Friday, November 30, 2012

Message from SDRA


Qualifiers are fast approaching!  Just so you can put it in context – there are a lot of regions where they are holding their CHAMPIONSHIP this weekend.  Yep, they are already past Qualifiers and competing in their final event for the year.  Scary, huh?

As you prepare, just remember a handful of things to keep you sane!

1.       They are meant to be celebrations of your work over the season.  Have fun!
2.       Don’t forget your consent forms (one for each participant, including coaches and mentors) and your team profile sheets (4, one for each set of judges and one to show the MC)
3.       Bring your $25 registration fee (cash or check, made out to SDRA or SD FLL)
4.       Remember to bring your team’s robot, attachments, and charger (or spare batteries) to the event!
5.       Bring any needed Project supplies (check your coaches handbook for supply checklists!)
6.       Communicate with parents about the meal (do they need to supply money, sack lunches, etc)
7.       Read any emails from your tournament directors giving directions or asking for responses
8.       Consider asking some of the parents to act in an official capacity, helping you get the kids from one place to another.
9.       There are a lot of teams that feel “not ready,” so don’t worry if you’re among them!  Don’t expect to be at Championship level.  Remember where you were this time last year, or if you’re new this year, where you started and how far you’ve come.  The judges know that it’s early, and they will be looking for teams that show great potential.
10.   Have fun again!

As always, we’re here to help.  Your local event coordinators can answer many of your questions, but don’t hesitate to ask me as well!  Good luck to all the teams!

GO FLL!!!
Love always,

Robyn


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

What to expect in the judged rooms .. .. ..

I was asked to describe what to expect in the judged rooms at an FLL tournament, here is my best descriptions.

CORE VALUES

Some people refer to this as the teamwork room.  The students will come into the room and the judges will describe for them a challenge.  The students will then have 5 minutes to brainstorm and work on the challenge.  At the end of 5 minutes the judges will stop them and have a 5 minute question period.  They are mostly evaluating the students on their teamwork.

PROJECT

This is the room where the teams will present their research project that they have been working on.  Again there will be a question period at the end.  If you are not familiar with the rules.  The teams have 5 minutes for their presentation.  The time starts when they enter the room.  The students must setup anything that they are bringing into the room as far as props or computers.  If you are using a power point with a projector, make sure it is booted and ready to go when you walk into the room.

DESIGN AND DEFENSE

The students are evaluated on the design and programming of their robot.  When they enter the room there will be a playing field just like they have been working on all season.  The judges will ask them usually to show one of their programs and ask some questions about how the season went and who primarily worked on the programming.  At the state level this year they are asking for an executive summary, I really don't know what that means but I assume it would include hard copies of their programming, mission planning and a discussion of what went right and what didn't go right.

The scoring rubrics are available on the FIRST sight if you want to look at the individual areas that they are evaluated in.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The COOL awards

In additional to each student receiving a participation medal, awards will be given out in each of the following areas:

Robot Performance
Robot Design and Defense
Project Research
Core Values
Champion's Award

I have been burning the midnight oil to make the "coolest trophies ever" for these winners, take a look!!