Collaborative Problem Solving Bill Hommes

What am I going to tell you about? b b Creative Process we have used for the past 6 years to develop the concept for our robot b b Final concept is selected in 3 days b b Full participation by Students in Concept development and selection – everyone has equal input b b Have always stuck with concept selected with full team support – no second guessing

“To Thrive in the Age of Instability Requires a Distinctive Corporate Culture…. …a culture that breeds an endless search for ideas that stand or fall on their merits, rather than the rank of their originator, a culture that brings every mind into the game.” (Jack Welch)

Collaborative Problem Solving Criteria Convergent Thinking Divergent Thinking Problem Statement Robot Concept

Common Goal AlternativesInformation Risks Criteria Trust Consensus Decision Key Factors in Consensus Decision Making

What’s your Team’s Common Goal? Functional Robot Competitive Regionally Regional Champion Competitive nationally National Champion

Day 1 Goal - Develop Understanding of Game b Common Understanding of game b Potential Robot Capabilities b Game Strategies

Day 1 – Common Understanding Watch Kick-off event Goal is to insure everyone has understanding of the game – Game description – Field Layout – Scoring Chart key points Make Sketch of field layout

Day 1 – Potential Robot Capabilities Brainstorm WHAT functional capabilities you might want your robot to have Goal is to continue to improve understanding of game and implications on robot List all suggestions but do NOT discuss HOW to do these things!!!!

Day 1 – Potential Strategies Brainstorm what strategies are possible Block others from capping Maximize Tetras – score as many tetra’s as possible Maximize rows - focus on completing rows rather than #’s – Maximize value of autonomous Add tetras to game – Prevent opponents from getting tetras Select up to four strategies to develop further – CONCEPT STRENGTHENING

Goal of Concept Strengthening Develop and strengthen the strategies by identifying and overcoming key limitations Avoid the common idea-slaughtering that occurs when groups confront novel or unusual options 1.Break into 4 groups – one for each strategy 2.Select leader for group (1 student/1 mentor) 3.Spend 20 minutes working on your strategy 4.Rotate to next group Leaders stay behind to explain to new group Spend 10 minutes improving Rotate to next group Involve Everyone !!!

Concept Strengthening Advantages – List the top 2-3 advantages of strategy Limitations – why might this strategy not work, where might it fall short Unique Qualities – what are the unique elements we need to preserve  What does this strategy have that few or none of the others have  Why is this strategy different Develop detailed game strategies to overcome key limitations – describe 2 minute matches 2 min. 3 min. 13 min. 20 minutes

Day 1 - Wrap-up Each group reports back – Do they recommend continuing to pursue strategy – If yes, what is best means of implementing. Described a a 2 minute match Homework - Think of how you would build a robot to implement what you think is the best strategy

Day 2 - Creativity Criteria Convergent Thinking Divergent Thinking Problem Statement Robot Concept

In what ways might we build a robot to play triple play? Problem Statement

The best way to get a good idea is to get lots of ideas. (Linus Pauling)

Channeled into following patterns Creativity & Lateral Thinking - DeBono

Breaking Patterns Better solutions will be obvious AFTER you find them. Creativity & Lateral Thinking

DEFER JUDGMENT STRIVE FOR QUANTITYSEEK COMBINATIONS FREEWHEEL Guidelines for Creativity Session

Record Idea on Concept Sheet One idea per Sheet Sequentially number concepts as presented Concept Sheet

Idea Generation 15 min Brain Dump 10 min Idea Generation Part II - Lateral Thinking Organization 10 min Develop Categories Sharing 90 min Share Ideas Agenda for Day 2 – Idea Generation

Forced Relationships: Randomly grab a concept from a neighbor and combine it with the last concept you created and come up with at least one new idea that combines the two.

Forced Visual Relationships b Write down 3-5 attributes of one of the robots I am going to show b Pick one set of attributes b Then think of how to build a robot for triple play using that attribute using that attribute b Sketch it on an Concept Sheet

Collect pictures to stimulate your teams creativity

Worst Idea Everyone, Pick your worst idea. UNLOCK YOUR THINKING Now, Let’s try to make it work…

Categories After sharing we will need to group ideas by category Goal is about 5-10 ideas per category Look over your ideas and think of some categories What categories did you identify – need  20

Categories for Grouping Ideas

Share Concepts Category # Sequentially number concepts Share using – Transparency – Document Camera Post on Wall under Category Heading

Post Concepts by Category #5 Stabilizers#11 Auto Loading/Placers#19 Integration Concepts 88 Total Concepts Generated

Select final concept that: Meets team goals Team supports Will not second guess in week 2 Day 3 – Concept Selection Criteria Convergent Thinking Divergent Thinking Problem Statement Robot Concept

Ability to play game – # of Points – flexibility in strategy Feasibility – Can we finish in 6 weeks – Robot Robustness Selection Criteria

Identify the top 4 ideas – keep criteria in mind Review Ideas and make note of best ideas Trust your first impressions - decide quickly Once everyone has decided we will poll the group Preliminary Selection

Place dot on selected concepts Or if available Wireless Polling technology Everyone decides before they vote – Avoids “Herd Mentality” Preliminary Selection - total votes by concept #

All Concepts Receiving Votes Grouped into Clusters: Cluster 1 – Helper Bot – feed tetras to partner Cluster 2 – Load Station/GoalPlacement Cluster 3 – Telescoping/Rotating Arm Cluster 4 – Fork lift Cluster 5 - Articulating Arm Cluster 6 – Gripper concepts Cluster 7 – Defensive Bot – block other robots Cluster Ideas Remaining after Preliminary Selection

Final Ranking of Clusters Rank Clusters -Ability to play game -Feasibility of completing in six weeks Everyone votes – (1-10) - Tally votes - Discuss & Select final Concept Defensive bot Fork Lift Telescoping/ Rotating Arm Articulating Arm Helper bot

Team Selected Fork Lift Concept Recognized value of rotating fork lift to more easily place tetras agreed could incorporate if identify simple means to implement Agreed defensive & Helper bots did not meet Team Goals Final Results Fork Lift Tetra Storage Rotating Arm with Fork Lift

Defensive bots Fork Lift Six Weeks Later Meet Moebius Telescoping Arm Rotating Arm Tetra Storage