Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program II. Coaching/Mentoring Techniques Workshop for Mindstorms NXT 2007 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 Focus on being a coach or mentor using Mindstorm NXT robotics kits I hope you leave: Feeling more comfortable about your role Having some more tools in your bag of tricks Understanding better what it takes to solve a challenge. Having gotten your questions answered Have some fun!!

Agenda Review our Mission Forming your team Registering your team Equipping your team Managing your team NanoQuest Challenge kit Use NXT Robots from last week to program more with the Mindstorms NXT Software

Our Mission Program not just about building robots and competing in tournaments Teach skills Specific technical skills General life skills Show that technical problem solving can be fun The youngsters do the work – Coaches’ Honor Code and Team Promise Open up the possibility of technical careers One secret opportunity We’re asking you to help us!

Forming Your Team

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

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

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

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

Coach – The Person in Charge Single point of contact for team Understands the FLL and ORTOP programs Management expertise more important than technical expertise Recruits the team Registers the team Arranges for equipment Schedules meetings Sets the philosophy and instills team spirit Is a good role model

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

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

FLL Team Promise We are a team. We do the work to find the solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors. We honor the spirit of friendly competition. What we discover is more important than what we win. We share our experiences with others. We display gracious professionalism in everything we do. We have fun.

Registering Your Team

Team Registration National registration through FLL: May through end of September or when max reached $200 FLL registration fee Receive Coaches Handbook, web forum access, DVDs on FIRST and FLL, and support Optional ordering of kits First-Come-First-Served, so REGISTER EARLY!!

Purchases at FLL Registration Registration fee: $200 FLL Robot Set (NXT) $325 Field set-up kit: $65 Extra parts: motors and sensors (rotation, light, and touch) They don’t ship until they are paid

ORTOP State Registration Takes place in October 2007 $50 fee for ORTOP We notify all coaches that have registered with FLL in Oregon and SW Washington Provide list of local tournaments Ask for 3 local tournament choices in priority order We assign teams to local tournaments Register early!!

Equipping Your Team

Minimum Resources to Start A robotics kit A computer A place to meet and practice Classroom Family room Garage

Additional Resources 2007 FLL “Power Puzzle” Field Setup kit (only from FLL) Mission Model Set Field Mat Practice table (design on FLL website) ’x8’ bottom Railing around the sides Overhead light

Robotics Kit Info RCX-based kits LEGO kit used by FLL in past years Can still be used in tournament in 2007 They will be phased out eventually NXT-based kits Brand new last year $325 if ordered during FLL registration Ship to registered teams starting in mid-May

Robotics Kit Info – NXT-Based FLL NXT -- $325 Complete kit with two tubs and sorting trays NXT software LEGO Education NXT Base Set -- $250 Fewer parts with one tub and sorting trays No software LEGO Retail -- $250 Fewer parts with no sorting trays Includes NXT software See NXT Kit Details handout for details

Allowed NXT Robot Parts NXT controller (1) Motors (3) Touch sensors (2) Light sensors (2) Lamp (1) Rotation sensors (3 minus the number of NXT motors present) Ultrasonic sensor (1)

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

Example Team Budget National Registration Fee: $200 State Registration Fee: $ Robotics Kit: $ Field Setup Kit: $65 Materials for table: $50-$100 Misc. including batteries, shipping: $50-$100 Total: $740-$840

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 Funding should not be an obstacle to a team’s participation Cover up to $760 in team costs Accepting applications now Awards made at least monthly Last date is September 16,

Managing Your Team

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hard vs.. Soft Skills Hard Skills Mechanical Design Programming Analysis Problem Solving Experimentation Documentation Turn these youth into little engineers Soft Skills Timeliness Teamwork Tact and Compromise Confidence Courtesy Perseverance Planning

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

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

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

Locomotion Motors Gears/pulleys Wheels/tracks Steering Friction

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

Robotic Action Pushing Grabbing Lifting Dumping

With All the Focus on the Robot and the Challenge… Don’t Forget the Judging

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

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

Sources of ideas Constructopedias/Manuals/Guides NXT Software Tutorial on CD-ROM Books – Web links – Lego FIRST INSciTE -- Minnesota FLL Tufts University – Inventor of Robolab NXT is new so not all resources are NXT specific – still usefull for general techniques Art of Lego CMU Best Practices

Our Mailing Lists Totally voluntary, and you can opt out ortopvol All volunteers One way from ORTOP to our volunteers We add you when you volunteer ortopcm Coaches and mentors Communication among that group and with ORTOP We add you when you complete a workshop

Next Steps Take Dale Yocum’s NXT Tutorial: Sign-up for another workshop III. Robotics Techniques Workshop ESCO – “Robotics Mentorships as a Developmental Career Opportunity”

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