CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

In "Education in America: Don't Fail Me," we learn that at this very moment, America's future is at stake.

"If we don't generate the next group of innovators, scientists, engineers, and problem solvers," inventor Dean Kamen warns, "our standard of living, our quality of life, our security, will plummet!"

American students rank 17th in science and 25th in math when compared to other industrialized nations. They don't have the skills to take on the high tech jobs of the future.

This is because of how and what we teach American kids. It is also because of a culture that values sports and celebrities above all.

The United States needs to change the way students are taught math and science, and children need to be encouraged and inspired to take the toughest classes in those subjects.

There is a nationwide competition designed to motivate high school students to take those classes, push themselves, and learn more (FIRST). Students Maria Castro, Brian Whited, and Shaan Patel are actively involved in it. But is it too late for them? Is it too late for us?


For Teachers and Others Who Want to Discuss the CNN Program... Pre and Post Program Questions, Learning Activities and Curricula Connections can be found at:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/studentne...ide/index.html


FIRST® Robotics Competition Teams featured in the CNN Special include:
FRC Team 842, Falcon Robotics, Carl Hayden High School, Phoenix, Ariz.
FRC Team 1403, Cougar Robotics, Montgomery High School, Skillman, N.J.
FRC Team 3675, Eagletrons, Seymour High School, Seymour, Tenn.


Twitter Hash Tag for "Education in America: Don't Fail Me":
#dontfailme

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

For the group's convenience (and because I couldn't find one myself), here's a Facebook event for the program.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Invited all the robotics members in our facebook group. I'll be sure not to miss this. Someone should set up a livestream or something.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

EWCP will be running a discussion after the showing using TalkShoe at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/98466.

Sorry for the threadjacking.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I noticed that as well. We are welcome to have them though :)

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Who told Soledad that St Louis was "Nationals"? But the show got the major points stated....leading the viewer to figure out that FIRST is the answer.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

This defijnitely was great for FIRST, showed FIRST in such a great light. Of course I couldnt help but nerdily see some inaccuracies :p Pennsylvania Regional, anyone? Gotta love the nerdy things that FIRST-ers notice and think about

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

If anyone missed it , it's being reaired at 11pm EDT, and again at 2am EDT:
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Agreed...i'm fairly sure we didn't make it out of the quarters. Also I like the irony of them showing us loosing to MOE and then at the end they show us jumping around when we beat them at Chesapeake! lol

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I thought it was great exposure for FIRST and a nice portrayal of these 3 teams.
You have to kind of accept the little inaccuracies with the greater good in mind. Reporters will get things wrong and flat out change some things to make it more digestible for a general audience. Similar things happened with Gearing Up. At first I was not pleased and even a little embarrassed by some of the changes in Gearing Up. But over time, you come to realize that the message holds up and the mission is achieved.
I think it will help all of us in the long run.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I already regret my last post. Getting hung up in the details is, for lack of a better word, stupid.

That jump was when you won the first match in the quarterfinals in Philadelphia. Notice that it was 1712 standing next to you. ;)

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I'm guessing they didn't mention that 842 automatically qualified for the Championship as a member of the FIRST Hall of Fame because it wouldn't be nearly dramatic enough (even though being finalist will not earn you a trip to St. Louis). A little tension helps hold the viewers interests.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I thought this documentary was well done, and will do FIRST a lot in terms of getting the word out. I was surprised how much it focused on STEM, and not on the skills that are actually required to compete in FRC. And then there is the whole "you only covered a small facet of FRC teams" argument, but I am willing to let that go because they were able to get their message across just fine. I just hope this will have the impact we all hope it can have.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

(The whole documentary was focused on the education students are receiving, not FIRST!)

As blunt that may be, FIRST was used as a tool to several points across, like engaging students into STEM actively. O'Brien did a better job than what I would've done if she was following my team (it didn't happen, just an example). FIRST will garner a bit of attention from this- but I wouldn't go as far as to say that this was an impact.

Being a Hoosier, I loved it when they implied 111 was from Indiana. (sarcasm)

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

My mistake, both experiences were extremely memorable. You guys were great alliance partners in Philly!

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Being on the inside shows how much they must edit and cut to make it understandable for the general public. The let us see the pre screening and it had more facts about education and how teachers ate not respected in the US like in India. They also left out how only two students in the whole state of Tennessee are studying to be a physics teachers. The doc was about education in the US and they used FIRST as the vehicle. The true test is to see how people who don't know about FIRST react to it. We are all inside because we notice all the flaws, we need to step back and see what effect it has, then judge it.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I thought Dean came off very well and I actually wanted to hear more from him.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Can't wait to head out to the Pennsylvania Regional next year. I might get lost!

The fact that the documentary had to be generalized so much can be considered an indictment on television viewers, but I'll chalk it up to me just being nitpicky.

Loved the documentary. Recorded it and talking to our officers about it this week.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I did like most of the special and it was really intriguing even with out the mentions of FIRST. I still cannot believe most of the facts that were stated thought. I believe it's ridiculous that states alter their standardized tests just to have a majority of the students pass. Instead of mostly focusing on our military industrial complex that our government is, we should take much more time to focus on our actual future as well.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Fredi,
I have great respect for your team and this program helped increase that respect. Please pass along my best wishes for the continued success of your students. I hope that education in Tennessee and New Jersey and all states benefits from this doc. It shows more than anything, that there are students out there that want to learn, to do better, to improve their own lives and those around them. Thankfully, FIRST is there to help them realize some of their goals.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Al,

I just wanted to hit on this quote. Even though I do believe that the country does not pay enough attention to our education, I know that the apathetic ideas that are in many of American students it a leading factor.

For some, their will and want to learn is just non-existent. The only thing that they care about is something that may unproductive or impractical for the future. It can happen but it is completely difficult to motivate millions of kids. FIRST will do it some day but American society needs to jump on board.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I think one of the big problems today is that there is not one big, public, "cool" engineering feat that the country as a whole is united behind and inspired by like the space program was. I don't think anyone could deny that the space program inspired an entire generation of students.

That is not to say that there aren't any important problems to be solved today, in fact I'd argue that the problems needing solved today are more important. The difficulty is that there isn't a unified front exposing the public to these problems and treating them as "cool". FIRST is making an effort to do this as are other programs, but there is still work to do.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Dear CNN,

We're not from indiana.

Love, Wildstang

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Rob,
I do not believe that. I believe that some students like those at Carl Hayden simply refuse to follow the trend and see that there is a reward for working hard. The others have a hard time deciding that they need to work and fight hard to get what they want. The CNN piece shows that there are students who wish to do better. After nearly twenty years volunteering with youth, I know that there are many students out there that want to do better. I certainly am not qualified to be a teacher nor am I a professional counselor, but I can show them that they can achieve things. I can make them believe that even though students around them will try to lead them astray, they are driving their own destiny. These students can't overcome the laws of physics but they can certainly make them work to their favor. Yes, we are lucky in this school district. We have a school board who sees opportunity when it is presented, we have school administration who encourages students, we have gifted teachers and school personnel who can recognize students who are seeking something more. More importantly, we have students who want more and are willing to work at it. Be one of those and not one of the students who just gets by. You are the driver, drive someplace good.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

If this was on facebook, I would "like" this haha.

At this point, any exposure on a national level for FIRST is good exposure. Sure there are some things that could be done better but the way CNN ran it made sure that everyone could understand that there is a problem and FIRST is a great way to begin to solve it.

Disclaimer about this next part: I do not believe any of this is right and I was honestly shocked when I heard it from my teacher

The problem with education was put in a great but twisted way by my economics teacher: the governments and authorities in the poorer areas of the country where gangs are secretly don't want them to advance in society because well... they come from the families of gangs. They're scared of these people being above them later on, so they bring them down (crabs in a barrel mentality?) by not offering higher level courses and extra-curriculars such as FIRST. THIS is one of the many things about our culture that needs to be changed.

Also, people have also said that a great challenge from America such as going to the moon will bring about our brightest minds and inspire them to be successful. Anyone thinking Mars? :D

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Maybe the problem with education is teachers teaching speculation and conspiracy theories instead of their actual subjects ;)

I thought it was a great program. They were really smart to follow a couple of students to get that personal emotional involvment to keep the viewed engaged. The minor errors (regional names, Wildstang's new address) aren't a big deal at all in the grand scheme of things.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I think that overall it was a great overview...

All the little details that were wrong do make me cringe, though. Not because of how it reflects on FIRST -- none of the people who notice the little wrong details are the target audience -- but because of what it shows us about journalism. This is *journalism*, where their job is to get the details right! (Now apply to every other news story the diligence in facts we see here, and see why I'm cringing.)

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

You're completely right, xaul. Besides, we've got no problem hanging out with Beatty and the technokats.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I think people will be very interested in the robotics event that the students attended/competed in but I think the impact will lie in seeing and acknowledging the failure and inconsistencies of our educational system. For example, Tennessee really needs to raise that bar and I'm glad to see that they are working on it. I thought it was great that they followed the 3 amazing students and their experiences in classes and with their teams. I was very surprised that the student from NJ was so far ahead of the student in AZ in the math classes. And that there are no AP classes for extraordinary students like Brian to take advantage of in Tennessee. Wow. And yet he still scored in the top 1% of the nation on his ACT.

By the way, I wrote down several quotes from the documentary and, as always, just about everything that 842 people say becomes a quote that I find an awesome use for.

Thank you all for the inspiration and the opportunities for non-FIRSTers to see just how amazing you are. You exude excellence (and commitment to it) as a value in your lives.

Jane

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I agree that he came off very well... But at the same time, we (in the FIRST community) see him so often - both talking at events and in various videos - talking about how great FIRST is and how great the students are... After 5 years of it, hearing the same message from the same person starts to get a little old (even though it is still a great message). I thought it was really great and really refreshing that this hour long piece could use the actual students and their stories to sell FIRST as a program, with only small segments from Dean. The focus here was on the students.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I too was surprised how little they used from Dean's interview. Of all the lines he has used over the years, I for one always like the "every student on every team can turn pro." Such a unique fact/selling point, but it didn't make the final cut.

While I'm always annoyed when journalists modify, twist, or omit facts to fit a story, I still think (as a whole) it was a great piece and a great message.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

While mentioning small errors by CNN, this article, in the post-viewing questions, misspells Dean Kamen's name twice (Kaman), though it is spelled correctly in the teaser near the top. And there are two question 4's.

Otherwise, I really liked the piece they did.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

As someone who appreciates the value of an edit button, I could recommend one for those typos.

:)

Jane

P.S. I've always thought it would be neat to have a little typo 'bot that follows around me with a typo dustpan, brush, and correct corrections. It'd probably go on strike pretty quick for being overworked and not sufficiently funded though. The run-on sentences would wear its batteries down real fast.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Thank you for pointing out that line from the promo showed at Champs. It IS a great line, and one that all of us should be using.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I agree! The past twelve years of stories about FIRST and our team have been an eye opener for me. It does not seem to matter whether it is a newspaper, TV, magazine, online article, or radio.

If the reporter gets the story 80% correct, I am THRILLED!

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I thought all 3 of the students featured did an amazing job on camera. They should be very proud of how they represented themselves, their teams and FRC.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Despite the inconsistencies (Note to all readers: Virtually ALL media stories are rife with these kinds of errors. Remember that as you read the news...) it was a well-made program.

And, I got to see Billfred on TV!

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I understand the show will be airing again on Sat at 8PM Eastern.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

As an educator, I really appreciated the information supporting the needs of our nation's students. It's nice to see that no matter where they come from, our youth really want to do big things. i hope they have those opportunities after they leave our schools.

Thanks to CNN, FIRST, and the participating teams for putting this together!

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Sometimes facing difficult realities and cultural roadblocks and still allowing themselves to dream big and set goals to work towards and achieve.

Jane

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Sorry to play the devil's advocate -
I would have to amend your observation to read:
It's nice to see that no matter where they come from, you can find some youth who really want to do big things.

That is what the CNN production team has done. They found three examples of youths with objectives. They showed us selected aspects of those kids' objectives and current environments which support CNN's basic premise that something is lacking in the current education method. During the exposition, the narrator offered us statements about the topic. FIRST was shown to be a part of the process by which these youths were attempting to reach their objectives.

The viewing public is quite familiar with the "sky is falling" style of advocacy for a multitude of societal and global aliments. A parade of talking heads may not be an effective way to present information about those ailments these days. One way to increase acceptance and make the exposition more interesting is dispersing those testimonials amidst a story or stories related to the situation. Those of us who agree that the current education system lacks sufficient ability to provide our youth with adequate resources, can hope that this program has illustrated the situation to others capable of helping.

I see the problem as having at least two aspects. First, the absence of opportunity for students to get formal training in STEM skills. Second, the absence of desire among those same students to have any training at all in STEM skills. I also see FIRST as being a significant factor in dealing with the second case. It is my hope that solutions to the second case produce enough demand among the student population that the first case is also solved.

I expect to use this CNN documentary as a way to show some students that making a comfortable life will require significant and worthwhile effort. I congratulate the three examples that CNN found for their efforts so far. I thank CNN for presenting their stories in such an interesting manner, how ever incomplete and imprecise as they may be.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I thought this was a really good piece overall, showing both the problem and what is used to be part of the solutions.

There were some inaccuracies and things that some of us involved in FRC may cringe at (I know my US geography isn't great, but who knew I moved to Chicago, IN?), but the show wasn't called 'FIRST: Go you good thing!', or 'FIRST: Everybody else is doing it, why aren't you?'. That show, with either of those two (poor) working titles will be shown in August. :)

But as an Aussie who has recently moved to the US with a young daughter, it was a show where you hoped the inaccuracies were really in the statistics on the US education system. Unfortunately they are probably closer to the truth than not.

I applaud this show for not only showing what most already know about the US education system, but for bringing an awareness to the greater population of one of many programs that can be used to help solve this problem. We need to stop looking for the small wrong details about FIRST, like a bunch of Star Wars fans showing where Chewbacca hits his head on the door. I know I for one will be referring others to watch this to show exactly why I volunteer my time to the FIRST programs, and any other similar programs, in order to help young people find a reason for becoming educated and finding their path in life.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

The special was great and I was pleasantly surprised at the hard approach CNN took at some failings in our education system.

Interesting story that did not make it into the show:

We were alliance partners with 842 during the eliminations on Newton. There was a red card in one of our quarterfinal matches that we questioned. Since the CNN crew was there, they were interested in putting this "controversy" into the special. Our team was asked about reporting it. Our drive coach said, "No, that is not what this is about."

THAT was a good call!

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

They were also present for what happened to 1403's alliance in the semi finals of the Chesapeake Regional but it didn't make the cut. It would have been interesting to see what 1403 and their partners were going through while the whole thing was going down.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I really liked the special (although I did feel it could of use more material in it), but overall it was the motivator I needed to show the students of FRC 3320 to keep them marching on.

Maria's story really struck a cord with one of our girls; she has a very similar story cause her dad doesn't believe she'll graduate high school and will end up like her cousins. (She almost quit robotics over it). But now she's more committed to be something great for her family and herself. She told her mom awhile ago her dreams of being a biomedical engineer and I'm excited that their relationship is a lot closer over it now. :)

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Now that I have had a chance to think it over, what we perceive as a nice piece about FIRST and our students was more a report on the failing education system. CNN showed that bright, hard working students are not currently getting what they or the the US needs. CNN demonstrated the need to change by demonstrating that students that can compete in a difficult challenge like FIRST Robotics need something different, something more. The show might instill in some students a desire to join FRC teams as a result, but really leaves them wanting more from their local school boards. The great news is that FIRST students now have some role models to look up to. They can see that students from wide and varied backgrounds can achieve scholastic success and attend college and universities. I wish them all the best in the future.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Despite the great stories and FIRST publicity, in my opinion this was a very sobering and depressing documentary. Some points that I walked away with:

1. Parenting plays a primary role in education (no surprise there)
2. Insufficient inspiration and motivation for learning as a whole
3. Vast disparity between regional means and standards
4. Inadequate teaching of basic economics, planning and societal value
5. FIRST may be a step in the right direction but it is an awfully small step

Reflecting on these... I think it is probably unrealistic to expect that the schools can systemically fix parenting issues. Schools probably need to spend more time educating students on the role of education within our society and in our personal living standards and this should then form a basis of motivation in the absence of parental influence. If we can't sell the majority of students on the fact that education leads to a better life, then I see us always being in a downward spiral as one generation passes their values to the next. I doubt there are many students that think testing is fun. An educational system based around high stakes testing doesn't seem to me to be a model for inspiration to learn. Technology if used properly can help address the disparity issues but I've rarely seen it used properly and there are too many entrenched stakeholders in the current process. Ugh.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Schools can fix parenting issues. Keep in mind, they're teaching the next parents right now.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I'd love to know how to do this systematically. Both of my parents were teachers so I have had a pretty direct perspective on what the school can and can't fix. What I observed was that for my parents to "fix" parenting issues they pretty much had to become the student's parent by proxy. Since my parent's house was always open to strangers, we "adopted' plenty of students whose lives were clearly changed. I think that this had little to do with our school (other than providing the mechanism for them to meet my parents) and a lot to do with my parents. And as successful as they were at radically changing student's lives, they were only able to reach a small percentage of students. More often than not, students would under perform, fail, and ultimately drop out only to become parents of the next generation and then repeat the cycle. Maybe I'm overly pessimistic but it is happening all across the country in large numbers.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I meant that the teachers can work to make sure the next generation of parents aren't as bad, by teaching... Probably a little optimistic.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Unfortunatly they never pointed out that there were teams all over the worlds from canada, isreal, mexico , austrilia, ect.....

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Did anyone make use of the Parent And Educator Guide provided? Further insight and questions were provided that help understand the purpose of the Special.

The focus wasn't on FIRST. The focus was on the failing education system and its inconsistencies in the United States. You have to understand that to understand the program. Don't let your FIRST blinders prevent you from thinking.

Jane

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

It seemed to me that FIRST promoted it to us (people in FIRST) as being more centered around FIRST. I feel like FIRST has been over promising things to FIRSTers more lately.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Just an FYI - AP Classes aren't necessary for doing well on an ACT. I just pseudo-randomly came across my high school transcript yesterday, and it is proof that one isn't a pre-req for the other.

Additiionally, I suspect that AP classes are a lousy way to invest the talents of students who can do well in ACT style testing.

With that said, a recommendation for Tennessee or any other state educational system to enter (or stay in) a race to the top sounds like a good thing. No argument there.

Blake

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

What do you mean by this? Chances are if you are clever enough to get a 32, just getting through Algebra II by senior year will be pretty darn boring. You might as well get college credit if you can handle the advanced material. I understand that for some smaller schools it isn't financially viable to offer classes that only 2 students can take, but other than that I think its a no-brainer. Thanks to Maine's magnet school, I took enough AP classes to get finish my engineering degree in 3 years. And even one or two AP classes means one or two more interesting classes you can take.

Vex, FRC, TSA, PLTW, etc. are great, but AP credits make a real difference in your bottom line (and why take a class again if you already learned the material?).

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I got a 35 on my ACT and didn't take a single AP class. They really have nothing to do with each other at all.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

My answer to your question is at the end of this. Indulge me as I supply some background info first.

I pulled in a 36 ACT math score and a composite 31 (My English gene was on vacation that day).

I learned calculus from a teacher (chemistry major) who decided he could stay a week ahead of us if we wanted him to "teach" it to us. I learned college level chemistry and about that much physics from the math major our local school had teaching chem/physics.

These are just anecdotes about my one situation that alone don't say much about the general problems or successes of USA schools; but they explain some of my experiences.

I got a great HS education without all of the bull that so often accompanies the AP and similar programs. No helicopter parents harassing the school system, no stress of attempting to earn a special diploma, no mountains of homework crowding out other important parts of my youth, etc.; instead we were just semi-rural public school classmates (5-10% of a class of 200) who enjoyed challenges, had parents wise enough to let us and those around us do our jobs, and had educators who were willing to let us chew through as much material as we could digest.

In particular, our parents knew we were getting a decent education, not because they went to school board meetings and yelled at someone once a year, or because they insisted the faculty report to them frequently or, ... but instead because they literally knew the faculty and administration, and the school faculty knew us, the students.

But, back to my earlier statement about AP classes.

First let me amend my statement to this (new words are blue): "Additionally, I suspect that AP classes are a lousy way to invest the talents of students who can do really, really well in ACT style testing."

Getting college credit through AP classes is great. If you can't scoot off to a community college or use the internet to take college classes during your high school years, taking an AP class to get some basic classes or electives out of the way (to make room for more advanced study of those topics) is a good thing; but I believe that benefit usually comes at a stiff price.

So, let's postulate that Jane Doe is in the top 1% of students in Tennessee and she is highly motivated to soak up as much knowledge as she can. My opinion is that we waste much of her time and talent by putting her on the AP treadmill. She needs something better. Something with more freedom to cultivate her interests, and with faster exposure to the deeper subjects that make the freshman-level college classes useful. She needs mentoring. She needs to be guided through the modern equivalent of the ancient library of Alexandria. And, she needs to be accompanied by as many of her classmates as are willing to go with her.

She and many of her classmates don't necessarily need to learn to run an AP race. Instead, if they care to take a different path, they need to be given a chance to learn the joy of simply running.

Later on, when the time is right, they can earn (or "test out of") those freshman-level credits. If they really are good at what they like to do, that part will be easy.

Not taking AP classes, doesn't mean not getting an education.

Blake

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I wonder what this has to do with anything? :cool:

I got 32 on the ACT, I finished all the math and science classes my high school had to offer my junior year. I took typing, auto mechanics, and some independent study classes (where I did nothing) my senior year. I should have taken welding and machine shop, since we had a full vo tech program back in the late 70s.

Education is a tough business, it seems to be getting tougher all the time. I sure don't have the magic answer. Getting students into stuff like robotics does seem to help, but it only gets a small small percentage.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I teach robotics, American Sign Language and, get this: AP Physics B.

While not perfect, the AP B curriculum is a pretty good non-calc physics curriculum, and the test is well done. Students who prepare themselves well for AP tests generally prepare themselves well for college -- not super-genius skipping grades well, but pretty well, methinks.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I can definitely see what would make you think that, but if you read FIRST's official announcement...
It really doesn't say that the program was ABOUT FIRST. It just says it follows 3 kids on FIRST teams as they navigate the season, and how we, as a part of the FIRST program can help.

I think we all heard what we wanted... that FIRST was finally getting its own 1 hour promo special... I know I thought that too, until I read & reread the articles previewing it on CNN's website.

But overall, I thought it did a decent job of capturing the build season, and I was happy that so many of my friends & family watched it. If you had a touch of background, it really gave more insight into "a buildseason in the life of a FIRSTer"... My grandmother and her brother (my great uncle I guess?!), and many of my friends and other family watched it and were thrilled to get a better understanding of the FIRST program, even if it was a little buried under the education system theme.

Overall, it is a little depressing how far our country is falling behind in world education. One of our mentors moved from China at a young age, but spoke at our pre-ship event about how intensely education is expected and enforced over there. Here in America, students have choices, there you are EXPECTED to get a good education and to work insanely hard for it, or you will never get a job or go to college (I'm paraphrasing from what I remember). Here in America, most kids go to school because that is just what you do... sure some have the drive to succeed, or some push/reach for more, but if we are going to get ahead, we need a much higher percentage of kids who WANT more education & WANT to do better.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Did any one get a good quality recording of this program? I am working on starting an FRC team in the area and having a copy of this program would be valuable to me. CNN does allow recording of their programs for educational purposes so you wouldn't be violating any copyright laws.

It appears the program is airing again tomorrow, I don't have cable (sorry I am cheap) so if some one would record it for me and could send me a DVD I would be very grateful. I would be willing to cover the cost of the DVD and shipping and would provide a t-shirt from the new team once we are formed and shirts are printed.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

The whole show is on our YouTube channel in six parts.

Heres the playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PL203C7369FC4D423D

Hope this helps.

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Thanks a ton for that link!

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

Thank you so much for this playlist. I'll be posting it on our twitter and informing our members via our facebook group.

I really wanted to see this :P

Re: CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15
 

I would like to relate two anecdotes relating to the effectiveness of this program.

I did like most of us in FIRST and spread the news about this program. A co-worker watched it with his family. His 8yo daughter saw the robots, thought they were cool and asked her dad if she could build one like the girl on the Arizona team. We are now mentoring their FLL team.

Next story, I received an email from our regional director forwarding an email from a mother who wanted to get her son involved with a team. Joaquin will be on our team during the summer then we plan to start a team at his school in the fall. I asked the mother today how she learned about FIRST. She saw the special on CNN.

Just two stories that show that the CNN special has been able to reach beyond the echo chamber of us who already know about FIRST and affect people in a way that brings them to FIRST looking for the same things they saw in the special.

Thank you to CNN and Soledad O'Brien for putting this together.