FIRST® LEGO® League Coach’s Season Overview

Food Factor® ChallengeJune 14, 2011

Introductions

Lonny SternDirector, Technology & Education Executive Council (TEEC)Skillpoint Alliancelstern@skillpointalliance.org | (512) 323-6773 x103

Jessica GalfasCentral Texas FLL CoordinatorSkillpoint Alliancejgalfas@skillpointalliance.org | (512) 323-6773 x115

• What is the relationship between FIRST®, FLL, CTFLL and TEEC/Skillpoint Alliance?!

Institute Goals

• Focus on being a coach using MINDSTORMS NXT robotics kits

• We hope you leave:– Feeling more comfortable about your role– Having some more tools in your bag of tricks– Understanding better what it takes to solve a

challenge– Having gotten your questions answered

• Have some fun!!

Presentation Overview

• Reviewing our Mission• Forming your team• Registering your team• Equipping your team• Managing your team

Our Mission

• Program not just about building robots and competing in tournaments– Teach skills

• Specific technical skills• General life skills

– Show that technical problem solving can be fun– The students do the work

• Open up the possibility of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers

Forming Your Team

Where Teams Come From

• School Based– In class: Perhaps 45 minutes a day– After school: Perhaps 1.5 hours; 2 to 4 times a week– Special block: Several hours once a week

• Club Based– Probably after school or evening

• Independent team– After school, evenings, or weekends

• We encourage you to find and include students that normally would not have this exposure

Where to Meet

• Large enough space to handle the number of students on the team

• Space for challenge field setup – 4’ x 8’• Access to a computer• Storage space between meetings– Partially built robot– LEGO parts– Challenge table (if possible)

Team Size

• Teams should be capped at 10 students• Sub-teams of 2-3 can work in parallel – Experiment with prototypes – Learn programming techniques– Work on the project

Adults

• Coach – The person in charge– Recommend at least two (2)– Organizes the team– You don’t have to be a techie – its about leading

• Mentor – The technical guru– Provides technical advice– Provides the technical basics – Matched through Central Texas FLL

The Coach’s Role

• Point of contact for team• Understands FLL and Central Texas FLL• Management expertise more important than technical– Recruits team members– Registers the team– Arranges for equipment– Schedules meetings– Sets the philosophy and instills team spirit– Encourages FLL Core Values– Is a good role model

FLL Core Values• We are a team.• 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 everything we do.• We have fun.

“No Touch” Rule

• Students design, build, and program their robots• Students are responsible for project work• During tournament, no adult may touch the

computer keyboard, mouse, robot, robot attachments, or project materials.

• Giving verbal directions on programming or building during competition is a violation of FLL tournament standards.

• Same guidelines apply for team meetings

General Advice for Coaches

• This is the kids’ project, not yours• Be a good role model; uphold FLL Core Values• Keep a positive attitude• Encourage teamwork & insist on mutual respect• Don’t emphasize “winning” • Have fun!

What do FLL teams do?

Annual Challenge Elements

• Design and build a LEGO® robot • Program robot to complete missions on

thematic playing surface • Research and present a solution to a problem

facing today’s scientists • Uphold FLL Core Values

What is the Challenge?

• The Challenge is an engineering “problem” the kids are asked to think about…– Each year’s Challenge is “themed” and

relates to a significant real-world issue–Determines elements of robot playing field

and missions– Subject of research project

2011-12 Food Factor®: “Keeping Food Safe”

Can FIRST® LEGO® League teams improve the quality of food by finding ways to prevent food contamination? In the 2011 Food Factor® Challenge, more than 200,000 nine- to 14-year-olds from 55 countries will explore the topic of food safety. Teams will examine possible points of contamination in our food encounters – from exposure to insects and creatures, to unsterile processing and transportation, to unsanitary preparation and storage – then find ways to prevent or combat these contaminates.

Technical Judging | 16.5%

• Panel of “experts” interviews teams– Robot design: Creativity and robustness– Programming: Creativity and robustness

• Prepare the team to:– Explain their design of the robot and its program– Demonstrate at least one mission on the field mat

• Bring a printout of the program

Robot Game- 16.5%

• Teams program robots to complete missions• Missions have point values– Team accrues points/a score based on three 2.5 minute

“runs” of robot on tournament day

• Teams ranked according to points they’ve scored• Flashiest and most public part of competition– Only 1/6 of total score!

Project Judging – 33%

• Identify a problem and present a solution • Panel of “experts” interviews teams– Builds research skills and presentation skills– Good engineering requires research and communication

• Format – includes setup time– 10-minute presentation, 5-minute interview– Be creative: Posterboards, skits, models, PowerPoint– No equipment guaranteed in the room

Teamwork- 33%

• Teamwork judges are in project judging rooms– Because of this, a team’s project judging session could

account for 2/3 of its overall score!

• No separate teamwork presentation is expected• Judges interact with teams to evaluate their

teamwork abilities and ask questions during project presentation

• Teams observed throughout the tournament day

Registering Your Team

In two steps!

National Team Registration

• National registration through FIRST®: http://gofll.usfirst.org– May through end of September or when max is reached – $225 registration fee (per team)

• Receive Coaches Handbook, web forum access, DVDs on FIRST® and FLL, and support

• Order kits and all needed equipment• First come, first served, so REGISTER EARLY!!

Purchases at National Registration

• Registration fee: $225– All teams purchase annually

• FLL Robot Set (NXT): $420– One time cost; can be re-used year-to-year

• Field Set-Up Kit & Mat: $65– All teams purchase annually

• Extra parts: variable– rechargeable battery, motors, and sensors (light and

touch): optional

• They won’t ship until they are paid

Local Registration

• Takes place October 2011• Central Texas FLL Tournament fees– $75 for a Qualifying Tournament– $85 for Championship Tournament

• We notify all coaches that have registered with Central Texas FLL– Seven (7) Qualifying Tournaments – Austin, Round Rock,

Killeen, Hays County, Del Valle– We assign teams to Qualifying Tournaments– Team location taken into account

• Register early!!

Equipping Your Team

Resources to Get Started

• A robotics kit• A computer (Mac or Windows compatible)

• A place to meet and practice– Classroom– Family room– Garage– Community Room

Additional Resources

• 2011 FLL Food Factor® Field Setup kit (only available from FIRST®)– Mission Model Set– Field Mat

• Practice table (design on FLL website)– http://usfirst.org/community/fll/content.aspx?id=14006

– 4’x 8’ bottom– 2 x 4 railing around the sides– Overhead light is gone for good

Permitted NXT Parts• NXT controller (1)• Motors (3)• Touch sensors (2)• Light sensors (2)• Lamp (1)• Rotation sensors (3 minus the number of NXT

motors present)• Ultrasonic sensor (1) • Unlimited LEGO® plastic parts

Team Uniforms?• Many teams do something– Team clothing: shirts, hats, themed outfits, etc.– Team swag: stickers, pins, etc. – Signage

• Team sponsor advertising on a T-shirt, etc. is okay• Crazy hats strongly encouraged

Sample Budget for New Teams (2011)

• 2011 National Registration Fee: $225• 2011 Local Registration Fee: $75• 2011 Robotics Kit: $420• 2011 Field Setup Kit: $65• Materials for table: around $50 (optional)

• Misc. items, batteries, shipping: $50-$100 (optional)

• Travel and other incidentals: $150• Total: $900-1,000

Funding an FLL Team

Team Sponsors

Central Texas FLL Scholarship

• Fundraising Activities• grants

• If team is formed through a school, appeal to principal, CTE Director, school district, or Parent Teacher Association

Team Member DuesHaving some portion of costs picked up by team members gives a sense of commitment

Central Texas FLL Scholarships

• New team grants available– LEGO Foundation – Care for Education initiative

• Sponsor scholarships– Past sponsors have included Silicon Labs

• Time Warner Cable’s Connect A Million Minds– connectamillionminds.org

Meeting Organization• How often and how long to meet– Most teams meet 1-3 times per week – After school, evenings, weekends as team desires– Some add extra meetings approaching their Qualifier– > 1 hr (set up and take down)– < 3 hrs (attention span)

• At least 2 adults present during meetings– Leverage parent support

• Set ground rules– E.g., don’t let kids walk home by themselves after dark

• Refreshments / snacks ??

Team Kick-Off Meeting

• Every child brings parent/guardian• Set expectations with both• Send kids off to build with LEGO parts– Have an assistant– Build with instructions– Something they can all do at once

• Give season overview to parents

Parent Involvement

• Explain program/FLL philosophy – Success = Participation

• Explain team rules (attendance, respect, ...)

• Discuss participation commitment for kids• Review costs and funding sources• Communicate about tournaments• Solicit help

You Have a Team, Now What?

(Time Management)• Divide the season– Build A Foundation– Address the Challenge– Get It Done– Practice like the Tournament

1st Team Meeting: Getting Started

• Set Team Goals• Decide on responsibilities– Can rotate, especially near beginning– Determine fixed assignments near tournament– Need backup roles due to absences

• Set milestones – use project management analogy– Set dates for each phase of project– Start with the project– Include design, build, test, REWORK, practice

Robot Game Timeline

Assuming a 10-week season (September-mid Nov.):• 4 weeks: Build Foundation• 4 weeks: Complete Challenge • 2 weeks: Practice / Minor changes• You may need to adjust based on the time you

have to meet with your team

Research Project Timeline

• 1 wk: Basic Research• 1 wk: Narrow and Select Project Topic• 2 wks: Focused Research• 4 wks: Conduct Project / Prepare Presentation• 2 wks: Practice and Present to Others• These tasks run concurrently with the Robot

Game Timeline on the previous slide

Foundation:Structured Problem Solving

Teach a structured approach to solving large problems– Define the problem– Brainstorm– Evaluate alternatives– Choose an alternative– Implement– Evaluate & test

Address the Challenge

• All information about the challenge will be released on the FIRST® website in September– Missions– Rules– Field setup– Project

Learn the Missions

• Team must learn mission and rules:– Send home copy and learn missions and rules– Discuss and test understanding at later team meetings– Can overlap with ‘build foundation’ meetings– You might want to find a “rules expert” on your team

Try Out the Missions

Have team group missions:

– Members brainstorm/generate prioritized list: • E.g., group by ease, location, or points• E.g, group by program or trips out of base

– Individuals present and team selects which to start with• Refer to team goals for how many to try• Can add more if finish 1st set and still have time

Divide and Conquer

• Team decides how to divide responsibilities– A) Builders / Programmers – B) Mission based (build/program by mission)– C) ??– Need duplicate coverage for illness/absences

• Probably want area specialists – (build, program, research, etc.) BUT

• Essential ground rule: Everyone contributes to all aspects of team’s work

Practice Like the Tournament, Part I

• Field Competition Runs (tournament rules)

– Start with individual missions/groups, then all together– 2 ½ min, 2 members at the table at once– Practice working under time pressure

• Switching between missions, programs

– Try to limit big last-minute changes to missions/robot

Practice Like the Tournament, Part II

• Judging Panels (Technical, Project, Teamwork)

– Use Coach Handbook rubrics– Parents as judges– Work on smooth, clear delivery– Ask a variety of questions– Practice demonstrating good teamwork

Final Advice• Keep Meetings Fun

– Usually means hands-on LEGO building every meeting

• Be flexible– Help keep them on task, but, ultimately, it’s the team’s project– The process is as important as the result

• Watch for teachable moments– Engineers need ‘hard skills’

• Mechanical Design, Programming, Analysis, Problem Solving, Experimentation, and Documentation

– AND ‘soft skills’• Timeliness, Teamwork, Tact and Compromise, Confidence, Courtesy,

Perseverance, and Planning

Resources

• Central Texas FLL website: http://www.centraltexasfll.org

• Central Texas Yahoo! Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FLLcentralTX/– Hub of information for coaches and teams; up-to-

date Central Texas FLL Q&A board• U.S. FIRST® website: http://www.usfirst.org• Central Texas FLL Steering Committee

Questions?