Good behavior + good grades = Segway ride for Williams Elementary-Middle ... - Willia

[JohnG]

http://forums.segwaychat.org//t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuND3qfGhvkKEckVzSqEyektwOYP0WI vn6l_VozJDH2mWUeGgHNI4Gfa5v2wv-cNEkKbXhLVvE
Williams Grand Canyon News (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGf1_fejUE3aGKTJ3T4qdvC9l2C-Q&cid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&url=http://www.williamsnews.com/main.asp?SectionID%3D1%26SubsectionID%3D1%26Articl eID%3D14027)
<img alt="" height="1" width="1" />
Good behavior + good grades = Segway ride for Williams Elementary-Middle ... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGf1_fejUE3aGKTJ3T4qdvC9l2C-Q&cid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&url=http://www.williamsnews.com/main.asp?SectionID%3D1%26SubsectionID%3D1%26Articl eID%3D14027)
Williams Grand Canyon News
The plan is for students of the month and students who have good grades, good attendance and good behavior to be able to ride the Segway for about 10 minutes at recess. The school will require students to have parent permission, wear helmets and ...

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[url=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGf1_fejUE3aGKTJ3T4qdvC9l2C-Q&cid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&url=http://www.williamsnews.com/main.asp?SectionID%3D1%26SubsectionID%3D1%26Articl eID%3D14027]Read the full article... (http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dI_r3l_KPZhhAeM&authuser=0&ned=us)

Source: Google News

[Tritium]

The school's Segway model has three keys that will allow Lords to regulate the vehicle's speed when students are riding it. With the black key the Segway does not go above two miles per hour, with the yellow key it does not go above nine miles per hour and with the red key it goes as fast as 16 miles per hour.

The first two speeds could be correct if the keys were custom, but the third... I think we all know, sadly, that it isn't possible.

[KSagal]

The first two speeds could be correct if the keys were custom, but the third... I think we all know, sadly, that it isn't possible.

Actually, I believe with an ibutton programmer, and the software, it might be possible to program the black key with a non-standard speed, such as 2 mph.

However, I do suspect you are correct, and the article is wrong.

[Tritium]

Actually, I believe with an ibutton programmer, and the software, it might be possible to program the black key with a non-standard speed, such as 2 mph.



However, I do suspect you are correct, and the article is wrong.


Yes, that was what I had implied, the "first two" were for black and yellow, and the "third" was for the red key.

And I thought that all iButton Keys could be programmed with custom speeds/turning rates, up to 12.5 mph max of course.

[KSagal]

Yes, that was what I had implied, the "first two" were for black and yellow, and the "third" was for the red key.

And I thought that all iButton Keys could be programmed with custom speeds/turning rates, up to 12.5 mph max of course.

You are correct, 12.5 is the max. I missed the 16mph reference, and thought you were speaking of the 2 mph instead of the 6 mph speed of the black key.

I am sure that no one would have issued a middle school the famous 16mph 'purple' key...

[Tritium]

It's quite alright.

Purple key or not, I don't think a school is the right place for a Segway to be in use by kids.

If anything happens and a child gets injured on one, it would hit the news faster than a free vacation for two to the Bahamas.
I'm not saying it's a bad idea, and IMO it's not, however I think it should be in a closed environment with heavy supervision when kids are riding it, a school is just too dangerous of a place to let kids use it.

[Cybercat]

Interesting idea, but could be a bit controversial - I just read about a school that sponsored a dance for students who were doing well. Those who weren't couldn't attend. Of course, there was an uproar because it was seen as marginalizing the students who weren't doing well, and IIRC, the dance was cancelled. I guess the same argument could be made here.

Interesting world we live in.

[Lily Kerns]

All good points. On the other hand, some students need more or different incentive than others, so perhaps some ki nd of performance improvement or teacher recommendation could be added to the criteria if that is how you are planning the program.

This is also a rare opportunity to teach students responsible driving skills and attitudes before they are old enough to need them in a high powered car.

However it is offered, it will need to be carefully planned and monitored. Perhaps giving parents a chance to try them out first would increase acceptance of the idea. Another thing to be considered would be if and how they would have a chance to practice these skills. Segs are, after all, addictive...

I'm planning an opportunity for our local Scout troop to do this. They will have to have parental permission. They will have to listen to my personal safety lecture and a brief lesson on disability issues (since they know me in this capacity.) I will make it clear if they try to hotdog it-- or give me reason to think that is happening-- they are done, instantly. No nonsense on that matter. If they don't experience the usual shaky problems in the beginning, hopefully they won't even realize that that kind of thrill is possible. We shall see!

[jgbackes]

Every year I teach a "class" to local third graders. I talk about balance, inverted pendulums, energy storage and Segways.

This is all done outside the classroom on the lawn. The students sit "Indian style" in a large circle and I let them hold a battery, try to balance brooms on their hands and ask questions.

I then talk about the Segway and show them how it works.

After the talk we let every kid hop on an ride them in turtle mode. There are normally three classes of children at once. Three or more teaches, myself and my sweetheart. And six Segways

They are required to wear helmets, get permission slips signed, and are very closely watched as they go out about 25 yards and then return.

Every child gets a personal briefing before they are allowed to travel on their own with an Adult watching them the entire time. We tell them lean forward, lean backward, weight on your toes, weight on your heals, lean to the left, lean to the right. After they have mastered that we point them away from everyone and they head out in a straight line. We tell them to turn around and come back to me.

The thing to remember is that their teacher is there and trust me 3rd graders do what their teachers say.

It's lots of fun for the kids, lots of work for the adults but I think everyone gets something out of it.

The hippies and "free spirits"of the 60s and 70s are raising their children, if their parents had been as worried, there would have never been a "60s"

Be safe, have fun.

Now stop reading and go out and enjoy the outdoors.

jeff

[airdale]

Every year I teach a "class" to local third graders. I talk about balance, inverted pendulums, energy storage and Segways.

This is all done outside the classroom on the lawn. The students sit "Indian style" in a large circle and I let them hold a battery, try to balance brooms on their hands and ask questions.

I then talk about the Segway and show them how it works.

After the talk we let every kid hop on an ride them in turtle mode. There are normally three classes of children at once. Three or more teaches, myself and my sweetheart.

They are required to wear helmets, get permission slips signed, and are very closely watched as they go out about 25 yards and then return.

Every child gets a personal briefing before they are allowed to travel on their own with an Adult watching them the entire time. We tell them lean forward, lean backward, weight on your toes, weight on your heals, lean to the left, lean to the right. After they have mastered that we point them away from everyone and they head out in a straight line. We tell them to turn around and come back to me.

The thing to remember is that their teacher is there and trust me 3rd graders do what their teachers say.

It's lots of fun for the kids, lots of work for the adults but I think everyone gets something out of it.

The hippies and "free spirits"of the 60s and 70s are raising their children, if their parents had been as worried, the would have never been a "60s"

Be safe, have fun.

Now stop reading and go out and enjoy the outdoors.

jeff

You sound like an awesome teacher... My hat goes off to you!