Effective Collaboration

Tim (6) Draws me a Lego Man

One of the benefits of working from home is having pictures delivered on a regular basis from my children. Today Tim, who likes Lego a lot, brought me this picture ...

Thanks Tim!!

The 8 That Didn't Get Away ...

Susanna (3) wanted me to bake gingerbread men with her this afternoon. We made 16 -- the first 8 disappeared for afternoon tea -- and the remaining 8 got iced before being consumed by hungry desert goers. I didn't have the right icing equipment, so used (very clean) plastic bags instead.

The one with the "S" was for Susanna ...

So ... foxes need not apply. There are none left.

Notes from Chris Rogers on Robotics for Everyone, March 12

Left-to-Right: David (11), Matthew (10), Professor Chris, and Philip (9)

Professor Chris Rogers, from Tufts University in Medford MA, was in New Zealand for some sessions on robots and engineering. There was a general session on Thursday night, and I took my 3 oldest boys. Eric Mack will be pleased to know that Chris was using a MacBook Air ("Yes, it really is light, and Yes, it really does fit in an envelope") ... and he had an iPhone in his pocket. He and his colleagues have been working with Lego for about 10 years, trying to engage kids better in the classroom with the concepts of maths and engineering.

He showed some robots and videos of robots:
- the Gravity Walker from Cornell. Shows that your body is made to use very little energy except when you are going up hill or steeply downhill.
- there are many different ways of building a robot to move forward when you have the same base components
- MicroRobots from ETH, that can be injected into the eye and measure oxygen. Or can drive a robot into a blood vessel, drive up to a cancer cell, and then explode the robot and the cancer.
- robots that can be controlled by a fruit fly.
- playing soccer with very micro robots. One of the big challenges is that you need to work out how to actuate very small robots.

About 15 years ago, Chirs and a colleague started the Engineering Educational Outreach program. Key programs: outreach programs, tool and content development, a PhD programme, and for-fee programs ("So we can buy the latest laptops", he quipped). They interact directly with about 1,000 teachers each year, and indirectly with 60,000 or so teachers, and up to about 5,000,000 students. In China, some children were working on assistive technologies. In Germany, some students built a dancing robot. Chris particularly likes seeing the interest and passion that the children bring to the classroom.

Chris says that there are 5 key teaching goals, starting with encouraging curiosity, going through to learning how to learn. (I missed the others)

What's the difference between and engineer and a scientist? The engineer basically wants the right answer to solve a problem; the scientist wants to know for the sake of knowing. Eg, Pi is "3" for an engineer ("that's good enough"), but a scientist wants to go to many decimal places.

Start teaching engineering as early as possible ... the younger the better. Leverage their curiosity and teach them maths and science.

Wants to move the kindergarton ideas of hands-on learning into the higher levels of education.

How do we teach things in engineering:
- there is a gender difference, in general. Boys are competitive, girls are cooperative. Boys want the details, girls want to see the big picture. Boys want to work alone and argue nothing, girls like to work in groups.

Teaching building:
- structurally sound building
- 1st Grade maths, for teaching decimals by building a robot to drive to a certain place ... but it requires 1.6 seconds, not 1 or 2.
- 3rd Grade maths, for time vs. distance, to stop a vehicle before hitting a Lego person
- at College level, control theory.
- 9th Grade physics, for calculating G
- 9th Grade Physics, for projectile motions
- 9th Grade Physics, with Vernier Sensors
- develop a Lego-driven fax machine
- get students to go into classrooms and help the teacher with teaching engineering

Why is all of this not taught in the classroom? It's a different teaching style (coaching), there is no right answer, it takes longer so you cover less, the content knowledge is not taught in pre-college schools, and it requires teaching through chaos.

Thus to make this happen, they are building a community of teachers to do all of this, available at LEGOengineering.com. Teachers can share what they are doing with robotics with others.

It was a great session ... there were about 50 people in attendance, and of these about 20 were under the age of 18.

Valentine's Day 2008

My mother-in-law (Edna) is a treasure. She is truly wonderful, and is loved by all who know her.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day here, and it's pretty hard with a newborn baby and 7 older children to go out to a restaurant for a meal with just Katrina ... but what did happen was even better. Valentine's Day also happens to be Katrina's older sister's birthday, so there was a big family get together at Katrina's mother and father's place.

And here's what Edna had done. A table was set in a separate room for 6 adults ... for Edna's three daughters and their husbands. It had candles on the table, a lovely tablecloth, crystal cups, the works. The children were the waiters and waitresses, and for once in a long time we got to have a meal with just adults (although actually I did hold Elizabeth throughout the meal, as is normal practice). It was quite strange really, but very enjoyable.

The children ate with Edna and Wayne in the kitchen, and it was quite a sight when I walked out there later in the evening to see two adults and 13 grandchildren around one table. So many little bright faces enjoying being together, so many little people getting on well and having a wonderful time with cousins.

Valentine's Day 2008 ... now there's one for the remembering.

Thanks Apex Trampolines!

We needed new safety pads for our trampoline. A quick Google search turned up a couple of options in New Zealand. I ordered ours from Apex Trampoline Mats Ltd in Auckland, and when they arrived on Saturday, I was taken with the excellent quality of the workmanship. Kudos to Victor!

Highly recommended.

Holidays are ...

Holidays are:
- Packing up vehicle and trailer, with clothes and bedding and food for three days away
- Strange holiday houses, and small too
- Six children sleeping in a room designed for two
- Different smells
- Instructions at the beach, "don't get your shoes wet", followed by children emerging within minutes wet to the waist (oh well, they *are* children)
- Smaller spaces to play
- No office desk, ergonomic chairs, large screens, fast Internet. Actually, no phone at all.
- New views of hills, and harbors, and heads, and water (lots of water)
- Constant watching of little children in houses with stairs
- Shrieks of delight from 3 year olds as the wave crash down and rush in
- Looks of amazement from toddlers on seeing and hearing the sea for the first time ... and tentative giggles as the wave crash loudly - very loudly - down.

- Warnings to 3 year old dare devil girls that high bunks are for big boys (after they've climbed up and down already)
- One toilet for 9 people, rather than the normal ratio of 1:3
- Boys inventing a myriad of ways of going up and down stairs.
- Toddlers discovering "stairs" and ways of going up and down
- Nine eating dinner, squashed around a table built for four
- Secret passage ways and new hiding places in holiday homes and in places around the section
- Boys claiming that they won't get lost on the section, even when you can see the fences from pretty much everywhere
- Dads with hairy faces, due to a failure to shave
- Long walks on hills, through grass and trees to lookout points
- Rocks thrown into the sea, from vantage points high and low

Holidays are ... all too short.

We were staying at Wainui ...

View Larger Map

Malvern Area "Jump Jam Variety Evening", August 24

Our local community--the Malvern area--had a variety evening tonight to raise funds for some young people to travel to the North Island. The local Darfield recreation hall was converted into a concert hall, and by looks of things there are 600-800 people here (the population of Darfield is about 4000 people, so there's a large proportion of them here tonight). Four of my boys are in the instrumental item, playing their violins. There's no judges here; just a lot of parents and children. I imagine that if Mr Brogan were here, he'd have video gear and media bloggers for Africa, but tonight it's just me and my BlackBerry and my poor quality 2MB camera.

(The sound system left something to be desired)

Brian opened the proceedings. He welcomed and thanked everyone for coming. He commended the Jump Jam coaches for getting their teams into the national competition. (Applause all around). He extended thanks also to the local businesses who extended support and funding.

Three young ladies formed the MC crew for the evening.

First up was the Junior Jump Jam group, doing "Reach". Oops. Sound system wouldn't behave, so they left the stage. The tap dancers came on instead. They danced to a song going through the alphabet.

Then an older foursome came up, and they danced to "Leroy Brown". They performed a great act.

(New CD player brought in and installed. Hope is restored!)

The Jump Jam junior group came back. They danced "Reach for the Stars" (high energy, but the music needed to be about 10x as loud).

The MCs came back, and announced a ballet item by Carrie.

Ted is 5 years old, and he's on for a tap dancing item. Incredible. The crowd erupted in applause when he was done ("fabulous" one lady behind me said).

The Darfield High Schoiol Kapa Haka group was on next. This is a Maori culture group. This kind of war dance would be done before a battle; if it wasn't enough to put the fear of the Maori in you, their weapons soon would. It received a good clap, and a few giggles from the little kids ("we're not scared").

The MC told the audience to get ready for participation in "Jump Jam Butterfly". Although spot prices were on offer, few accepted. Another high energy dance, but the music was far too soft :-(

The Hororata Tae Kwon Do club performed next. The teacher gave an introduction to the sport, and some of the history. It takes five years of training to get to black belt. The class went through some of their movements. They also showed some of their self-defense movements. I'm glad I was just watching! The groups train Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

(Third CD player of the evening was brought in)

Robyn has a dance for us as the next item. Robyn is about 16 or 17. Great poise and balance.

(The battery on my camera is almost flat, and I need to save some space for the boys.)

Charlotte came on to sing "Bad Hair Day". She was about 8 or 9. Good work.

The Kapa Haka group came back. The leader asked for lots of little children to go up and join in. About 20 took up the offer. They sang "You put your right hand in ... " in Maori. The second song was "Flick the Little Engine" in Maori, in a series of let's sing this faster than last time. The final contribution was a Maori song.

(Fourth CD player of the evening brought in. This time it's a laptop - a Windows variety. Will we need a Mac or will this represent salvation?)

Now it's the Malvern School of Music, with four of my boys playing violin (wow, we supplied 40% of the violinists!) We've been here for 90 minutes now; no wonder the boys--particularly Dani--look tired! They played 6 or 7 pieces, starting off with pieces that everyone could play, then going on to the harder renditions.

Time to head home, but there's probably another 2 hours yet on the agenda. The last event of the evening looks interesting--gunge a teacher (the students get to vote for who).

Getting the Garden Ready for Planting

Farmer Earley with the rotary hoe in our garden

When you live in the country and have a large family, a large vegetable garden is a great thing. Ours is 140m2, or 1500 square feet. In previous years, Katrina's Dad had use the rotary hoe to get the garden ready for planting, and its taken 6-8 hours of work. This year ... a slighter bigger machine :-) and 15 minutes. Sweet!

A Farewell to Major Kingsley Sampson from the Booth College of Mission, Jul 16

My Dad finished up his work at the Booth College of Mission today, which is the Salvation Army's Bible College in New Zealand. I attended his farewell.

Welcome
Major Donaldson (the current head of the Booth College of Mission) welcomed everyone who came to the event, including a special welcome to the Brengle course (for Officers who have graduated and are in the field, for further studies and re-learning). He also welcomed the special guests to the farewall to Major Kingsley Sampson (that would be my father).

Donaldson said that he was a young new officer on the campus in 1991 when my Dad and Mum joined the staff. One of the themes being discussed from then was how to enhance the effectiveness of Officer training in the days and years ahead. Donaldson commented that Kingsley has made a significant contribution to that over the subsequent years.

Farewell #1. Colonel Wilfrid Arnold, Secretary of Personnel for The Salvation Army in New Zealand
There are many people here at this farewell who have seen Kingsley grow and develop over many years. Wilfrid recollected that when he started his first appointment at Gore, Kingsley was in charge of young people's work. He spoke about the dedicated that Kingsley showed with his work, and then his ongoing learning and development as a Salvation Army Officer. He has watched the development over time.

When Wilfrid took his most recent appointment (7 years ago), he found a group of people who wanted to bring together all of the ongoing educational efforts within The Salvation Army. The vision was for an integrated, competent educational system ... and Kingsley was on that committee ... and that vision became the "Booth College of Mission" a few years later.

Wilfrid thinks that the transition of Kingsley out of the College is going to be somewhat challenging for him. Kingsley has sat in charge of a number of things within the Salvation Army and within the wider tertiary sector in New Zealand, and there has been a sense that as long as Kingsley had his hands on it, it would be okay.

"Kingsley, bless you in this time of transition".

Farewell #2. David Wells
In recent weeks, the College staff went out for dinner and asked Kingsley what his plans were for his life. He didn't (a) want to be a teacher, (b) a Salvation Army Officer, or (c) a missionary. However, God had other plans, and all of those things happened. David recollected that he was with Kingsley in Zambia at the Missionary School.

What kind of title could we give to Major Kingsley Sampson? Thought of four:

1. "Setter of the Highest Standards". He has very high standards, and encourages other to have and maintain them. Kingsley was meticulous about ensuring various things were "just right".


2. "Protector of Details". Has an eye for detail that is amazing. Whenever work is produced, however perfect others thought something was, Kingsley would pick up the errors and missing elements.


3. "Chief Architect of the Diplomas Courses". He wanted to get everything just right. When the College had its audit of tertiary educational institutions in New Zealand, the College got within the top 10% ... much kudos to Kingsley.


4. "Equipper of the Saints for Ministry". This has been a key focus of Kingsley for decades, for equipping people for the work of the ministry.

And of course, all of this has been done with gentleness and a good sense of humour.

Going back to the original questions, "what else did he want to do?" He always wanted to be a disc jockey. David, "instead of that, we have been gifted with someone who has made a huge contribution to the body of Christ here in New Zealand and around the world."

Response from Kingsley
Re the "disc jockey", that was the visions of a 13 year old. I'm allowed to grow up ...

Some recollections:

• This is the time of celebration and thanksgiving. Thank you to Wilfrid and David for comments and remarks. Thanks for the opportunity to work with you.


• Thanks to the 190 cadets in 18 sessions, and all of the colleagues that I've worked with. Three of the people here today were in his first session at 1991.


• Since 1965 there have been 8 educational officers, and 6 of them are here. One is overseas, and one is now with the Lord.


• Thanks to family.


• Thanks to God for the pleasure that this appointment has given me; I couldn't have asked for more.

He definitely had some other dreams and ideals for his life, but at age 14, sensed God's calling to Officership. It also led to missionary work and teaching. For Kingsley, he says clearly that "God knew best". He knew what would bring satisfaction and meaning in his work and life, and He figured it out.

Kingsley noted that half of his Officership was spent at the College, and in recent times, has been involved in educational administration and compliance. Some of this can be thought of as being boring, but Kingsley said that he saw it as prayer. Eg, a compliance document isn't just a compliance document, but rather a prayer.

Serving at the College has been a great appointment. Couldn't have imagined a better thing. Thanks ...

To finish ... a grace ... "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all forevermore."

Conclusion
Donaldson provided a small gift from the colleagues and staff at the College, and then concluded with prayer.

I went to Disneyland!!!

In an act of tremendous kindness, the Macless one and his family took me to Disneyland in the few hours we had after I arrived in California and before our 10.25pm flight to Boston.

We had a fun-packed and quick-paced 3 hours at Disneyland, and managed to squeeze in a number of experiences:

• The Pirates of the Carribean ride


• The Haunted House ride


• Star Tours to Endor (which I loved, and which my sons would have *loved* even more)


• The train ride around the outside


• Seeing part of the Grand Parade


• A quick walk through some of the different lands


• A look at the Lego store (which my sons would have *loved*)

I haven't been to Disneyland before ... and it was super fantastic. Some day I hope to return with my family. Thanks much to the Macks for a wonderful afternoon.

Such acts of kindness are almost enough for me to forgo the "Eric buy a Mac" rhetoric ... but perhaps not ;-)