The program speaker at the Thursday, March 8, Rotary Club of Edina meeting was Dr. AnnMarie Thomas, an associate professor in the School of Engineering and Schulze School of Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas. She is also the director of the Playful Learning Lab. She spoke about "Playing to Learn."
The Muscular Dystrophy Association was presented with an Edina Rotary Foundation local grant. MDA will use the grant money for water bottles for young people attending their summer camp.
Click on the link below for more on the meeting...
The Muscular Dystrophy Association was presented with an Edina Rotary Foundation local grant. MDA will use the grant money for water bottles for young people attending their summer camp.
Click on the link below for more on the meeting...
We were greeted by Rick Carlson, Hal Harris and Joe Hayes on a warm and sunny Minnesota winter day. Joe Christensen assisted Jennifer Garske at the front desk and we had a packed house!
As of 12:30 p.m., the Edina boys hockey team was up 6 to 1 in the Minnesota State High School Hockey tournament.
Past president Jeff Ohe led us in a moving prayer and reminded us of our many blessings and our responsibility to serve and help others. Nate Wenner introduced numerous visiting Rotarians and guests.
Past president Brad Hepp made a request for Rotarians to suggest outstanding speakers for our meetings next Rotary year. Chair of the 2018–2019 Program Committee is Doug Johnson. Scott Hawkins invited everyone to participate in Edina Rotary's March Madness bracket, an NCAA basketball pool for only $10. For an additional $15, you can attend the party Monday, April 2, at Poor Richard's Commonhouse in Bloomington to watch the Championship Game.
Rick Carlson, a member of the Community Service—Local Funding, presented Kathy Richards of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) with a check for $2,000 from the Edina Rotary Foundation. Richards explained the money will be used for water bottles at the summer camp for young people with muscular dystrophy. At the camp, the participants will go zip lining, fishing, swimming and other summer activities they would otherwise not be able to do.
Nate Wenner also introduced our guest speaker—a very energetic, enthusiastic and fast-talking Dr. AnnMarie Thomas. Dr. Thomas is the associate professor in the School of Engineering and Schulze School of Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas. She came to Minnesota from California in 2006, when she was a professor in underwater robotics.
Dr. Thomas played a video game where people were at the circus. The people were engineering students and they were, in fact, jumping on trampolines, swinging from trapeze and rolling around in carriage wheels across the ground. The point of her video was her students putting the engineering equations to use while having fun and laughing.
Dr. Thomas played a video game where people were at the circus. The people were engineering students and they were, in fact, jumping on trampolines, swinging from trapeze and rolling around in carriage wheels across the ground. The point of her video was her students putting the engineering equations to use while having fun and laughing.
Her teaching philosophy includes:
- Joy
- Whimsy
- Play with new people
- Surprise
Dr. Thomas showed several other videos, including one where her class and a pastry chef had made musical cupcakes. She was in Denmark, and a 6-year-old boy was celebrating his birthday. He held onto the balloon with a silver string that served as a conduit. So whenever he touched a cupcake it made a sound. (Unlike her, who did not have a conduit.)
She expressed that learning should be fun! Dr. Thomas encouraged us all to think outside the box and told us to support teachers who take risks.
Mike Opitz thanked our speaker and expressed his joy of Play-Doh as a kid. President San Asato promptly closed our meeting at 1:30 p.m. and encouraged us to have a great week and be outstanding Rotarians.
She expressed that learning should be fun! Dr. Thomas encouraged us all to think outside the box and told us to support teachers who take risks.
Mike Opitz thanked our speaker and expressed his joy of Play-Doh as a kid. President San Asato promptly closed our meeting at 1:30 p.m. and encouraged us to have a great week and be outstanding Rotarians.
