Re: Large Team issues
 

If I remember correctly, we take any people that want to go to regionals, and limit Nats to the 36 students with the most hours of participation. That's how it's been up until now, at least.

A lot of people will probably drop out a bit after kickoff though, because they'll have enough hours to get credit for their science fair project. Oh, and because they're pansies who don't know the glory of robotics. :D

Re: Re: Large Team issues
 

Yeah, robotics is awesome. Wait, what was I going to say?
Oh yeah. I can't wait for kickoff. This year I'm going to be way more into the game right away. Oooh it's going to be awesome. yay.

Re: Re: Large Team issues
 

Sorry, just thought that should be restated because...well...I dont know :D

just cause were rookies doesnt mean where totally dense! we did join for a reason right Gaterunner?

Becasue you heard about how awesome it was from us :)

shhh making me look bad...

Hey now. I didn't say that either of you were the aforementioned pansies.

But now, I think it's time for us to shush unless there's something worthwhile to contribute... all we're doing now is spamming the forum... pun intended. :D :p

Re: Re: Large Team issues
 

36??? How much does that cost, and how do you fundraise enough for that many people??? Oh wait a sec... You're in FL. It's "local" for you. For us, it's the fee plus about $1000 a head once you've worked in airfare, food, lodging, etc... That'd be about $40,000 for us to field that size of a team there.

OOC, What's your cost/head work out to be for the Nats?

Oh yea, and considering it may not be in FL this year (we'll soon know), you may be in a different situation this year if it's held on the other coast. What will you do if it is in CA this year?

What's this system of "Science Fair Credit" for just putting in hours? In our Science Fairs, we have to make projects, with a paper presentation & display board.

- Keith

Re: Re: Re: Large Team issues
 

Well....we've been carrying a budget of 36K - to cover the Central Fl regional and Nats - for this year and that was before moving nationals became a reality. We'll still keep that as our goal, right Warren???

......so.......Izzy "you are worshipped as a Spammer!" let's see how your worshipfulness handles programming in the gyro chip on Monday :D

Re: Re: Re: Large Team issues
 

I'm not sure what we'd do if Nats was outside of Florida... probably cut down on the number of people we take, and seek out more money directly from the students.

But I really don't know much about the budget.

Well at our school, many (maybe all of them... I'm not sure.) of the science teachers will exchange the requirement of the science fair project for participation in robotics club. People despise science fair, so lots of people join us solely to get out of doing it. If they're not really interested, they usually won't bother sticking around until competion, because their science teachers are usually satisfied by then.

Good thing I stuck around. :D

Re: Re: Re: Re: Large Team issues
 

Really?? Around here, the Science Fair is big news, as it is a grade booster. You can "fix" your science grade by a up to a whole point simply by entering a complete project into it, and you can't make a full "A" without it. I think the highest you can get without participating at ALL is a B+.

At the Junior High level (where I've been a Judge before), we typically have over 500 exhibits (over 80 percent of the students). It fills the gym, and overflows into other rooms. Besides the standard experiments and research projects, we've even had "working models" of things entered like 8' throw trebuchets (made from 2x4's) that can whip things over a football field length, and a homemade 6'x4' long riding hovercraft (made from a block of foam and an industrial furnace fan) that kids can ride around on. Pretty cool stuff...

I like the idea of giving credit for being in robotics, but not if the system allows bailout before the end of the year or non-participation (just showing up is "good enough"). That sounds like a recipe to accumulate non-productive members.

IYO, how many of your club members end up being simply "place holders" that are only in it for the requirement?

- Keith

Well I can't speak for this year, but last year nearly all the rookies I talked to were in it for the science fair, myself included. There are only a handful of exceptions I can think of.

Of course it would help to bring unproductive people... but I'm sure there'd be unproductive people either way. On the whole, I think it's a good thing because it draws people to the team that wouldn't think of joining otherwise. I know I would never have bothered to join without the science fair credit, but now that I've come and experienced it all... woooo! Yes, I think "woooo!" is the only word for it.

Just like I did, a lot of people will realize that robotics is deeper than a way out of a science assignment. Previously useless getting-out-of-the-science-fair-rookies will make use of themselves, and make efforts to contribute to the team. And the ones left over that obviously couldn't care less... well, at some point they'll leave and be out of the way. There won't be too much extra fluff still hanging around through build season, when things get harder and far more time-consuming. So I think it all works out for the best.

By the way, you'd hate science fair too if you'd been doing it for six years. :D

I agree. Woooo! hits it dead on. The sad thing is, down here-very, very few students really get in to science fair. It's just seen as a mandatory torture. I even thing so. I remember last year we had one girl Danielle that did a project on converting carbon directly into energy. She had letters from professional scientists saying that she got better results than they did in some cases, but that they 'weren't allowed to discuss it.' That sort of stuff is pretty interesting, but most people just do 'which brand of battery lasts longest?' or the like.
It actually brings down a lot of grades because of missing due dates.

Good point... Any way to get them to "Try it Mikey!", I guess... ;)

LOL!! I've been doing it for decades, and I still get a kick out of it! I wouldn't be a judge for them if I didn't think they're worthwhile. Now I will admit though that I do love seeing unique and creative projects...

Yea, it can be tough to keep an open mind when you've seen the "Which Battery Lasts Longer?" display for the Nth time in a row, :rolleyes: but when you keep in mind (if they did it right) just by doing it that person now knows how to do a "Basic Research Project" (which is applicable toward other things), you still end up feeling pretty good... :)

BTW... If anyone is stuck for a Science Fair Project idea, or wants to know if the one you're thinking about is a "common" one, gimme a holler. I've seen enough to tell you your chances on it. FYI, Every project I've suggested to date has at least won a place ribbon, and some have even taken First Place honors.

- Keith