Teacher/Mentor Institute José M. López - RM BEST Executive Director July 30-31, 2015 Welcome and Introduction to BEST Robotics ENTRANCE SURVEY

Teacher/Mentor Institute  Welcome  Introductions  Administrative  Lunch/ Breaks  Restrooms  Surveys – Entrance & Exit

Teacher/Mentor Institute BEST Robotics Video, 2014 Rocky Mountain BEST from their Denver Events Welcome Front Range BEST Tami & Joel Kirkland – Co-Hub Directors Congratulations on becoming a BEST Hub in Colorado

Workshop Purpose 1. Meet the BEST Hub Teams 2. Discuss Expectations for Teachers / Mentors 3. Introduce BEST & Resources  Program – Local Hub & National Organization  Events and Schedule  Registration  Game Rules  Awards & Judging  Robot Materials – Returnable and Consumable Kits  Software Licenses 4. Introduce Robot Build Training & Resources  Engineering Design Process  Provided Robot Materials  Safety  easyC software programming 5. Experience the student’s 6 week robot build  4 hour mini robot build followed by a 30 minute competition Page 4

Thursday’s Agenda 1. Sign In, Entrance Survey, & Light Breakfast All 8:30–9:00 2. Welcome & Intro to BEST Robotics Jose Lopez 9:00–9:30 3. BEST Season, Registration & Demographics Carolyn Bauer & Tami Kirkland 9:30–9:50 4. Safety Carolyn Bauer 9:50–10:00 BREAK 10:00 – 10:15 5. Awards & Judging Linda Scott 10:15–11:00 6. Engineering Design Process Linda King11:00-11:30Lunch 11:30 – 11:45 7. Organizing a Team Student + Teacher / Mentor Peer Panels 11:45-12:45 8. Competition Game Rules Carolyn Bauer 12:45-1:30 BREAK Kits out for viewing & Handout Mini-Robot 1:30-2:00 9. Firmware & Software Introduction Judith Schlesinger2:00-2: Using the VEX Cortex and Software Carolyn Bauer & Joel Kirkland 2:30–3: Robot Kit Familiarization Carolyn Bauer3:30-4:00 Page 5

Friday’s Agenda 12. Sign In, Eventbrite Registration & Light Breakfast All 8:30–9: Introduction To Robot Build Carolyn Bauer 9:00-9:15 14a. Breakout 1: Intro to easyC Programming Joel Kirkland 9:15–10:00 14b. Breakout 2: Advanced easyC Programming Kevin Barrett 9:15–10:00 14c. Robot BuildMike King9:15-10:00 BREAK10:00-10: Continue Robot Build All10:15-11:30LUNCH 11:30-12: Wrap Up Robot Build All 12:00-2: Mini-Competition Carolyn Bauer 2:00-2: Q&A, Wrap-Up & Exit Survey Carolyn Bauer & Tami Kirkland 2:30-2: Take Apart & Put Away Robots All2:45-3:00 Page 6

Page 7 Boosting Engineering, Science & Technology (BEST) Our mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, hands-on, real-world, engineering-based robotics competition.

A Teacher Testimonial “In many ways, the BEST experience is like an education greenhouse; what happens during six weeks of competition would take an entire year in the classroom.” Dr. Mark Conner, Head The Engineering Academy at Hoover High School Hoover, AL Page 8

Page 9 Boosting Engineering, Science & Technology (BEST)  501(c)3 organization  Volunteer based (10,000+)  Over 850 schools and 15,000 students participated in 2014

Page 10 BEST Robotics, Inc. (BRI)  Headquartered in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University  Grown in 23 years ( ) to 44 licensed “hubs” (competition sites) in 17 states (May 2015) Red flags are Regions

Page 11 BEST Fundamentals  Any middle or high school may participate for free —there is no entry fee.  Any student may participate.  All equipment and materials are provided at no cost.  Students perform all work.  Mentors guide students through the design & construction phase. Ted Mahler co- founder

Page 12 BEST Growth in Colorado  RM BEST- 2010: 10 schools & 124 students  2011: 20 schools & 272 students  2012: 25 schools & 410 students  2013: 26 schools & 364 students  2014: 32 schools & 400+ students RM BEST maximum capacity is 32 schools! 2015 Goals: SoCo State 12 schools, Front Range BEST 12 schools, & RM BEST 24 schools

What is Required from Schools?  Register Team*  Identify a Mentor to Guide Teams*  Engineering Design Process*  Focus on safety*  Teamwork  Project Management  Transportation  3 Events over the 6 week competition (Kickoff, Practice Day, & Game Day) *  Regional Competition at Ft Smith, AR if selected*  Shop Tools to fabricate robot*  Workspace for teams to build robot  Secure Storage for Kits and Robot  Team T-Shirts* and Food at Events (Optional)  Demographics Form Submittal*  * More details coming up Page 13

Shop Tools– Bare Minimum Tools - Low  Eye protection for all students  Basic hand tools (screw drivers, wrenches, pliers, tin snips, etc.)  Drill bits, Drill/driver  PVC Cutter  Hole Cutter  Utility Knife  Punch  Hacksaw  Saber saw  Soldering iron  Wire stripper  Sheet Metal Shears  C clamps  Square  Tape measure  Work table Page 14June 2, 2015

Shop Equipment – Basic Tools - Middle  Drill press  Router  Heat gun  Dremel tool  Hole saws  Vise  Scale with 25 lb capacity  Tap and die set specifically, #10-32 tap, ¼ - 20 die Page 15June 2, 2015

Shop Equipment – Deluxe Tools - Top  Chop saw  Scroll saw  Band saw  Table saw  Z-bender  Oven/heating element  Metal brake  Sander disk/drum/belt Page 16June 2, 2015

Who can Mentor a Team?  You don’t have to be an engineer, scientist, or technician. You don’t have to have a child in school. Anyone can be a BEST! You just have to be willing to give of your time and energy.  “But I don’t know anything about robotics,” you say. Neither do these students  You’ll help them take plywood, PVC pipe, and a box filled with items such as screws and other hardware, a bar of aluminum, sheets of plastic, piano wire, a bicycle inner tube, IGUS components, and design a functioning machine that can perform certain, specific tasks in three minutes. Page 17

What Does it Take to be a Mentor?  So, how much time will be required, you ask.  Depends on how motivated you and your students will be to do your “BEST.”  We’ve found competitive teams meet 3-4 times /week at several hours at a time.  Ideally, six mentors per team reduce individual time requirements. Rotate times and spread out the responsibility.  What makes this different from other activities for which you can volunteer?  Instant feedback.  In six intense weeks, students go from a blank look when they see the jumble of parts in the kit, to solid confidence knowing that they worked as a team, solved a major problem, and received the heartwarming endorsement of their adult mentors.  The change is stunning and one you’ll never forget. Page 18

Page 19 bESTology 2015 bESTology 2015  What is bESTology? bESTology  bESTology is the study of Engineering, Science and Technology. Students are encouraged to become bESTologists!  A gold mine of weekly activities unveiled each 5:00 p.m. MT - started 25 January  bESTology teaches the science, engineering and technology that will enhance the learning experience for the 2015 BEST game.  Posts contain HINTS for BEST PAY DIRT Game

Robotics Game Competition There is always a theme ! There is always a theme !  Total Recall – Process Improvement  BUGS! – Bug capture  WarpXX – Space Elevator  Gatekeeper – Computer build  Blade Runner – Renewable Energy Windmill  PAY DIRT – Mining and Economics Page 20

Page 21 Game Day! BEST BEST is like a basketball game, chess match, and science fair all rolled into one day, all rolled into one day, with cheerleaders, mascots, pep bands, and wildly cheering adults and kids mixed in.

Robotics Game Principles Game design & Rules from BEST Robotics Inc. (BRI) Scoring & Controlling software from BRI Total Recall 2010 Page 22

Bugs 2011 Four competition quadrants in 4 colors (red, blue, yellow, green) Page 23 Robotics Game Principles

Warp XX 2012 Scoring based on grabbing items and placing them in designated areas. Page 24 Robotics Game Principles

Gamekeeper 2013 Designated areas for robot driver & spotter Spotter Driver Page 25 Robotics Game Principles

Three minute competition rounds Page 26 Blade Runner 2014 Robotics Game Principles

Your Team’s T-shirts  Team T-shirt opportunity with Artistic Apparel  PAY DIRT mascot from RM BEST or PAY DIRT Logo or RM BEST or FR BEST Logo  Your team name  T-shirt color you select  $10.00 per shirt  Adding additional info (e.g., sponsor, school mascot) will cost extra  Ready to pick up at Practice Day on 17 October if ordered on or before 24 September 2015!  All needed information in T-shirt packet Page 27

Page 28 BEST and PAY DIRT Logos  RM BEST Mascot for PAY DIRT 2015 RM BEST Mascot for PAY DIRT 2015 RM BEST Mascot for PAY DIRT 2015  RM BEST Logo RM BEST Logo RM BEST Logo  FR BEST Logo FR BEST Logo FR BEST Logo  PAY DIRT Logo PAY DIRT Logo PAY DIRT Logo  BEST Logo BEST Logo BEST Logo

Page 29 About TMI  Documents presented and discussed at TMI are available at our websites  Documents available on a USB drive for you to download onto your laptop  Notebooks for items that are convenient on paper (1 per school)

Page 30 Teacher/Mentor TMI Notebook  General Information  Rocky Mountain BEST Specifics  Front Range BEST Specifics  Teacher / Mentor Guidance  Reference Material  bESTology Information  Awards and Judging Information

Page 31 BEST Websites  The BEST Robotics, Inc. (BRI) national website contains all the information you will need to understand the overall program, how the competition works, links to other resources (e.g., VEX), an FAQ section, and many resources for mentors and student training  The RM and FR BEST websites are our local websites and they contain local information (e.g., Calendar of events, history, local contact information, etc.) and links to BRI’s website

BEST Robotics Inc. Website BEST Robotics Inc. Website Page 32 See the BRI Website Map

Rocky Mountain BEST Website Rocky Mountain BEST Website Page 33 See the RM BEST Website MapRM BEST Website Map

Page 34 Front Range BEST Website Front Range BEST Website See the FR BEST Website MapFR BEST Website Map

Additional Web Resources bESTology: easyC V4 Programming Software: Vex Robotics: Page 35