Best PracticesBest Practices

BEST Prototype Game WeekendBEST Prototype Game WeekendWichita State University

May 2-3, 2008

What are Best Practices?What are Best Practices?

• Benchmarks Benchmarks (excellence, effectiveness, and quality)

• Standards Standards (consistent principle and practice)

• Models Models (replicable and adaptable)(replicable and adaptable)

Why Standards?Why Standards?

Two Critical AreasTwo Critical Areas

Hub OperationsHub Operations

Team SuccessTeam Success

Why these two areas?

• A hub is the standard-bearer standard-bearer of BEST Inc.

• Equipping teams to be more successful and have a more fulfilling experience are our desired are our desired outcomesoutcomes

Hub OperationsHub Operations

Compliance Compliance (Kits & Check-In)

Judges Orientation and TrainingJudges Orientation and Training

AdvancementAdvancement

AssessmentAssessment

Awards & JudgingAwards & Judging

• Policy Reference DocumentPolicy Reference Document

• PoliciesPolicies

• Judges TrainingJudges Training

• Team AdvancementTeam Advancement

Policy Reference Policy Reference DocumentDocumentAddresses• Mandatory and Optional Awards• Trophy, plaque and medal

guidelines• BEST Award Guidelines• Engineering Notebook Guidelines

PoliciesPolicies

• Part I (not editable)• Part II (editable)• Score Sheets (limited editing)• Team Demographic Forms

• Collect and post information on bestinc.org after Game Day

• Above documents should be released in Kick Off packet

JudgesJudges

• Who?• Anyone who could be an advocate

for the program

• How Many?• As many as possible! Rule of thumb

is 1.5 – 2 times the number of teams participating in BEST Award

Recruiting JudgesRecruiting Judges

• Recruit all year• Send “Save the Date” email as soon

as Game Day date is confirmed• Send Judging Sign Up Form before

Kick Off• 2 weeks prior to Game Day, send:

• Thank you letter with BEST basics and judging expectations

• Game Rules and Awards and Judging Rules

Judges TrainingJudges Training

• Why?• Ensures consistency across hubs• Organization with judging process is key to

cultivating program advocates

• When?• Prior to each judged event

• How?• Go through training manual with entire group• Assign experienced Team Leaders to each sub-

group and let them break off for more detailed orientation session

• Stress importance of comments on Score Sheets – promotes student learning

Judges TrainingJudges Training

Discussion Point…..

Ideas on how to make judging process more consistent?

Team AdvancementTeam Advancement

• BRI Board of Directors determines which hubs fall under each regional on an annual basis.

• Each regional determines the number of teams (T) that can advance from the region.

• Regionals will determine the number of teams advancing for each hub based on the following formula:

N = (H R) T N = Number of teams that can advance for a specific hub

H = Number of teams in the specific hubR = Number of teams in the region (sum of all teams in

all hubs)T = Total number of teams that can advance to regional

• Each regional announces this figure to hubs in its region no later than the Monday following the last hub’s season kickoff.

• Hubs may send fewer than the total number of teams allotted for advancement.

• Each regional may reallocate an unused allotment to another hub.

Team AdvancementTeam Advancement

A hub advances teams to the regional in the following order.

1. BEST Award winner, 1st place2. Game winner, 1st place3. BEST Award winner, 2nd place4. Game winner, 2nd place5. BEST Award winner, 3rd place6. Game winner, 3rd place7. Game winner, 4th place8. Game winner, 5th place

Team SuccessTeam Success

Teacher-MentorTeacher-Mentor

Student-TeamStudent-Team

Technical AidsTechnical Aids

Your Needs or Interests?Your Needs or Interests?

Fundraising?Fundraising?

School Retainment?School Retainment?

Mentor Recruitment?Mentor Recruitment?

Other?Other?

Your Help NeededYour Help Needed

• A small # of volunteers create most A small # of volunteers create most documentsdocuments

• More help is needed to create benchmark More help is needed to create benchmark quality processes and materials!quality processes and materials!

• Help BRI be better prepared for new hubs as Help BRI be better prepared for new hubs as we expand across the U.S.we expand across the U.S.

Presentation MaterialsPresentation Materials

• www.eng.auburn.edu/~blankgw/BEST/ (ASAP) (ASAP)

• www.bestinc.org – Teacher/Team Resources (summer)

In closing…In closing…

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get you’ll get run over if you just run over if you just sit there.sit there.”

- Will Rogers

Don’t be a part of the Don’t be a part of the problem, but a part problem, but a part of the solution!of the solution!