Reading of the rules
 

So our team is only second year, and our ranks have almost tripled this year, and are experiencing so growing pains. One of the pains is some of experienced members are having an issue with some of the new kids not being 100% in to it. Getting the new kids to read this years game manual is proving to be a chore.

My question is how do other teams handle a situation like that? I'd love to hear from student members, and mentors.

Standardized testing.... No basic knowledge, Then you don't get to build, participate in discussions, etc.

Or... Randomly give people prizes when they have an answer to a non basic question from the rulebook.

Or....

Sit down as a group and read it together.

Re: Reading of the rules
 

We spend a very large portion of kickoff day in the rulebook. We don't read it as a group, per se, but we compile a list of questions about various game aspects and search for the answers together. It's a group discussion, where a large chunk of the rulebook ends up getting covered as we collectively get a handle on the game. By making rules discussion part of our game analysis and brainstorming process, it helps up the rules comprehension of the whole team.

Re: Reading of the rules
 

We read as a group on kickoff day, everyone takes turns reading sections... no passing

Re: Reading of the rules
 

We created a rules "quiz" that students have to fill out. They can use the game manual.

They could not participate in robot strategy, design, or build talk until they received a satisfying score on this quiz. (A satisfying score was about 85% or above... but it depended on each individual student too.)

Students who scored 100% were entered in a raffle to win a $25 gift card of their choosing.

Re: Reading of the rules
 

Our team is a graded class so those that chose to take that path receive a grade that reflects their commitment.

If only more schools did this...

Re: Reading of the rules
 

Everyday before we start build, we are to do research on the FIRST Q&A before we can start build we must finish research, I would try to show the importance of it. Without it you wouldn't know what to do.