Central Texas FIRST® Tech Challenge Volunteer

Orientation

Connally HS Double QualifierJanuary 25, 2014

Please Dial 702.489.0004Access Code: 676-432-340Please mute your phone!

Introductions

Mercadi Crawford Robotics Coordinatormcrawford@skillpointalliance.org512.814.3261 work | 512.872.0403 cell

Ben NelsonAmericorp VISTAbnelson@skillpointalliance.org 704.942.6548

Esther JohnsonVolunteer Coordinatorcentraltxfirst@gmail.com512.661.8403 cell

What is Skillpoint Alliance?

• Workforce development non-profit founded in 1994• Serve the five-county Central Texas region• Build partnerships with industry, education, and the community• We focus on college and career success, delivering programs in:

– Construction– Green Tech– Computer Training– Digital Media– Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)

Mission:Build partnerships that lead to college and career success for Central Texans

while meeting employers' workforce needs

What is the STEM Council?

We focus on: • Project-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

Education in Central Texas (K-16)• Connecting classroom learning to industry applications• Sharing best practices from industry & education

A consortium of high tech industry executives and education leaders engaged in addressing workforce and education issues.

Career Exposure Engineering Visits Robotics

Applied Internships Solar Design Game Design

Programs

FIRST® and FTC

What is FIRST®?

• Vision: “to create a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.” -- Dean Kamen

• Mission: To inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills that inspire innovation and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

FIRST® Programs

Grade Level

FIRST ® Robotics Competition

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

FIRST ® LEGO® League FIRST ® Tech ChallengeJunior FIRST ® LEGO® League

FIRST® Tech Challenge

• Global program empowering 14 – 18 year olds to design, build, and program robots and cooperate to form alliances

• Teams awarded for community outreach, design, and other accomplishments

FTC Philosophy• Everyone is a winner• FTC designed to be a

celebration of achievement• Volunteers learn from

participants• Students leave wanting more• It's not about building robots;

it's about robots building people

What’s a Double Qualifier?

• One event separated into two sets of teams competing separately at the same place, at the same time

• Teams only compete against the teams in their division during robot matches

• Judges only look at teams from their division for awards considerations

FTC Program Elements

• Annual Robot Game / Robot Design & Programming • Engineering Notebook• FTC Core Values

What to expect at a double tournament

• A lot of people – 50 teams roughly 400 students, coached by 90+ adults– Spectators including parents, teachers, event sponsors

• Tournament / sporting event elements:– Robotic matches (open to the public)– Judged rounds (closed to the public)

• Goal of all volunteers:– Keep the day running smoothly and on time– Have fun!

Tournament Schedule7:00 AM VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN

7:30 AM Team check-in begins and Pit Opens

7:30 AM Judge Meeting and Inspector Meeting8:00 AM Referee Meeting

8:30 AM Judging and Practice Matches Begin

10:30 AM Drivers’ Meeting on Competition Playing Field

11:00 AM Opening Ceremonies

11:30 AM Qualification Matches Begin

12:30 PM Lunch Begins

1:15 PM Qualification Matches Resume

5:30 PM Closing Awards Ceremony

A Tour: The Game

A Tour: The Robots

A Tour: The Teams

A Tour: Judging Room

A Tour: Deliberations Room

A Tour: The Pit

A Tour: The Field

Volunteer Roles

http://centraltxfirst.org/ftc-2013-volunteer-resources

Check-in Roles/Duties • Greet incoming participants• Collect paperwork– FIRST® Consent Forms– Skillpoint FTC Student Participation Form

• Distribute maps, schedules, programs• Direct teams to The Pit • Direct volunteers to Hospitality

Pit Roles/Duties• Pit is where teams spend most of the day

Pit Assistant• Escort teams from pit to queue areas

(Competition Floor and Judging Rooms) for rounds

• Assist with inspection• Assist with crowd control– Two adults per team– Monitor practice tables

Tournament Floor RolesScorekeeper•Receive scores from referees and enter them for displayQueuers•Make sure teams make it on time and to the right field for their matches

Judging Rooms Roles/Duties

Team Queuers / Timekeepers•Escort teams to and from judging rooms • Keep time | Deliver 1- and 2-minute warnings to judges– 10 minutes | Team Presentation– 7 minutes | Core Values Activities– 8 minutes | Judge Deliberation•Stationed in front judging rooms•Work with Pit Assistants & Queuers to direct traffic

Technical TeamTechnical Roles Include: •Inspector– Inspectors ensure all robots are up to hardware

and software specifications •Field Tech – Field Control Techs help manage the official start

and end of matches– Tech Desk guides teams with beginning

programming questions or robot design troubleshooting

Technical Volunteer Training

• Required for Inspectors, Referees, Field Control, and Tech Desk

Please Stay After Webinar!

Other Roles / Duties• Traffic Control• Floater– General errand-running help

• Load-in– 4:30 pm - Set up (judging rooms, check-in, pit,

hospitality, VIP reception) – 9:30 PM- Field set-upLoad-out– 6:00 PM arrival time SATURDAY

Things to Remember

• Most volunteers arrive 7:00 AM sharp on Tournament Day

• After signing in head to hospitality lounge for meals and snacks

• Have fun!–Crazy hats encouraged

NEED DIRECTIONS?13212 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753

THANK YOU for volunteering with

Central Texas FTC!

http://centraltxfirst.org/ftc-2013-volunteer-resources