Re-Engineering the Classroom with FIRST® Tech Challenge Drew McConnell Digital Learning Manager at FIRST®

Digital Learning Manager at FIRST® Background Introduction Digital Learning Manager at FIRST® Background Computer Science Educator Passionate about helping kids learn to learn

Discussion Get with 3-4 people around you and discuss the following question for 5 minutes: What are the most important skills kids learn from FIRST® Tech Challenge?

Discussion Get with 3-4 people around you and discuss the following question for 5 minutes: What are the most important skills kids learn from FIRST® Tech Challenge? Please share.

Discussion What is unique about the FIRST® Tech Challenge experience that fosters these skills?

Discussion What is unique about the FIRST® Tech Challenge experience that fosters these skills? Please share.

Learning in FIRST® Tech Challenge We believe FIRST® Tech Challenge is a great learning environment Discovery-based No right answer Learn through failure

Learning in FIRST® Tech Challenge We believe all kids should learn in this manner.

Learning in FIRST® Tech Challenge In addition to engineering, kids learn: Critical Thinking Problem Solving Metacognition Design Thinking Communication Collaboration More! Many of these are absent from traditional education.

Have you tried bringing FIRST ® Tech Challenge into the classroom? Discussion Discuss with 3-4 people: Have you tried bringing FIRST ® Tech Challenge into the classroom? If so, how did you do it? If not, what do you imagine a typical day would look like? What barriers exist to classroom implementation? What frustrations did you encounter when starting a team? How did you overcome them?

Have you tried bringing FIRST ® Tech Challenge into the classroom? Discussion Discuss with 3-4 people: Have you tried bringing FIRST ® Tech Challenge into the classroom? If so, how did you do it? If not, what do you imagine a typical day would look like? What barriers exist to classroom implementation? What frustrations did you encounter when starting a team? How did you overcome them? Please share.

Maintain authentic FIRST ® experience Pedagogy Maintain authentic FIRST ® experience Discovery-based No right answers Learn through failure Implement necessary academic structures Assessments Standards alignments Teacher as facilitator Hosted in Schoology LMS

1st Semester Units Safety Introduction to Robotics FIRST ® Tech Challenge Game Initial Design Building & Programming

Reflection and Last Iteration 2nd Semester Units Reflection and Last Iteration Reflect on competition Last changes on robot Skill Building Building Challenges Programming CAD New Game Redesign game and adapt robot

Questions