II. Coaching/Mentoring Techniques Workshop 2005 Oregon Robotics Tournament & Outreach Program (ORTOP) Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth

Instructor Contacts Ken Cone Roger Swanson Jim Ryan Scott Stanko (971)

Today’s Goals b Focus on being a coach or mentor b I hope you leave: Feeling more comfortable about your roleFeeling more comfortable about your role Having some more tools in your bag of tricksHaving some more tools in your bag of tricks Understanding better what it takes to solve a challenge.Understanding better what it takes to solve a challenge. Having gotten your questions answeredHaving gotten your questions answered b Have some fun!!

Agenda b Forming your team b Registering your team b Equipping your team b Managing your team b NO LIMITS Challenge kit b Do some exercises with Inventor Level programming using RoverBots from last week

Our Mission b Program not just about building robots and competing in tournaments Teach skillsTeach skills –Specific technical skills –General life skills Show that technical problem solving can be funShow that technical problem solving can be fun b Open up the possibility of technical careers b One secret opportunity We’re asking you to help us!

Where Teams Come From b School Based In class: Perhaps 45 minutes a dayIn class: Perhaps 45 minutes a day After school: Perhaps 1.5 hours; 2 to 4 times a weekAfter school: Perhaps 1.5 hours; 2 to 4 times a week Special block: Several hours once a weekSpecial block: Several hours once a week b Club Based Probably after school or eveningProbably after school or evening b Independent team After school, evenings, or weekendsAfter school, evenings, or weekends b We encourage you to find and include youngsters that normally would not have this exposure

Where to Meet b Large enough space to handle the number of youngsters on the team b Space for challenge field setup – 4’x8’ b Access to a computer b Storage space between meetings Challenge tableChallenge table Partially built robotPartially built robot Lego partsLego parts

Team size b High initial interest may fade b Sub-teams of 2-3 can work in parallel Experiment with prototypesExperiment with prototypes Learn programming techniquesLearn programming techniques Work on the presentationWork on the presentation b Eventually team should stabilize at 10 or less b 5 to 7 team members is probably ideal

You Need Adults, Too! b Coach – The person in charge Organizes the teamOrganizes the team Does not need to be a techieDoes not need to be a techie b Mentor – The technical guru Provides technical adviceProvides technical advice Provides the technical basicsProvides the technical basics b One person can play both roles But, don’t go it aloneBut, don’t go it alone Recruit other adults to supervise sub-teamsRecruit other adults to supervise sub-teams

Coach – The Person in Charge b Single point of contact for team b Understands the FLL and ORTOP programs b Recruits the team b Registers the team b Arranges for equipment b Schedules meetings b Sets the philosophy and instills team spirit b Be a good role model

Mentor – The Technical Guru b Technical Advisor to assist the coach b Teaches both robot design and programming b Helps set achievable goals b Encourages structured problem solving Follow typical engineering project modelsFollow typical engineering project models Experiment with one variable at a timeExperiment with one variable at a time b Graduates of FLL can work

General Advice to All Adults b Be a good role model b Keep a positive attitude b Encourage teamwork and insist on mutual respect b Don’t over emphasize “winning” – demonstrating a solution at a tournament is success b This is the kids’ project, not yours b Have fun

Team Registration b National registration through FLL: b May through end of September or when max reached b $150 fee b Receive team manual, web forum access, and support b Optional ordering of kits b First-Come-First-Served, so REGISTER EARLY!!

Purchases at FLL Registration b Registration fee: $150 b Robotics kit: $260 b Field set-up kit: $50 b Rotation sensor, extra motor and light sensor b They don’t ship until they are paid

ORTOP State Registration b Takes place in October 2005 b $35 fee for ORTOP b We notify all coaches that have registered with FLL in Oregon and surrounding counties Provide list of local tournamentsProvide list of local tournaments Ask for 3 local tournament choices in priority orderAsk for 3 local tournament choices in priority order b We assign teams to local tournaments b Register early!!

Minimum Resources to Start b A robotics kit b A computer b A place to meet and practice ClassroomClassroom Family roomFamily room GarageGarage

Additional Resources b 2005 FLL Field Setup kit (only from FLL) Mission Model SetMission Model Set Field MatField Mat b Practice table (design on FLL website) 4’x8’ bottom4’x8’ bottom Railing around the sidesRailing around the sides Overhead lightOverhead light

Robotics Kit Info b Can start with LEGO Mindstorms Robotic Invention System: $ with RIS software and buy a tackle box for sorting parts; orLEGO Mindstorms Robotic Invention System: $ with RIS software and buy a tackle box for sorting parts; or LEGO Team Challenge Set with Software (W ) at $226 which includes Robolab software and good sorting trays and guides;LEGO Team Challenge Set with Software (W ) at $226 which includes Robolab software and good sorting trays and guides; And, upgrade by purchasing an additional light sensor and motor plus a rotation sensor (see FAQ).And, upgrade by purchasing an additional light sensor and motor plus a rotation sensor (see FAQ). b Or, order 2005 FLL Robot Kit at $260 for delivery starting in the summer. b Lots of teaching guides at Lego Education site

Kit Ordering b Mindstorms kits available from Perhaps Target, ToysRUs, or Fry’s (call ahead)Perhaps Target, ToysRUs, or Fry’s (call ahead) Amazon.comAmazon.com LEGO: b FLL kits from FLL web site: register4fll.com b Everything else available from Lego Education at: b See FAQ for more details

Team Uniforms?? b Many teams do something for the tournaments Team shirts, hats, etcTeam shirts, hats, etc Theme clothingTheme clothing b Team sponsor advertising on a T-shirt, etc. is OK

Example Team Budget b National Registration Fee: $150 b State Registration Fee: $35 b 2005 Robotics Kit: $260 b 2005 Field Setup Kit: $50 b Materials for table: $50-$100 b Team Challenge Activity Pack: $30 b Misc. including batteries, shipping: $50-$100 b Total: $625-$725

Possible Sources of team funding Fundraising Activities ORTOP Scholarship Team Member Dues Team Sponsors Having some portion of costs picked up by team members gives a sense of commitment

ORTOP Scholarships b Funding should not be an obstacle to a team’s participation b Cover $35 to $600 in team costs b Accepting applications now b Awards made at least monthly b Last date is September 16, 2005 b

Meeting Organization b How often and how long to meet Most teams meet 2-3 times per weekMost teams meet 2-3 times per week After school, evenings, weekends as team desiresAfter school, evenings, weekends as team desires Some add extras as get closer to endSome add extras as get closer to end > 1 hr (set up and take down)> 1 hr (set up and take down) < 3 hrs (attention span)< 3 hrs (attention span) b At least 2 adults present during meetings – can use parents who take turns b Set ground rules -- E.g. don’t turn kids loose to walk home by themselves after dark b Refreshments / snacks

Team Kick-off Meeting b Every child brings parent b Set expectations with both b Send kids off to build with Legos Get assistant to helpGet assistant to help Build with instructions, like the ConstructopediaBuild with instructions, like the Constructopedia Something they can all do at onceSomething they can all do at once b Explain the real situation to the parents

Parent Involvement b Explain program/FLL philosophy Success = ParticipationSuccess = Participation b Explain team rules b Discuss participation commitment for kids b Review costs and funding sources b Communicate about tournament b Solicit help

Getting Started with the Kids b Set Team Goals b Decide responsibilities Can rotate, especially near beginningCan rotate, especially near beginning Usually will want to be fixed as near tournamentUsually will want to be fixed as near tournament Need backups roles due to absencesNeed backups roles due to absences b Set milestones – use project management analogy Set dates for each phase of project to keep on trackSet dates for each phase of project to keep on track Include design, build, test, REWORKInclude design, build, test, REWORK b Encourage participation in a team environment

Learning Opportunities b Encourage risk taking It’s OK to failIt’s OK to fail Key is to manage the riskKey is to manage the risk b Encourage experimentation b Expect failure – focus on what is learned as a result b Problem solving takes time – Edison’s experience with light bulb filament

Facilitate Structured Problem Solving b Defining problem b Brainstorming b Evaluating alternatives b Choosing alternative b Implementing b Evaluating & testing

Hard vs.. Soft Skills b Hard Skills Mechanical DesignMechanical Design ProgrammingProgramming AnalysisAnalysis Problem SolvingProblem Solving ExperimentationExperimentation DocumentationDocumentation b Soft Skills TimelinessTimeliness TeamworkTeamwork Tact and CompromiseTact and Compromise ConfidenceConfidence CourtesyCourtesy PerseverancePerseverance PlanningPlanning Turn these youth into little engineers

Build a Foundation b Introduce techniques and concepts Build or bring demosBuild or bring demos Discuss advantages and disadvantagesDiscuss advantages and disadvantages Let kids figure out how to apply concept to ChallengeLet kids figure out how to apply concept to Challenge b If meetings start before Challenge is announced, can use mini-challenges to introduce concepts b One approach: use 5-10 minutes at start of each meeting to introduce concepts

Sample Concepts b Pick one or two new subjects per session Structural strength: bracing vs. snapped piecesStructural strength: bracing vs. snapped pieces Gear ratios: torque vs. speedGear ratios: torque vs. speed Traction: tracks vs. wheelsTraction: tracks vs. wheels Friction: tires vs. skidsFriction: tires vs. skids Programming techniques: linear vs. loops vs. subroutinesProgramming techniques: linear vs. loops vs. subroutines

Divide and conquer b Three basic robot functions: Locomotion: how the robot movesLocomotion: how the robot moves Navigation: how it knows where to goNavigation: how it knows where to go Robotic Action: function it performsRobotic Action: function it performs

Locomotion b Motors b Gears/pulleys b Wheels/tracks b Steering b Friction

Navigation b Time, but sensitive to battery charge b Touch Sensors Means of triggeringMeans of triggering Pressed vs. releasePressed vs. release b Light Sensors Light levelsLight levels Darker/lighterDarker/lighter Calibrating thresholdsCalibrating thresholds b Rotation sensor

Robotic Action b Pushing b Grabbing b Lifting b Dumping

Technical Judging – 25% b Panel of “experts” interviews teams Robot design: Creativity and robustnessRobot design: Creativity and robustness Programming: Creativity and robustnessProgramming: Creativity and robustness b Prepare the team to: Explain their design of the robot and its programExplain their design of the robot and its program Demonstrate at least one mission on the challenge fieldDemonstrate at least one mission on the challenge field b Bring a printout of the program

Presentation Judging – 25% b Don’t ignore it b Another good learning opportunity Research skills and presentation skills (remember the marketing kid? )Research skills and presentation skills (remember the marketing kid? ) Good engineering requires research and communicationGood engineering requires research and communication b Format 10 minutes including setup10 minutes including setup Posterboards, skits, models, Powerpoint,...Posterboards, skits, models, Powerpoint,...

Sources of ideas b Constructopedias/Manuals/Guides b RoboLab Tutorial CD-ROM b Books – b Web links – LegoLego FIRSTFIRST INSciTE -- Minnesota FLLINSciTE -- Minnesota FLL Tufts University – Inventor of RobolabTufts University – Inventor of Robolab b Real world Art of LegoArt of Lego CMUCMU Best PracticesBest Practices

Next Steps b Fill out our Volunteer Information Form b Sign-up for another workshop III. Robotics Techniques WorkshopIII. Robotics Techniques Workshop

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