Re: How Do We Approach Our School For Robotics Letters?
 

Arefin - from SigamC@ts is right....the way to go is ...interest your administrators...which means involve them...let them drive the robot......go to the competitions......have parents talk it up with people. Because...what do parents of "jocks" do...talk about their child's achievement.....so why can't "robotic" parents do the same??????? As a teacher......in my open house speech....I talk about how robotics has influenced my children's academic careers.....and it is amazing how many parents do not realized the potentials of being involved in robotics........visibility helps you achieving your goal....tell your parents to talk it up.......and ask administrators to consider giving your team letters.

Pat Chen

Re: How Do We Approach Our School For Robotics Letters?
 

Exactly! I think the only reason we got these letters was because the administrators finally realized how much work we do and how academic and yet fun FIRST Robotics is.

Our team had a Tea With the Robots evening on Thank Your Mentor Day, which was January 25th. We had our administrators come down, teachers, parents, etc. I explained the game to them using the wonderful animation done by Dave Lavery, and each of them looked at me and said "I never knew how wonderful this is...I'm so glad I came!" The day really opened their eyes to what we're all about...what FIRST is all about.

Re: How Do We Approach Our School For Robotics Letters?
 

well our team does letters. the fact is if none of the other teams (i assume you mean in your school) get letters than theirs nothing you can do unless you want to set precedent. however you definitely want to play up the importance of academics.

Re: How Do We Approach Our School For Robotics Letters?
 

Thank you for responding, Dorienne. This is what others need to hear.....for some ...getting the letters are important.....for those who were successful in achieving that......we need to share ideas that worked.

Pat

Re: How Do We Approach Our School For Robotics Letters?
 

We unfortudently don't get letters for Robotics. We get a letter for making a Varsity team, unless its a sport like Track where we have no "Varsity" team, you get points based on how well you do in meets. We do however get letters for being in Marching Band for two years, but those are paid for through the band, not the athletic department.

Re: How Do We Approach Our School For Robotics Letters?
 

Re: How Do We Approach Our School For Robotics Letters?
 

This is a delicate issue, I will not deny that. It is not unusual for schools to think of FIRST Robotics as just another activity, and not a sport of any sort. What you should do, as other FIRSTers have mentioned in this thread, is bring your supervisors to your workshop, show them around, and show them what FIRST really is all about. Show them what you all learn and how much experience you get in the engineering and business fields.

FIRST is like a real life business. You have a deadline for a "product", limitations on parts and money, sponsorship from major companies and corporations, and "workers" to make the product and have it come alive. Also, there's a whole background to the team, and that is the business side. You have "workers" gathering sponsorship, organizing the team's budget and students, networking with other teams, and conjuring the award entries.

Emphasize this to your administrators. Invite them to a regional event, and let them see for themselves how wonderful FIRST is and how worthy you all are of Letters.

Good luck to you guys, I'm rooting for you!