1. Teacher/Mentor Institute José M. López RM BEST Executive Director July 21-22, 2014 Welcome and Introduction to BEST Robotics ENTRANCE SURVEY

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

3. Page 3 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.

4. Page 4 Boosting Engineering, Science & Technology (BEST)  501(c)3 organization  Volunteer based (10,000+)  Over 850 schools and 15,350 students participated in 2013

5. Page 5 Our Vision Rocky Mountain BEST's vision is to be a regional force inspiring tomorrow's problem solvers by promoting science, technology, engineering and math skills.

6. Page 6 Rocky Mountain BEST Growth  In 2010 - 10 schools & 124 students  In 2011 - 20 schools & 272 students  In 2012 - 25 schools & 410 students  In 2013 - 26 schools & 364 students  In 2014 – 32 schools is our plan Our maximum capacity is 32 schools!

7. Page 7 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

8. Page 8 BEST Robotics, Inc. (BRI)  Headquartered in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University  Grown in 21 years (1993-2013) to 52 licensed “hubs” (competition sites) in 19 states (May 2013) Orange stars are Regions

9. Page 9 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.

10. Page 10 BEST is …  BEST is not just about robotics.  It’s more about teaching students to analyze and solve problems.  These are the students we need in our engineering programs and workforce! If you build it, they will fail!

11. Page 11 About TMI  Documents presented and discussed at TMI are available at our website (http://www.rockymountainbest.org/)http://www.rockymountainbest.org/  Documents are being given to you on a USB drive compliments of  Northwestern Mutual Financial Network  Notebooks for items that are convenient on paper (1 per school)

12. Your Team’s T-shirts  Team T-shirt opportunity with Artistic Apparel  Blade Runner mascot  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 Kickoff if ordered by Sept. 3!  All needed information in T-shirt packet Page 12