Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Northwest Arkansas BEST Middle, Junior and High School Robotics Competition 2006 Teacher-Mentor Workshop Northwest Technical Institute (adapted from 2005 River Valley BEST workshop materials)

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology I. Introductions Northwest Arkansas BEST Staff 2006 Schools and Teachers 2006 Mentors

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology I. Northwest Arkansas BEST Staff Paul BEST Chair Funding/Game Mike Recruitment Jay & Joyce field construction Anna net General support Ken Coordinator Joel General support Dr. Euclydes Marega Liasion Amanda Grinter/Bobo Relations John Trades Jenn m Financial Officer Ron Referee Claude Consumable Kit Management Billy Electronics Kit Committee Brian Ranga Prasad Desikan Master

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology II Schools, Teachers & Mentors Let’s Get Acquainted!

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology III. BEST Robotics BEST Robotics Inc. (BRI) BEST History BEST Game History Attributes of Competition Goals of Competition Benefits for Students

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology III. BEST Robotics Inc. Non-profit, all-volunteer organization 26 hubs in 11 states (in 2004)…and growing! 3 Regional Competitions (Texas, South & Frontier Trails BEST) Frontier Trails BEST is hosted by the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and the City of Fort Smith Volunteers from the various hubs operate Frontier Trails BEST

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology

MIT freshman robotics video viewed during Engineering Day at Texas Instruments (TI) in Sherman, Texas BEST concept conceived by TI engineers Ted Mahler and Steve Marum  TI funded initial program for local Sherman schools  San Antonio group challenged Sherman group in first contest in fall 1993 III. BEST History

III. BEST Game History Year ContestHubsTeams Students 1993PVC Insanity Bumble Rumble TOTALly AweSUM Block ‘n Load Dynamite Duel Toxic Troubles Rocket Race Pandemonium in the Smithsonian RAD to the Core Warp X Blast From the Past! Transfusion Confusion BEST Fever Mission to the Hubble Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology

III. Attributes of Competition Enhances teaching/teacher effectiveness Reinforces classroom learning Creates real-world academic challenge Increases students’ interest in science Exposes students to new career opportunities Provides competition/fun Bolsters school spirit and sense of “community”

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology III. Goals of Competition Inspire student interest in engineering, science, and technology Motivate students to pursue careers in these fields Engage students in exciting, fun science- based activity Enlist business/industry to become collaborative educational partners

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology III. Benefits to Students Increases understanding of technical concepts and scientific principles Provides real-world engineering challenge Encourages abstract thought, self-directed learning, and decision-making Promotes team building, good sportsmanship, and ethical conduct Produces pride in success

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Level Corporate Platinum Gold Silver Bronze BEST Friends Donation > $15,000 $5,000 - $14,999 $2,500 - $4,999 $1,250 - $2,499 $500 - $1,249 < $500 IV. Sponsorship Levels

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Team Administration Team Support Recruitment Student Recruitment Purchasing/Financial Fundraising Travel Safety President Team Leaders Webmaster Team Administrator Robotics BEST Award Fundraising Team Members BEST Award Robot Design Robot Construction Game Rules Construction Job Foreman Testing Mock Playing Field Shop & Safety Time Management TeacherStudents Mentors

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Team Administration Team Support Recruitment Student Recruitment Purchasing/Financial Fundraising Travel Safety President Team Leaders Webmaster Team Administrator Robotics BEST Award Fundraising Team Members BEST Award Robot Design Robot Construction Game Rules Construction Job Foreman Testing Mock Playing Field Shop & Safety Time Management TeacherStudents Mentors

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Team Administration Team Support Recruitment Student Recruitment Purchasing/Financial Fundraising Travel Safety  President  Team Leaders  Webmaster  Team Administrator  Robotics  BEST Award  Fundraising  Team Members  BEST Award  Robot Design  Robot Construction  Game Rules  Construction Job Foreman  Testing  Mock Playing Field  Shop & Safety  Time Management TeacherStudents Mentors

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology IV. Awards Competition Awards The BEST Award Judging Criteria Creative Gimmicks Advancing to Regional Competition

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology IV. Competition Awards The field competition will result in the designation of 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th places with additional awards such as: Game Specific Award (Robotics scores) Founders Award for Creative Design Most Robust Most Elegant Most Photogenic T-Shirt Award Web Page Award

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology IV. The BEST Award The BEST Award is presented to the team that best embodies the attributes associated with “Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology” Inclusiveness Exposure to and use of the engineering process Sportsmanship Teamwork Creativity Positive attitude/enthusiasm School/community involvement

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology IV. BEST Award Judging Criteria All teams are eligible for the BEST Award Judging based on four criteria (75 points possible): Project Summary Notebook (30 points) Table Display and Interviews (25 points) Spirit and Sportsmanship (15 points) Robot Performance (5 points)

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Team hats Team t-shirts with game theme design Costumes Buttons Theme music Banners Posters School Band Cheerleaders Aesthetic robot designs “Accessorized” robot Team cheers Spirit songs Attendance by student body, staff, parents Computer slide show Freebies (with logo) Picture give-aways Team/robot fact sheets IV. Creative Gimmicks

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology IV. Advancing to Frontier Trails BEST BEST Award winner 1st place game winner BEST Award 1st runner up 2nd place game winner BEST Award 2 nd runner up 3rd place game winner

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology V Events Kick Off Day - Saturday, September 16th Mall Day - Sunday, October 15th Game Day - Saturday, October 28th Frontier Trails BEST- Friday & Saturday, November 3rd & 4th (only 1 week after NWA BEST!!!)

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology VI. Kick Off Day Unveiling of game theme, game rules and playing field Returnables & Consumables kits distributed Q & A Team-building opportunity

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology VI. Kick Off Day (Kit) Every team receives identical box of parts (called “Consumables”) Every team receives functional r/c units, large/small motors, batteries, battery charger, tether devices (called “Returnables”) Teacher must sign for Return kit

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology VI. Kick Off Day (DEMO robot) DEMO robot sub-components built by River Valley BEST staff members DEMO robot are examples of how sub- units of a robot COULD be built DEMO robot should be studied by teams Photos and videotaping encouraged!

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology VI. Kick Off Day (Game Field) Teams are encouraged to build a game field simulation at school for practice Diagrams are included with game rules Teams should study complexities of game field Teams should identify and discuss offensive/defensive strategies Teams should photo/video game field

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology VII. Mall Day Practice competitive driving Define/refine offensive/defensive strategy Test/troubleshoot robot Practice “industrial espionage” Boost school spirit Promote BEST to the community

Mall Day

Game Day

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology VIII. NWA BEST Game Day Saturday, October 28th, 2006 Advancing teams (tentative): 1st place BEST Award winner 1st place Robotics winner 2nd place BEST Award winner 2nd place Robotics winner

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology How To Succeed at BEST Pre-Kick Off Preparation “42 Days of BEST”

Week Tuesday 16 SundayMonday Wednesday ThursdayFridaySaturday Week Week Week Week Week Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Kickoff Mall Day Game Day 3 Frontier Trails BEST

Tuesday 16 Robot: pre-competition team organization/development SundayMondayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday Kick Off Day BEST: establish team/support teacher(s) & study award guidelines Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology BEST: Develop committees, establish theme & begin fundraising

Tuesday 23 Robot: study game rules/materials & develop strategy, brainstorm and begin testing ideas, begin construction of practice field SundayMondayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday BEST: Document brainstorming phase as part of engineering process, promote concept of BEST through continued fundraisers, demonstrations, school and community events, etc. Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology

Tuesday 30 Robot: Begin construction of a running platform, perform preliminary design tests, begin practicing driving SundayMondayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday BEST: Design and order team t-shirts as soon as possible, continue promoting BEST concepts through school and community events, continue documentation of engineering process through notebook Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology

Tuesday 7 Robot: Continue practicing with and testing design(s) SundayMondayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday BEST: Continue documenting engineering process, continue promoting BEST concepts, plan for Mall Day and Game Day displays... Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology

Tuesday 14 Robot: Continue testing and building, continue developing driving skills, finalize plans for attending Mall Day SundayMondayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday BEST: Continue documenting engineering process, finalize plans for Mall Day display and BEST promotion Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology

Tuesday 21 Robot: (Scrap design and start over) OR modify design based on experiences at Mall Day, continue practicing driving SundayMondayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday BEST: Begin finalizing engineering notebook and preparing for Game Day Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Mall Day

Early Check- In Tuesday 28 Robot: Finalize design, double check for compliance before check-in, paint, decorate, allow time for paint to dry... check for compliance again... SundayMondayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday Game Day BEST: Add finishing touches to notebook, display, finalize plans for bands, pep squads, mascots for Game Day, etc. Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Frontier Trails BEST Tuesday 4 Make travel arrangements and don’t try any major robot design overhauls... SundayMondayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Game Day BEST Award Table Display Set-up (Friday Night) Compliance Check-in for near schools (Friday Night) Opening Ceremony Driver/Coach meetings Saturday morning

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Game Day (cont.) BEST Award judging, table visits, interviews, etc. (all day) Preliminary (AM) and elimination rounds (PM) Awards ceremony Return kit check-in, check deposit return Frontier Trails BEST meeting (advancing teams)

Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Northwest Arkansas BEST 2006 Teacher-Mentor Workshop Thanks for coming! See you September 16th!