For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

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For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology

• FIRST Robotics Competition

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Agenda

• I. Welcome
• II. Vision and Mission
• III. FIRST History
• IV. Impact
• V. Steps To Become a Team
• VI. Questions and Answers

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II. Vision Mission

• Vision
• To transform our culture by creating a world
  where science and technology are celebrated and
  where young people dream of becoming science and
  technology heroes.
• Dean Kamen, Founder

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.
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II. Vision

• The American education system just is not
  stimulating enough young people to want to go
  into science, math, and engineering. (page
  270)
• we have done a very poor job of conveying to
  kids the value of science and technology as a
  career choice
• we should be embarking on an all-hands-on-deck,
  no-holds-barred, no-budget-too-large, crash
  program for science and engineering education
  immediately. (page 275)

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III. FIRST History Programs
FIRST

• 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit public charity
• Founded 1989, by inventor Dean Kamen
• Headquarters in Manchester, NH
• Board Chairman John Abele, Founder Chairman of
  Boston Scientific
• 28 million operating budget
• 2,500 corporate sponsors
• 72,000 volunteers

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III. FIRST History Programs
FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST Program Continuum
Jr. FIRST LEGO League
FIRST Tech Challenge
FIRST LEGO League
K 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11 12
Grade Level
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III. FIRST History Programs

• Sport for the mind, combining the excitement of
  sport with science and technology
• Problem solving and creativity with new
  challenges every year
• Teams of young people with mentors
• A tight timeline to learn efficiency and
  effectiveness
• A value system based on Gracious
  Professionalism, Teamwork, and Co-opetition

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III. FIRST History Programs

• Mission is to INSPIRE, not EDUCATE
• BUT look at what is involved
• Math (algebra, geometry, trig, calculus)
• Science (physics, chemistry, experimentation)
• Language arts (writing, public speaking)
• Business (marketing, PR, fundraising)
• Finance (accounting)
• Computer Science (programming, 3D animation)
• Fabrication (woodworking, metalworking)
• Mentorship Working side-by-side with
  professionals
• Teamwork

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Growth
III. FIRST History Programs
FRC
FIRST Robotics Competition How It Works

• Combines the excitement of sport with science and
  technology
• Creates a unique varsity sport for the mind
• High-school students discover the value of
  education and careers in science, technology, and
  engineering
• New game each year
• Common kit of parts
• 6-week build period

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III. FIRST History Programs
FIRST Robotics Competition 2008 FIRST
Overdrive season
FIRST Robotics Competition Team Growth

• 1,501 teams
• Over 37,500 high-school-aged students
• Average 25 students per team
• 41 regional competitions
• 340 teams advance to FIRST Championship

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Growth
III. FIRST History Programs
FRC
FIRST Tech Challenge How It Works

• New program designed to extend reach of FIRST
• More accessible, affordable FIRST experience
• Lower cost per team
• No machine shop required
• Commercially available robotics kit
• Roll-out in 2007
• Local leagues
• Regional tournaments
• FIRST Championship

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III. FIRST History Programs
FIRST Tech Challenge 2007 Quad Quandary
season
Growth

• Over 800 teams (45 growth)
• 8,000 high-school-age students
• 31 Championship Tournaments
• U.S., Canada, and Mexico

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IV. Impact
FIRST Robotics Competition 2005 Study

• Conducted by Brandeis University
• FRC alumni from mainly low-income, urban schools
• Comparison group students with similar
  backgrounds in high school math and science

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IV. Impact

• Education in Science Technology
• FIRST Students vs. Comparison Group
• Seek Education in Science Technology
• Twice as likely to major in science or
  engineering
• More than three times as likely to major
  specifically in engineering

Source Brandeis University, Center for Youth and
Communities, Heller School for Social Policy and
Management
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IV. Impact

• Careers in Science Technology
• FIRST Students vs. Comparison Group
• Earn Career Opportunities
• Almost ten times more likely to have internship
• Expect to Pursue Science Technology Careers
• More than twice as likely to pursue ST career
• Nearly four times as likely to pursue career
  specifically in engineering

Source Brandeis University, Center for Youth and
Communities, Heller School for Social Policy and
Management
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IV. Impact
FIRST Scholarships

• More than 9.8 million in scholarship funds
  available to FIRST participants
• I am very thankful for the inspiration that the
  FIRST experience gave me, and for this
  scholarship that allows me to be at a top
  institution, headed for a challenging and
  intriguing career.
• Drew Blackburn, FRC Alumni
• Georgia Tech FIRST Scholarship Winner

Source Brandeis University, Center for Youth and
Communities, Heller School for Social Policy and
Management
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IV. Sponsor Investment
Growth
More than 2,500 leading corporations,
foundations, agencies, including

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IV. Sponsor Investment
More than 108 universities provide 9.8 million
in scholarship opportunities and host events,
including

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V. Steps To Become A Team

• Preparation
• Apply for the Grant
• Pre-Register as a Team
• Team Information Management System
• https//my.usfirst.org/frc/tims/site.lasso
• Register for FIRST Competition
• FIRST Robotics Competition (Dallas Houston)
• FIRST Tech Challenge (UT Arlington)
• Attend Workshops

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V. Steps To Become A Team

• Pre-Register as a Team with Team Information
  Management System
• https//my.usfirst.org/frc/tims/site.lasso

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V. Registration Timeline

• Pre-Registration
• By October 1st on TIMS (link)
• Registration for Regional Competition
• October 2nd at 1101
• Competition space is limited and will fill up
  quickly!!!
• Registration for Kick-Off
• October 16th on TIMS

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V. Important Dates

• FIRST Robotics Competition
• Kick-Off January 3rd in Dallas and Houston
• Register for kick-off on October 16th on TIMS
• Build Period January 3rd February 17th
• Attend Regional Competition
• Dallas Regional March 11-14th
• Lone Star (Houston) Regional March 25-28th
• FIRST Championships April 16 18th
• Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia

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V. Workshops

• Monday, Nov. 3rd
• 1000 200 _at_ Lubbock, Texas Tech
• Tuesday, Nov. 4th
• 900 100 _at_ El Paso, UT El Paso
• Wednesday, Nov. 5th
• 1100 300 _at_ Corpus Christi, AM-CC
• Thursday, Nov. 6th
• 1100 300 _at_ Brownsville, UT Brownsville
• Friday, Nov. 7th
• 1200 400 _at_ Austin, National Instruments

• Dallas Workshops
• October 18th
• November 22nd
• Houston Workshops
• October 11th
• November 8th

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Questions
FIRST

• Dallas Regional
• John Shellene, Regional Director
• jshellene_at_usfirst.org
• Lindsey Weldon, Asst. Regional Dir.
• lweldon_at_usfirst.org
• Janet Butler, Asst. Regional Dir.
• jbutler_at_usfirst.org
• Lone Star (Houston) Regional
• Lucia Sevcik, Regional Director
• LSEVCIK810_at_aol.com
• Judy Allen, Advisory Board Chair
• judyaspen_at_aol.com