FRC ROUNDTABLE 2013 The chairman’s Award JACOB BENDICKSEN FRC TEAM 1540 – THE FLAMING CHICKENS

INTRODUCTION Me! Sophomore Chairman’s manager on 1540 On the presentation team When I’m not doing robotics I’m climbing  During the presentation, feel free to interrupt me (with questions) Being on the presentation team changed my life

ACTIVITY At your tables, discuss what the Chairman’s Award means to you and your team.

ACTIVITY At your tables, discuss what the Chairman’s Award means to you and your team. Anyone want to share? Bueller? Bueller?

ACTIVITY At your tables, discuss what the Chairman’s Award means to you and your team. Anyone want to share? Bueller? Bueller? To me, it’s about using the robot as a tool to spread STEM Competitive spirit can be good if used to better your cause

OVERVIEW “FIRST’s most prestigious award. It honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST. The award helps keep the focus of the FIRST Robotics Competition on the goal of inspiring greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology.” – FIRST Key here – not all about your team

DECONSTRUCTING THAT Role model for other teams Strong year-round AND multi-year program Impacts the community (positively) Spreads its enthusiasm for FIRST in innovative ways Strong partnerships Students/corporate sponsors/mentors Students/mentors Team/community Innovation is key – a few demos don’t cut it All partnerships are important

HOW TO QUALIFY Old regional model New district model Eligible if you submit everything Present at one event If you win, you go to world championships New district model Submit until you win (not just districts) If you win, you present at district championships If you’re one of the 3 winners, then you go to world championships

DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (1 WINNER) DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS (3 WINNERS) DISTRICT REGIONAL

THE SUBMISSION Executive summary Essay + ‘optional’ 4 pictures The two above are due Thursday, February 13th Presentation at event Q&A at event (after presentation) Video at event Roving judges at event Important part – even if you do a lot of stuff but don’t submit you can’t win 10,000 characters ~ 4 pages PICTURES AREN’T OPTIONAL!!! The due date is just before the end of build season, so plan accordingly.

THE SUBMISSION Executive summary Essay + ‘optional’ 4 pictures The two above are due Thursday, February 13th Presentation at event Q&A at event (after presentation) Video at event Roving judges at event What parts are best for specific things? Important part – even if you do a lot of stuff but don’t submit you can’t win 10,000 characters ~ 4 pages PICTURES AREN’T OPTIONAL!!! The due date is just before the end of build season, so plan accordingly.

ACTIVITY What do you think is effective? Why? What isn’t effective? Strategies you’ve used?

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Each 500 characters (including spaces) Briefly describe the impact of the FIRST program on team participants with special emphasis on the 2013/2014 year and the preceding two years Examples of role model characteristics for other teams to emulate Describe the impact of the FIRST program on your team and community with special emphasis on the 2013/2014 year and the preceding two years Team’s innovative methods to spread the FIRST message Describe the strength of your partnership with special emphasis on the 2013/2014 year and the preceding two years Team’s communication methods and results Other matters of interest to the FIRST judges, if any

ESSAY 10,000 characters ~ 4 pages Submit online along with executive summary Submit at regional/district event ‘May’ include up to 4 pictures Theme is important here (ties things together) Submit at one regional or district event, then at district championships and world championships if you make it Include the pictures!

ESSAY TIPS Clear headings and sections Concise Good flow Relevant facts/numbers Focus on the FIRST experience and its impact Address questions judges want to know Explain your work this year and the past two Write early, then revise. Maybe enlist your English teacher. Have non-FIRST adults read it and tell you the main points that they got Concise – you only have 10,000 characters! Relevant facts and numbers – nobody cares that the earth is 93 million miles from the sun! There’s a fine line between telling them what they want to know, then not getting a chance to elaborate in the Q&A, and not telling them anything and not getting to elaborate at all! Entice them!

PRESENTATION 5 minutes 2-3 judges 2-3 representatives from your team Any presentation style Team provides special equipment They’ll have a table and some chairs, but other than that you have to bring it.

PRESENTATION 5 minutes 2-3 judges 2-3 representatives from your team Passion is key Underclassmen can be good (fresh viewpoint) Any presentation style Team provides special equipment How many of you have been on a presentation team? Any tips for everyone else? They’ll have a table and some chairs, but other than that you have to bring it.

Q&A 5 minutes Immediately after the presentation Judges ask questions Interest them during the presentation Sample questions later in presentation

PRESENTATION TIPS Practice!!!!!!! Make sure you can say everything in 5 minutes – 4:45 is better Don’t rush. Practice it slow. Be memorable, but communicate your main points Tell personal anecdotes Incorporate other points when answering questions Ideas? Having it under five minutes is great, but in my experience they won’t cut you off if you get to 5 and are clearly wrapping up. Memorability is harder when your name isn’t Exploding Bacon. Incorporate other points, but don’t’ go too far. If they ask about your finances don’t start telling them about your management system.

ROVING JUDGE TIPS Have documentation ready for them (business plan, some pictures, etc.) Make sure you have knowledgeable team members in the pit to talk to them Develop a list of main points to cover, work these into the answers to their questions This is a better time to go into more detail We have the tradition of the “fab guy in the corner” who actually knows everything This may actually be your time to get the most in with the judges – if they’re there for half an hour that’s worth several essays

Sample Judging Questions What was the hardest part of robotics this year? What do you wish your team was better at? Why that team name? What was a big challenge that your team faced? How did you solve it? How does your team raise money? How has robotics impacted you personally? Why should you get the Chairman’s Award? If you could pick another team to get the Chairman’s Award, who would it be? How is your team run? What will you do differently next year? What does gracious professionalism mean to you?

ACTIVITY Everybody stand up! Stretch!

ACTIVITY Everybody stand up! Stretch! I’m going to go around and ask random people these questions. This is not to make you uncomfortable, but for you to get a sense of what it’s like to answer questions on the spot

Sample Judging Questions What was the hardest part of robotics this year? What do you wish your team was better at? Why that team name? What was a big challenge that your team faced? How did you solve it? How does your team raise money? How has robotics impacted you personally? Why should you get the Chairman’s Award? If you could pick another team to get the Chairman’s Award, who would it be? How is your team run? What will you do differently next year? What does gracious professionalism mean to you?

MORE INFORMATION Extended presentation with more info: FIRSTFare 2013 (Gladstone HS, 11/16) Awards guidelines, sample championship videos: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/awards Team 1540 website with resources, videos, and our essay from last year: www.team1540.org Feel free to email me with questions! bendicksenj@catlin.edu I’ll have a real live judge at FIRSTFare (I couldn’t get one for this) so you can ask them questions.

OPEN DISCUSSION Anyone have questions? Comments? Concerns? Snide remarks?

THANKS FOR COMING!