Upskilling+for+BP+Technology+Challenge+2013





The BP Challenge is an annual fun event held in regions throughout New Zealand between school teams. Teams are challenged to design and develop ‘solutions’ to problems using easily resourced materials, e.g., newspaper, string, sticky tape. The challenge provides an opportunity for people to demonstrate competencies such as • Thinking • Using language, text and symbols • Managing self • Relating to others • Participating and co-operating.

For four mornings 17 students from a number of Central Southland schools met with our tutor Mrs Leckie. We were given challenges and then we set to work brainstorming ideas that might solve the problem and win the challenge. We had to modify our ideas and take account of lots of technological things like surface area and gravity. We had to work hard and fast and manage our time. Teamwork is vital so we were building our team skills, by encouraging people and co-operating, not getting too stressed out, not worrying, coping with the stress. **Important tools we used were** Plan Co-operate – teamwork Discuss and compromise – combine ideas Build on ideas/knowledge – transfer knowledge Use the skills of team members Organise time Self management Build on feedback Be creative Be positive and have fun, support and encourage others in the group Learn **In the BP Challenge you can expect a challenge about** - moving an object across a construction e.g. bridges - moving an object down e.g. parachute - moving an object with your construction e.g. fishing rod - building towers - grabbing things over a distance **Skills used for the BP Challenge include:** **Paper Rolling skills** We started each day with paper rolling. We were looking for tight strong paper rolls as many of the BP Challenges use them. We found practice makes perfect. Roll on the diagonal, tight as you can. Roll with hands up and out. **Teamwork** The whole team has to contribute, otherwise you’ll never meet the time challenges. Each person can be doing something to help the team, using your strengths. **Time management** Keep yourself on task; manage yourself. When you get the call telling you there’s 3 minutes left, you have to think what the top priorities are to finish up and meet the challenge. Then go fast as you can! Once you are being judged you can’t adapt anything. Check out these online technology links. [] [] [] **Here are some of our reflections about participating in this GATE Initiative.** Daniel said, “It’s been good coming, we’re really into building things and we get to learn as we build things.” Aaron thought working as a team really helps because you can get each other’s ideas and build on them… “Wait I just came up with a brilliant idea!!!” Ella said, “I like it because we get to create and use other people’s ideas.” Caleb reflected, “You learn some new skills so if you do go into the BP Challenge we’ve learnt some skills. Mrs Leckie helps us with that.” Reuben said, “I’ve learnt how to paper roll and to make supports towers.” Lachie said, “We’ve learnt how to build frames, and how to work together.” AJ thought “Probably the best challenge was trying to make a tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows.” Maisie agreed that the spaghetti and marshmallow tower was outstanding. She said, “I’ve learnt to adapt your ideas as you go through the design process.” Hunter’s highlight was learning how to create things with his own ideas. Vere enjoyed the Spaghetti Challenge. One skill he’s been working on is paper rolling. He knows to keep your plan simple. Jake and Nick agreed it’s fun building stuff. They’ve found out that triangles are stronger than squares; triangles are good for building anything. Lachlann said, “I’ve learnt skills for the BP Technology Challenge, and I probably wouldn’t get in to one of the teams for my school without coming here first.” Suri said, “You get to learn how to manage your time, and work together. You get experience of what it’s actually going to be like at the BP Challenge.” **Here are some tips from Mrs Leckie.** “You can only use what is in the specifications.” “You don’t have to use everything you are given.” “If you have a challenge that involves dropping, then use a big surface area in your design.” “If you have a bridge challenge, it’s the uprights or pillars, diagonals from triangles, arch and wires that make a bridge strong. So include those in your bridge design.” “Make it simple. If your design is elaborate then trial it to see how it works.” “The most important thing is being positive and having fun. Winning teams give encouragement and support to each other.” “Mistakes are learning. They are an opportunity for reflecting and adapting your plan.”