. 20, 2012, 2:57 p.m. in reply to TahaniZ

    aneesa jamal said:

    Hi Tahani

    The kids said they couldn't enter their grades (5&6) Could that be modified? Not a big issue otherwise.

     

    Regards

    Aneesa

    on Dec. 20, 2012, 8:55 p.m. in reply to TahaniZ

    TahaniZ said:

    oh right! I forgot about that. Just fixed it :)

    on Dec. 20, 2012, 9:21 p.m. in reply to aneesa jamal

    Elaine Mistretta said:

    i think we found that problem as well 

    on Dec. 30, 2012, 2:18 p.m. in reply to aneesa jamal

  • Elaine Mistretta said:

    I am having a hard time locating the parent permission slips. Does each girl make their own p2pu account? I see how to make a team account but only after the parent permission slips are entered. We just have one team of 5 girls.

    on Dec. 3, 2012, 9:05 p.m.

    Angelica said:

    You will send us a signed survey consent form and photo waiver for each girl on your team, forms are here. Each team of five girls creates one gmail and one P2PU account that they share during the program, this way anything they work on is all in one place.

    Once you email us the forms, please sign up your team here and have each girl complete the pre-survey. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thank, Elaine! Angélica

    on Dec. 4, 2012, 10:42 a.m. in reply to Elaine Mistretta

    TahaniZ said:

    Thanks Angelica!

    on Dec. 4, 2012, 10:51 a.m. in reply to Angelica

    Jacqualyn Blizzard said:

    Hi Angelica,

     

    Are the forms available in Spanish? A lot of my students come from homes where Spanish is the dominant language.

     

    Thanks!

    -Jackie

    on Dec. 4, 2012, 4:16 p.m. in reply to Angelica

    Angelica said:

    Hi Jackie,

    I think AnnaLise emailed the forms to you, but I just wanted to post here in case other people have the same question. Tahani uploaded Spanish forms to our resources page. You can get the survey consent and photo waiver forms in Spanish or English here - http://iridescentlearning.org/programs/technovation-challenge/involved/start-a-team/resources/. Thanks for catching that!

    Angélica

    on Dec. 6, 2012, 1 p.m. in reply to Jacqualyn Blizzard

    annalise said:

    Jackie,

    I emailed the forms to you a few weeks ago. Let me know if you have trouble finding them. Thanks for the suggestion to translate them, this will help a lot of families!

    AnnaLise

    on Dec. 31, 2012, 3:24 p.m. in reply to Jacqualyn Blizzard