Here's what our team members had to say about Core Values:

 

Discovery - We explore new skills and ideas.

​

• Our areas of specialty have changed throughout the season as we’ve explored our project and discovered more useful or interesting specialties.

• We learned from each other how to build and code the robots. For our project work, some team members participated in an architecture class that focused on eco-friendly design/nature based solutions. 

• We interviewed learned from various experts based on our specialities for the Town Travel Trail, and then shared that information with the rest of the team.

​

Innovation - We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.

​

• We designed the project with children and those with disabilities as major user groups from the start.

• We used research on ideas that already exist to help us come up with new ideas that could work specifically for our project. One of the ideas is to create an app for the TTT historical and nature tour that would combine audio, visual and map based guides, as well as mindfulness prompts that lead you through an experience instead of just a walk.

• It takes a long time to find the right robot, to find the right attachment, and to test rotation numbers, but it is worth it to solve a mission.

​

Impact - We apply what we learn to improve our world.

​

• We spoke to the Weston Town Planner about our project, the TTT, and he liked the idea so much that he asked to share it with the town's Planning Board.

• We spoke with the Wayside Inn Historical Foundation and through our questions we were able to come up with ideas with them, to include mindfulness and respecting nature in the tour. They mentioned it would be something that would be good in the local walks as well.

• After learning so much about accessibility, I now look at buildings that I see in a different way. I think about the different ways that things are/are not accessible.

​

Inclusion - We respect each other and embrace our differences.

​

• In our team, we have a variety of genders and backgrounds. Our project is designed for everyone, of ANY race or gender.

• I was new to the team this year, and when I came to the team, I knew it would be a great experience since everyone was friendly and funny! I felt welcome and included in all the work, even though I didn’t know how to code EV3 at that point.  

• We have a lot of teammates who are very good at different things and everyone is always willing to share what they know with those of us who don’t have that much experience yet. I am also new this year, to the team, and realized that there are no questions that are dumb. And I have always been able to ask any of my teammates for help. I really appreciate how much we all support each other.

• When someone was unable to attend a meeting in person, we set up a Zoom meeting via the internet so they were able to participate. This was helpful during a recent snowstorm and when one of our teammates was called away for a month during a family emergency.

​

Teamwork - We are stronger when we work together.

​

• We built multiple robots to simultaneously test programs, and we ran them at the same time, coordinating our launches to gain maximum efficiency.

• We combined a lot of ideas when we built robots and jigs that align them. 

• Having my teammates with me on the expert interviews really helped because together we were able to ask and research everything needed. During coding we work together and help each other debug if the code doesn’t work. Sometimes someone else looking at what you are doing, can help catch something you didn’t notice. I also have noticed that when I’m feeling lost or overwhelmed one of my teammates will simplify the code for me so I understand it better.

• While working on missions for the robot game, we split up our groups into smaller things that our specific small group is good at. When we regroup we explain what we have done, and try to improve on each others’ creations.

• We often tagged out at the scrimmage as some people were better at setting up than others.

​

Fun - We enjoy and celebrate what we do!

​

• We all have a great time when we complete a mission. When the program does not work and the robot crashes, we think it is very funny even if it means we have to re-code the whole program.

• We were able to take part in a test run for a couple of missions. We were able to get 140 points and were so very excited to have done so well. I know that this was the work of everything the team learned last year as well as this year, coming together and that made it a very big deal. We were very proud of all of us.

• It was fun preparing the outtakes for the website because it is almost as fun to see a robot crash (in a funny way) as to do the mission!

​

Gracious Professionalism® - We encourage high-quality work, emphasize the value of others, and respect all.

​

• We don’t get angry at people when they mess up and instead give them advice. And making them feel like they did well instead of making them feel bad.

• Sometimes not everyone will work or agree on something together, and that is okay. We cooperate and find ways to be inclusive and respectful as much as we can. 

• At a scrimmage, I talked to other teams, gave them advice, and cheered for them in the matches. I also wished the other teams good luck in the scrimmage and competition.

• We listened to each other even if we were sure our idea was the right one. In the end, the product usually comes out better than if I had just done it myself.

• We used ranked choice voting for our project. Our first choice was worth 5 points, our second 3 points, and our third 1 point. The points were added up and the project with the highest total points was our project! This way, no one was unhappy.

​

Coopertition® - We learn from and teach our teammates. When competing, we assist and enable others when we can.

​

• We built devices for lining up the robots so our teammates could know how to line up the robots. 

• I learned from from my teammate how to build myblocks, and another teammate helped me understand the coding language. 

• Because I’m new to this team, I learned from my teammates how to code the EV3 robot and they made it much easier than I expected it would be. Another teammate helped me understand myblocks and also really helped me feel like it was okay to not know everything immediately. I learned how to use the more complex legos and build useful attachments from yet another teammate. I learned about the importance of a bike trail and how it helps families from another teammate because it's something she and her family use.

​