RecTech / Chill Snowboarding

Gonzalo, Greg, and Sergio assemble pieces of Legos

RecTech Teens at South Park began building and programming a racecar using Lego Mindstorms NXT in January.For the first session, participants grouped in pairs for a quick activity called the Peanut Butter and Jelly (PB&J) Sandwich challenge. Pairs typed up directions on how to build a PB&J sandwich, and then assigned a ‘lead’ and a ‘builder.’ Their mission was to build a PB&J from start to finish–taking bread out of the bag, opening the jar of PB & J, to putting the slices together in the end. The purpose of this activity was to engage students in thinking critically when giving directions as well as to learn how to lead and be led. Although only one out of four groups built a sandwich without a hitch, everyone enjoyed PB&J sandwiches with their peers.

After completing the PB&J Sandwich Challenge, students picked out a project, arranged themselves in specific roles: ‘assembly’ (in charge of putting together pieces), ‘assembly manager’ (in charge of making sure pieces are in correct place), ‘director’ (in charge of leading assembly line with directions), and film (in charge of documenting progress). In addition to building and programming Lego Mindstorm projects, be on the look out for a short stop-motion animation film on their progress soon!

Dan, our Electrical Engineering volunteer, shows students the voltage meter

We also started offering basic electrical engineering workshops this month. Thanks to Dan, a local South Park Teen Programs volunteer, teens learned to build mini electromagnets and began to brainstorm ideas on how to build a small electric car (using household items). Next week, teens will ramp up production of these small electric cars to prepare for the mini-car race and the electric scooter rodeo sometime in March. For examples of mini-car projects, please visit: http://www.bestoutreach.com/albumtt.htm.

Here is a piece of work created by participants on the RecTech Internship at Southwest.

“Billy the Bully Beater”, you are not alone if you are being bullied, there are people to help.

This is a stop motion animation, using Lego, originally edited in Flash, then exported as video and re edited and dubbed in Premier. Photoshop was also used for edits to the stills made during the animation filming.

see it on Vimeo: billy the bully beater from Group Lego on Vimeo.

Fall 2012 Interns pose with their mentors, Jenny and Nathan

Our partners from KUOW RadioActive wrapped up their After-School Internship at South Park last week. Six interns, from all over Seattle, finished up their interviews, offered peer reviews, and prepared short presentations on their pieces. They learned about journalism, audio recording, audio editing, interviewing, writing for broadcast, and speaking on the air.

The Fall 2012 class presented their pieces on Saturday, November 17 at the South Park Community Center from 4:30-6 pm. About forty community members around Seattle, supporters, family and friends attended the event. The audience raptly listened to each story, some of which covered sensitive and difficult subjects, and offered questions and feedback afterwards.

Antonia interviewed her long-time friend who was diagnosed with leukemia at a young age. In the interview, her friend talked about living with leukemia and how she helps others with cancer by volunteering her time at Seattle Children’s. At the end of Antonia’s presentation, she invited her friend up to the stage to be recognized as well. It was a very touching and inspiring moment.

Other stories covered woes over colleges/SATs, family issues, debunking stereotypes, and finding inspiration from a mentor. All interns presented their projects with great professionalism, reflection, some humor, and grace.

Interns pose with a friend after receiving their certificates

To listen to all their stories, to learn more about the Interns or how to apply for the KUOW internship, please visit KUOW RadioActive at http://www.kuow.org/radioactive.

This year’s KUOW RadioActive Fall 2012 Interns (from the left): Trey Tuito’Elau, Kaidan Vanloo, Keilon Anderson, Evan Adams, Dulce Saucedo, Antonia Dorn

These students completed homework and school assignments Monday through Thursday after school for the last three months. In addition, they showed great initiative in tutoring and encouraging one another to do well in school. When they didn’t have homework, students did other enrichment and academic-related computer activities such improving their vocabulary using FreeRice.com or their math skills through the Great Multiplication Challenge online.

Thank you for your tireless and dedicated efforts, your enthusiasm, and your drive! Keep up the great work!

Students developed games based around some old school favorites: Pong and Breakout!

Try out one of the games yourself at this link to the Scratch website:
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/southwest/2817790
Move the paddle with the arrow keys to hit the ball. You’ll get points for hitting the ball, lose points when you miss.