FIRST Robotics in LouisianaScot Marshall, Senior Mentor

2006 John Q. Adams Pathfinders

FIRST Things FirstFor Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

– Began 18 years ago (1989)

– Expect to reach over 135,000 Students in 2008

– A 501(c)(3) with a small staff at HQ in Manchester, NH

– $20M annual operating budget

– $8M in scholarships to FIRST participants last year

– Over 2000 corporate sponsors

– Over 60,000 volunteers world-wide

– 5 programs reach every layer of education and industry

Sport for the Mind:Combining the excitement of sport with science and technology

The Complete FIRST Participant

• Unique Headwear• (Temporary) Hair Color• Face Paint• Team T-Shirt

– Team Name – Sea Dragons– Team Number - 5315– Yearly Theme – Ocean Odyssey– Color Theme – Purple, Grn, Gld – Sponsors, Logos

• Cheer, Song, Chant• Team Buttons• Team Handouts• Noise Maker• Posters• Laptop• Pit Display• Pit Decorations

No Advertising!

2005 Champion St. Dominic Sea Dragons

K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Grade

FIRST LEGO League(1998)

FIRST Robotics Competition (1992)

JuniorFIRST LEGO

League(2004 Pilot)

FIRST Tech Challenge(2005 Pilot)

There’s a FIRST for Every Age

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Age

FIRST in Louisiana

Building Louisiana Science and Technology – A 501(c)(3) All volunteer across Louisiana & Mississippi– A core of 35 that organizes 100+ volunteers to provide:

o FIRST LEGO Leagueo Bayou Regional FIRST Robotics Competitiono Educational outreach to mentors and students

– Tulane University & University of New Orleans sponsor– Seeking additional corporate and private supporters– Seeking mentors to continue building the vision

American Petroleum Institute

FIRST in Louisiana

ParishAscensionCaddoE. Baton RougeE. FelicianaJeffersonLincolnOrleansOuchitaPlaqueminesSt. BernardSt. CharlesSt. JamesSt. TammanyTangipahoaTerrebonneWashington

142192

1111 17 1

Junior

141142410 04 1

11 1 7 11 61 1

11 1 4 11 61 1

2007 Inception

A

FIRST is a Year-Round Activity

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr

FIRST Tech Challenge

FIRST LEGO League

FIRST Robotics

Competition

JuniorFIRST LEGO

LeagueA

6W

?

Basics

HS Robotics Class ?

?

5W

Build 12W

4WCHAMPIONSHIP

Not Active in Louisiana yet

2007-2008 Competition HostsMarch 27-29, 2008

Morial Convention CenterNew Orleans, LA

December 1, 2007J. D. Meisler Middle School

Metairie, LA

The 1-Day FLL Competition

• 25% Design– The students perform a 10-minute design review of their

robot and its apparatus for 2 judges (no mentor)

• 25% Performance– Best of 3 tries on the competition table - 2.5 minutes

• 25% Research– 2 minute set-up, 5 minute presentation, 5 minutes for

questions, 2-minute take-down (no mentor)

• 25% Teamwork– 1 minute explanation from the judges, 7 minutes to solve as

a team, 2 minutes questions (no mentor)

The 3-Day FRC Competition

• Inspection, Pit Construction, Practice Rounds, Repair– The robots are inspected to verify they meet weight, dimensional,

technical, and safety requirements. – Teams practice on the field to make last-minute corrections

• Qualifying Rounds, Judging, Awards– Typically 2 teams of 3 compete as a Red and Blue alliance in the

challenge for the year. Alliances are random selections by FIRST– Matches are about 2.5 minutes each

• Qualifying, Finals, Closing Ceremonies– The top 8 teams pick their 2 other permanent partners of the alliance.

Best 2 of 3 move on to semis and finals. All 3 teams on the winning alliance go to Atlanta to the Championships

• Clean-up, Packing, and Departure – All teams, robots, playing field complete. Doors close by 6:00 PM

• The competition requires students apply engineering principles, science, math and computer programming. 

• FIRST promotes excitement for core academics in math and science that few other activities do for all students. 

• A natural extension of the competition is more student interest in robotics and engineering electives.

• It is the ultimate in hands-on learning for all students - gifted, honors, regular, and children with special needs 

• The layers of mentoring provides incredible synergy• A national competition that is supported locally by public &

private schools, universities, nonprofits and industry• It is cheaper than football

– FLL Team expenses are $700 per Rookie team, $350 for returning teams– FRC Team expenses are $7,000 to $20,000-25,000 depending on lodging

There’s a FIRST for Every Student: An Educator’s Perspective

• Marketing• Fund Raising• Networking / Contacts• Public Relations• Press Relations• Purchasing • Budgeting• Writing

• Transportation• Lodging• Food• Snacks• Drink• Coffee

What Skills Are Developed?

• OSHA /Safety• Construction• Wiring• Machining• Sensors• Gears• Motors• Fasteners• Connectors• Valves• Relays• Composites• Metals

• Management• Requirements• Scheduling• Strategy/Tactical• Reconnaissance• Statistical Analysis• Criminal Justice

• Photography• Drafting / CAD• Graphic Design• Drawing / Artwork• Video

• Software Programming• Website Design• Web Search• Information

Organization• Word/Excel/PowerPoint

• Psychology• Sociology• Team Spirit• Motivation• Presentation• Research

What Skills Are Developed?

Management Project Scheduling Rubric & Awards Evaluation & Judging Competition Rules Forums

 Robot Competition Strategy Hardware Design Software Design Robot Operator (2)

Research Project Researcher Script and Choreography Research Report

 Team Spirit / Marketing Team Shirt & Artwork Design Research Project Props Scrapbook Press Relations Community Outreach Fund Raising

Sample Task Assignments

Why Should I Mentor?

• You Make The Impossible Very Possible

• The Students Need Your Experience

• The Faculty Advisor Needs Your Expertise

• The Robot Needs Your Brain

• Never Had the Opportunity Before Now

• I Have Been a FIRST Mentor Before

• Experience / Special Knowledge to Share

• I was Mentored - I Know the Value

• Make a Difference in the Life of a Teen

• Further my Career or Experience

• Coach Other Sports/Activities

• Like to Teach, Time to Share

• Do the Right Thing for the Right Reason

• The Poor Overloaded Faculty Advisor

Needs Help!

The NXT Generation

FLL Challenge History

• 1998: Pilot – 2 Tournaments• 1999: First Contact – Astronauts in Space• 2000: Volcanic Panic – Volcanic Eruption• 2001: Arctic Impact – Arctic Research• 2002: City Sights – Urban Planners• 2003: Mission Mars – Robotic Exploration• 2004: No Limits – World of the Disabled• 2005: Ocean Odyssey – Undersea Ecology• 2006: Nano Quest – Molecular Science• 2007: Power Puzzle - Energy

LouisianaParticipation

2007 FLL Challenge

2007 Power Puzzle •Est. 105,000 kids worldwide•10,500 teams (15% growth)

US and Canada•70,000 kids; 7,000 teams•260 Qualifying events•70 Championship tournaments

Worldwide•35,000 kids; 3,500 teams, 38 countries•130 Qualifying events•38 Championship tournaments

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

'98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06

JFLL Challenge History

2006 Pilot •3,500 kids ages 6-9•702 teams•US and Canada

•Geared to children aged 6 to 9 years old •Utilizes a modified FIRST LEGO League (FLL) framework. •Teams of up to 6 children and an adult mentor receive a mini challenge, based on the annual FLL research project. •Uses an open-ended LEGO building set, to design a model depicting an aspect of the FLL Challenge. •Teams spend approximately one month exploring, investigating, designing and building a model made with LEGO bricks. •Teams create a "Show Me" poster that depicts the teams’ experience during this process, through drawings and words.

FLL Challenge History

2005 Ocean OdysseyTeams•7,460 teams •60,000 kids worldwide •56 tournaments (US) •12 tournaments (outside US & Canada)

2004 NO LimitsTeams•6,000 teams •50,000 kids •210 tournamentsJapan, South Africa, Turkey and Mexico joins FLL International with a Pilot tournaments.

2003 Mission Mars Teams•5,000 teams •42,000 kids •200 tournamentsChina, Brazil and South Korea joins FLL International with a Pilot tournaments.

2002 City Sights Teams•3,001 teams •27,009 kids •119 tournamentsFrance joins FLL International with a Pilot tournament in Paris. Singapore Science Center hosts first official FLL International tournament in Singapore.

2001 Artic Impact Teams•18,500 kids •59 tournamentsFLL International Pilot Tournaments in the UK hosted by Young Technologists and in Germany hosted by Hands-on-Technology.

2000 Volcanic Panic Teams•15.000 kids •50 tournaments in the USAFLL International Pilot Tournament in Norway hosted by FIRST Scandinavia.

1999 FIRST Contact

Teams•9.500 kids •9 tournaments in the USAOfficial launch of the FIRST LEGO League program in the USA.

1998 Pilot Teams•1.600 kids •2 Pilot tournamentsFIRST and LEGO Company pilots the FIRST LEGO League concept.

A Perfect Score

FRC Challenge History

• 1992: Maize Craze • …

• 2000: Co-Operation FIRST• 2001: Diabolical Dynamics• 2002: Zone Zeal• 2003: Stack Attack• 2004: FIRST Frenzy Raising the Bar –

Ball Placement and Robotic Chin-ups • 2005: Triple Play – Robotic Tic-Tac-Toe• 2006: Aim High – Soccer and Basketball• 2007: Rack ‘N’ Roll – Pick and Place Swim Rings

LouisianaParticipation

2007 FRC Challenge

1,307

1,133

991

927

787

642

515

271

199151

28

372

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

1,100

1,200

1,300

'92 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07

2007 Rack ‘N’ Roll•32,675 kids worldwide in 7 Countries•1,307 teams, 1,047 returning•18,300 Mentors

US and Canada•31,250 kids; 1,250 teams•35 Regional events

Worldwide•1425 kids; 57 teams from 5 countries•2 Qualifying events

2007 Bayou Regional

Bruce J. Heim Foundation

The FLL Team Core Values• We are a team • We have fun• We do the work to find the solutions with guidance from

our coaches and mentors • We honor the spirit of friendly competition • What we discover is more important than what we win • We share our experiences with others • We display gracious professionalism in all we do

Gracious Professionalism:•Gracious attitudes and behaviors that are “win-win” •Gracious folks respect others and let that respect show in their actions•Gracious professionals make a valued contribution in a manner pleasing to others and themselves as they possess special knowledge and are trusted by society to use that knowledge responsibly

At the End of the Season…

The true goals of FLL have nothing to do with winning medals or trophies. If you can look back on the season and know you accomplished at least one of these goals, you have achieved the most important goal

• We had fun!• We did something we didn’t think we could do• We figured out how to manage time, deal with

setbacks, and communicate ideas• We respected and considered ideas from everyone on

the team• We learned that research helped us better understand

a problem and build a realistic solution• We learned how useful and fun applied math and

science can be• We improved over last year• We helped our community

Important Dates

September 1510:00 AM - 12:00 N

Louisiana 2007 Power Puzzle Kickoff for Mentors, Teachers, and StudentsUniversity of New Orleans - Homer L. Hitt Alumni Center(see map on Links page)•Playing Field Analysis•Scoring and Strategy•Research Sources and Tips•Q & A

September 298:30 AM - 12:00 N

Louisiana 2007 Power Puzzle Workshop for Mentors, Teachers, and StudentsTulane University - Stanley Thomas - 3rd Floor (Rm. 316?)(see map on Links page)•Rules•Judging•NXT Programming•Sensor Calibration•Q & A

Back-up Charts

Scot Marshall

Louisiana FLL Technical Coordinator

scot@LaFLL.org

www.LaFLL.orgwww.YouTube.com/PRforLaFLL

Curtis Craig

Louisiana FRC Technical Coordinatorcurtis@LaFRC.org

www.LaFRC.orgwww.YouTube.com/PRforLaFRC

Funding Sources

• in the past, NASA has given growth grants of $6K for the first two years, and that we expect that to continue for the 2007 / 2008 season,  Hopefully, this will be finalized in the next couple of weeks

• Lockheed Martin sponsored teams in excess of $100,000 last year

FIRST on the Southshore6 FRC; 7 FLL

2007 FIRST LEGO LeagueScot Marshall

Lockheed Martin Test Engineer

Louisiana FLL Technical Coordinatorwww.LaFLL.org

www.YouTube.com/PRforLaFLL

St. Dominic Sea Dragons at 2005 FLL Championship

American Petroleum Institute

FIRST LEGO League Values

• Respect each other in the best spirit of teamwork

• Behave with courtesy and compassion for others at all times

• Honor the spirit of friendly competition• Act with integrity• Demonstrate Gracious Professionalism• Focus on the experience, not the awards• Remember that the children do the work• Encourage others to adopt these values

FLL succeeds most fully when team members bring the FLL values they learn back to their community

Building a Team

• Guidance, Structure, Encouragement, Fun• Mentors

– Parent, Engineer, High School FRC participant, Science Professional, Graphic Artist, Volunteer, Programmer, Marketing Expert, Instructor

• Team Dynamics & Work Groups– Size, Age, Team/Individual Psyche– Hardware Design, Program, Strategy, Research, Operators,

Project Management, Test, Marketing, Documentation, Fundraising, Team Spirit

• Rubrics (Improve, Fair, Good, Excellent)– Robot Design, Project, Teamwork & FLL Values

A student once said he didn't much care for rubrics:"if you get something wrong, your teacher can prove you knew what you were supposed to do."

FLL Challenge History

2006 NanoQuest •88,000 kids Worldwide•8,847 teams

US and Canada•56,010 kids; 5,601 teams•250 Qualifying events•63 Championship tournaments

Worldwide•32,460 kids; 3,246 teams from 35 countries•112 Qualifying events•25 Championship tournaments

•Demographics•70% Boys; 30% Girls

Design Rubric• Innovative Design• Strategy, Process, Problem-solving• Locomotion & Navigation

– Goes defined distances efficiently– Adjusts speed, position sensing for optimum speed and accuracy– Turns accurately and consistently– Allows for variables (battery discharge, obstacles)– Moves between two points with very good accuracy and

consistency– May use various sensors

• Programming• Kids do the Work• Structural• Overall Design

Project Rubric

• Topic & Language Use• Completeness, Teamwork• Background, Data & Graphics• Analysis & Conclusions

– Presentation thoroughly links to research questions– Relevance to FLL theme is clearly stated– Alternative views considered with well-supported

position on issues– Conclusions are clearly supported by data– Analysis clearly relates well to research question– Original, important insights are shared

• Style

Teamwork & FLL Values Rubric

• Roles & Responsibilities– Clearly defined roles– Workload is distributed fairly and team members

understand each other’s roles– Team members fill each other’s roles (happily!), if

needed– Team members give concrete examples of

learning time management• Gracious Professionalism• Problem-solving & Team Dynamics• Confidence & Enthusiasm• FLL Values

30 Teams Competed in 2006

• A. E. Phillips Middle School: NanoDawgs• Adams Middle School: Adams Robots• Baker Middle School: Roboraiders; Roboracers• Dighton Prep: Battle Droids• Episcopal High School: Leggo my LEGO• Grace Home Educators: LEGO Maniacs; LEGO Lunatics• Haynes Academy: Team Tech; NeXT Generation• Keithville Middle School: Swamp Eagles• Lake Castle Madisonville: RoboJets Blue; RoboJets Gold• Linwood Middle School: Robocats 1; Robocats 2;

Robocats 3• Louisiana Tech University: NanoDawgs2

• McMain Secondary High School: McMain Tech Rays• Meisler Middle School: Meisler Chiefs• Metairie Park Country Day School: Robo Cajuns• Nelson – UNO Charter School: The Rooks• Patrick F. Taylor Science & Tech. Academy: Taylor Robots• Pendergrass Family: GloryBots• Ridgewood Middle School: RoboRaiders• Roosevelt Middle School: Rough Riders• St. Dominic’s School: Molecule Masters; Atoms Family• St. George's Episcopal School: St. George’s #1• St. James Science & Math Academy: S.M.A.L.L. Synergy

30 Teams Competed in 2006

2006 NanoQuest Awards• Director Award 1st Place: Louisiana Tech University• Director Runner-Up: St. James Science & Math Academy

• Robot Design Award 1st Place: St. Dominic’s School• Robot Design Award 2nd Place: Metairie Park Country Day School

• Robot Performance Award: Louisiana Tech University

• Research Presentation Award 1st Place: Grace Home Educators• Research Presentation Award 2nd Place: Dighton Prep

• Teamwork & FLL Values Award 1st Place: A. E. Phillips Middle School

• Teamwork & FLL Values Award 2nd Place: St. Dominic’s School

• Special Judges Award – Above All Odds: Baker Middle School; Pendergrass Family

• Rookie Team Award: Haynes Academy

The Coaches’ Promise(the really hard part!)

• The children come first  FLL is about the children having fun and getting excited about science and technology.  Everything my team does starts and ends with that principle.

• The children do the workThis is their opportunity to learn and grow.  The children on my team do all the programming, research, problem solving, and building.  Adults can help them find answers, but cannot give them answers or make decisions.

• My team is comprised of 10 or fewer members(all team members participate on only 1 team), registered as an official FLL team, and all team members are no older than 14 on January 1st of the Challenge year.

• FLL communicates with my team via my primary email address, and I am responsible for reading and relaying all aspects of FLL guidelines and rules to my team, other coaches, volunteers, and parents.

• I will encourage my team members, other coaches, volunteers, parents, and team supporters to develop and practice a set of FLL values that reflect FIRST’s goal to challenge culture in a positive way by inspiring others through our team’s actions and words.

17 Teams Competed in 2005

• Adams Middle School: Ocean Tech• Baker Middle School: Terror Squad; Roboracers• Keithville Middle School: Demon Eagles• Linwood Middle School: The Buildaholics; The Robocats• Louise S. McGehee School• Meisler Middle School: Meisler Chiefs• Patrick F. Taylor Science & Tech. Academy: Team 1& 2• Pineville Middle School / William Pitcher Jr. High: USS

DLUECGKO• Riverdale Middle School• Roosevelt Middle School: Rough Riders• Ridgewood Middle School: Bionicle Gladiators• St. Dominic’s School: Sea Dragons• St. George's Episcopal School • St. James Science & Math Academy: S.M.A.L.L. Synergy

2005-2006 Awards• Director Award 1st Place: Sea Dragons - St. Dominic's School• Director Runner 2nd Place: Louise S. McGehee School

• Robot Design Award 1st Place: S.M.A.L.L. Synergy - St. James Science & Math Academy

• Robot Design Award 2nd Place: Louise S. McGehee School

• Research Presentation Award 1st Place: Ocean Tech - Adams Middle School

• Research Presentation Award 2nd Place: Meisler Chiefs - Meisler Middle School

• Teamwork & FLL Values Award 1st Place: Terror Squad - Baker Middle School - Team 1

• Teamwork & FLL Values Award 2nd Place: Ocean Tech - Adams Middle School

• Robot Performance Award: Bionicle Gladiators - Ridgewood Middle School

• Special Judges Award - Outstanding Effort: St. George's Episcopal School

• Rookie Team Award: The Robocats - Linwood Middle School - Team 2

FIRST in Jefferson Parish4 FLL; 1 FRC