Oakville Robotics Symposium

22-Oct-2011

FLL Team Organization

Organizing your team

Richard McMullinfllcoach.broadacres@gmail.com

Oakville Robotics Symposium – FLL Team organization 22-Oct-20113

Agenda

1. Team Sizea. Picking a team

b. How big/when

c. Core Values

2. Team Organizationa. Two models of team organization, advantages/disadvantages

3. Pre-season warm upa. What you can do before the season starts

4. What does a season look likea. How to start a season

b. Big phases of a season: Challenge, Solution, Presentation

5. Preparing for a competitiona. Tell the kids what will happen

b. Core values, Gracious professionalism

6. Reality checka. Set realistic expectations

b. Core values

7. Have fun!a. Always make sure it is fun and engaging

b. Core values

Oakville Robotics Symposium – FLL Team Organization 22-Oct-20115

Core Values

› From the FLL website: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/mission/corevalues

› We are a team.› We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.› We know our coaches and mentors don't have all the answers; we learn together.› We honour 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 and Coopertition™ in everything we do.› We have FUN!

Oakville Robotics Symposium – FLL Team Organization 22-Oct-20116

Team Composition

› Team Size• 6 to 10 kids• I always go for the maximum but it makes it harder to manage• You get less done at a certain point

› Picking a team• Application process• Choosing process• Since I am in a school, I take who I get and work with them

› When• Pick a team early• Season starts before school starts, so if you can be up and running early that is better• Last two years, we picked the team in the spring and had spring ‘warm up’ sessions

› Core Values • Core values are everything • Number 1: We are a team• Make sure everyone is integrated• The coach is the top dog – keeps everything in perspective

Oakville Robotics Symposium – FLL Team Organization 22-Oct-20117

Two Models of a Team

› Three elements to the season• Core Values• Project• Robot Game

› Specialists• Project people and Robot people• Advantages:

− Lots of time to focus on a single activity− Each member of the Robot Team gets more time with the Robot− Each member of the Project Team gets to do more project

• Disadvantage− Not everyone gets to do everything

› Generalists• Everyone does everything• Advantages

− Lots of team cohesion− Everyone feels like they are contributing

• Disadvantage− Lack of depth in the project and robot.

Oakville Robotics Symposium – FLL Team Organization 22-Oct-20118

Pre-season Warm up

› What can you do before the season starts?• Google: Broadacres Robotics to find out!• www.sites.google.com/sites/broadacresrobotics

› Core Values• Team building• Look at the core values, discuss what they mean

› Robot• Learn the pieces• Make up some challenges: towers, cars, etc• Build some robots from kits• Learn to program• Attach arms and light sensors and make up your own challenge

› Project• Start doing some basic research on the topic• Pick something and look at it• Talk about how to do research• Set up a web site

Oakville Robotics Symposium – FLL Team Organization 22-Oct-20119

What does a season look like

› Challenge• It will take up to 3 weeks to fully understand the challenge• Robot Challenge:

− Set up the field− Talk about points− Make a strategy− Break down the tasks

• Project Challenge:− Talk about the topic− Do some background research− Share with eachother

› Solution (remaining time)• Robot Challenge

− Design a robot and program it

› Presentation (starting 4 weeks before tournament)• Start making your Project presentation

− Needs to be done 2 weeks before competition to refine and practice

• Practice judging sessions− Let the kids get comfortable with the questioning

• Practice at the table− Key to a fun robot day

Oakville Robotics Symposium – FLL Team Organization 22-Oct-201110

Game Day

› Game day is an incredible experience• Overwhelming• Exciting• Loud• Tiring

› Table Runs• 3 table runs – playoffs

› Project Judging• Project presentation

› Robot Judging• Random – prepare your kids for this

› Core Values Judging• Formalized• Involves some type of challenge for the kids

− How to survive on a desert island− Untie your group from a knot

Oakville Robotics Symposium – FLL Team Organization 22-Oct-201111

Have Fun!

› For all teams, and new ones especially, it is important to have fun.

› If you do something small and simple, and have fun, it is more important than doing everything and not having fun.

Oakville Robotics Symposium – The Light Sensor 22-Oct-201112

Questions

› Contact Info:

› Richard McMullin› fllcoach.broadacres@gmail.com