Hello Pamela!
Welcome to MISSION POSSIBLE, Issue 2! This weekly Team
Advisor newsletter is designed to keep you up to date on what’s happening with
eCYBERMISSION, and help you and your team through the process of competing this
year! If you ever think of something we should feature in a future Mission
Possible, drop us a line. We LOVE to hear from our TAs! This week, we’ll
help answer the questions:
Let’s
talk about identifying a problem. One of the most challenging parts of the
competition is the first big decision that you and your team will make together
– selecting a topic. The team will need to identify the problem in their
community they want to investigate (with science) or solve (with engineering).
To get started, guide your team through some of the Mission
Folder Resource sheets found at the bottom of the Team Resources page of the
website (http://ecybermission.com/TeamResources).
Specifically, take a look at:
·
Selecting a Topic Worksheet - http://ecybermission.com/files/helpdocs/Selecting%20a%20Topic%20Worksheet.pdf
It’s important to note that this project needs to be a
science or engineering project. This may sound obvious, but students may
look at a problem in their community like pollution or people who are hungry
and try to SOLVE the problem with a park clean-up or food drive. While these
are GREAT community service projects, they don’t fit the mold for eCYBERMISSION.
An eCYBERMISSION project poses either a hypothesis and tests it through data
collection OR a design statement that is fulfilled through the development of a
device/prototype. Remember, science is about answering a question and
engineering is about solving a problem!
Some TAs and students have told us that the registration
process is too long! Believe it or not, this is all very valuable information
that helps us make the program better and make sure funding for the program
continues. We appreciate your patience with the process.
If you are having trouble getting your students’ parents to
read the Privacy and Evaluation Policies and sign off because they do not have
access to an email address or computer, you can use a hard copy sheet we have
created to get their signature and then complete that part yourself. Reply to
this email and ask for a copy of that sheet and the instructions. Remember,
your Point of Contact is here to help any time you need it!
All students completely registered (and on a complete team)
by Nov. 2nd will receive a free STEM kit courtesy of the Army
Educational Outreach Program.
Here are some more things that are happening with
eCYBERMISSION:
·
We have a blog! If you haven’t checked
out the eCYBERMISSION Blog, head on over and see what other teams are up to.
And send us your story so we can feature YOU! http://ecybermission.blogspot.com/.
·
Discussion Forums and Team Talk – Remember
you can always get help from CyberGuides and other TAs through the Discussion
Forums (accessible via your homepage). And you and your students can
communicate remotely through Team Talk. Ask your Point of Contact to set up a
room for your team, and you can even add a CyberGuide to your Team Talk room if
you like!
·
Next CyberGuide live chat: October 12,
2016 at 6 PM EST
·
eCM on the road - During the first
week of October, you can find eCM at the Virginia Military Institute’s STEM
Education Conference in Lexington, VA and the National Indian Education
Association Convention in Reno, NV. Stop by to say “hello” and send your
friends and colleagues to see us!
Many TAs ask how long their students should spend on their
eCYBERMISSION projects. One national finalist Team Advisor told us “I estimate
that students spent about 5 hours per week or more, for the 5 months that they
were involved in the project. It may have been more towards the end.” That
means students should get started now choosing that problem!
As always, if you (or your team) need assistance, please
contact Mission Control Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm EST at 1-866-GO-CYBER or missioncontrol@ecybermission.com.
Also feel free to contact me through email or at the number
below. Good luck!
Kathleen Kelly
eCYBERMISSION Project Manager
National Science Teachers
Association
1840 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
703-312-9387
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