[Rich Wong]

Originally posted by M. Krass
This week's question comes from a good friend from the sunny state of Florida. I think it'll reveal a bit about our personalities.

Question of the Week 10-12-03: Would you ever build a ship in a bottle? Why? Why not?

Personally, I'd love to, mostly out of my adoration for model ships. I know that I don't have the patience to sit and accomplish the task, though.

So, how patient are you? Do you have the fortitude to take on long, arduous task and see it to completion? I wonder how building a FIRST robot compares to building the metaphorical ship in a bottle.

Building Ship-in- a-Bottle is a great way to practice in patience, focus, and imagination.
It is one of these wonderful “art forms” that are slowly disappearing. I have done it and once you start the challenge you can’t stop (it started after a I saw them during a visit to a marine museum), but I don’t think many of my students can do it.
Patience is developed along side maturity.
One of the thinks I try to turn younger students on to is the art of Origami.
Origami has the same affect- patience, focus, and imagination.

Maybe we can come up with a contest, building robots-in-a-bottle!
(official judging and awards at the Championship in Atlanta!)