From: "Mike Reynolds" <mike_reynolds_at_cec001-fa@cc.cranbrook.edu>
Subject: Weather Worlds
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 97 11:31:14 -0500
Hi everyone, Cranbrook is back and ready to take on the LFM weather worlds project. We participated in the PET last year and had a great time. I have 55 7th grade students, all boys, participating from three different classes. Last year I started with 6 students so things are definitely growing. I am organizing the boys to work on our proposals, we will submit three. Each class has selected a MISSION DIRECTOR, and three teams which include the PLANNING TEAM, SYSTEMS TEAM, INSTRUMENT TEAM and COMMUNICATIONS TEAM. I don't let the various teams communicate directly with one another. The only way a SYSTEMS person can communicate with an INSTRUMENT person is through the COMMUNICATIONS person. This has made our opening meetings very interesting as the groups try to work out their communications problems. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: MISSION DIRECTOR: Produce a final draft of the Weather Worlds proposal. Communicate with all team members in the class. Organize three meetings of the entire class to discuss goals, problems and ideas. PLANNING TEAM: Determine what is to be measured. For example, will we record the high/low temperature of the day, how high off the ground, in the direct sun. SYSTEMS TEAM: Determine how measurements will be taken. For example, where and how to take the temperature. They will write the actual procedure. INSTRUMENT TEAM: They acquire instruments for measurement. They may build, buy or borrow the equipment. COMMUNICATIONS TEAM: They travel between the three teams sharing information and recording what the teams have decided. They are the communication link between the teams and the DIRECTOR. They must also produce the rough draft of the proposal. So far the teams are struggling with communications issues and trying to understand the problem. They are making good progress and we hope to have three proposals posted by next Wednesday.