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Unread 16-11-2011, 10:17
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Re: Reference Material- BSA Robotics Merit Badge Book

Quote:
Originally Posted by dag0620 View Post
I'll second the fact that it is a great reference, as are most BSA Merit Badge Books.

While on the topic, has anyone out there completed or worked with someone who has completed the badge based on FRC work.

The reason I ask is National is pushing scouts and MB Counselors to go the route of Lego Mindstorms, and I'm interested to see how the requirements are getting applied with FRC.
By "National" do you mean FIRST HQ? If so, that is no surprise.

If a troop or student without any existing connection to STEM robotics competitions asks FIRST HQ, they will probably be encouraged to use LEGO. The FLL and FTC programs are evidence of FIRST's close relationship with the LEGO company's products; and I believe that using LEGO equipment is FIRST's default response to middle school students, or students that want to dip their toe into STEM Robotics.

If the Scouts are middle school or high school students, other programs like the RECF's VRC (or BotBall, or BEST, or ...) offer alternatives that introduce them to different opportunities (like the fun of head-to-head competition without the huge expense of an FRC team). There is no shortage of good programs (However, there are shortages of instances of participants in many areas)

Looking at the conversation from the opposite angle the BSA badge requirements don't care which equipment gets used. Troops should be encouraged to use whatever equipment meets their needs and goals.

If they want to just earn the badge, they can do that with equipment scavenged out of broken toys and appliances if they want.

If they want to think about starting a STEM competition team along with earning the badge, they have several options. They should seek advice that tells them about all those options, and that helps them choose an appropriate option. One size does not fit all.

I suspect it will be pretty rare for a troop to begin an involvement in STEM robotics by forming an FRC team (that is a rather expensive and complex project); but I hope that the opposite is true for scouts who are already connected to, or near, an FRC (or VRC, or ...) team. They should find it easy to tap into everything they need to earn the badge.

Blake
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Last edited by gblake : 16-11-2011 at 12:59.