Raising Student Support

[1527Michiru]

Okay, our team has been around for three years now. This being our fourth. But still, very few students even know we exist.

Our class numbers are so few that every year, students are enrolled in our class who didn't request it, and have no interest in joining the team (There are, of course, exceptions such as myself who find that they love the program, but they are far and few between.)

I'd like to discuss whether or not other teams are experiencing the same and what tactics other teams used to get past this. I know we've been looking for new ways to advertise the team with limited success

Thank You in advance for your responses! :]

~Casey

[Tottanka]

Many teams have the exact same problems. You should view this thread:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=58673

[RoboMom]

Kathie just posted a new resource paper in NEMO with ideas on Recruiting Students. Lots of ideas taken from threads on CD.
http://www.firstnemo.org/resources.htm

[Doug G]

I recruit the students that I want in the class. It works for the most part, about 80% continue to particpate the next year. I go to the 8th graders in May and recruit them as incoming freshman. It seems that getting about 6 of them as freshman each year is good. Of course this entails that you have upper classman already on the team. I also teach senior year physics and AP physics and I find it easier to recruit the freshman than the seniors in physics. Mostly because the seniors have jobs, AP classes, and otherwise a lot of scheduling conflicts. But by the time the freshman become seniors they probably stick with the team. Anyhow, don't underestimate having large numbers of freshman on your team, it'll be good for your team in the long run and you'll find out that they typically can spend a lot of time dedicated to robotics (at our school the freshman academic load is easy.)

[Cooley744]

Just get a lot of people to check it out, and a few will stay. It's how it always goes. Also, get big groups of friends to join and all learn it together. A ton of my friends are in robotics. Some participate and are more dedicated then others, but hey! we've got members.

[1527Michiru]

Hey, thanks guys! :]

We'll look over eveything and see if we can recruit more school spirit.
~Caseu