Quote:
Originally Posted by jcarr
I noticed that FTC is targeting middle school which is interesting. We had two middle school FLL graduates on our rookie FTC team and the team reached the World Championship, so they can handle the competition (although the kids were an accomplished FLL team that won a state championship). However, going younger doesn't quite mesh with the rule change introducing welding and machining parts into the FTC game.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tetraman
I have a lot of comments on this plan.
b) "..lower-cost competition structure.." Good news for any team. The cheaper the program is to be part of, the more teams you can maintain over time, specifically new teams. But HOW is the question. What is it that will help teams with the cost of being in FIRST?
d) I see a great jump in projected teams from 2015 to 2016, I wonder why that is? They also have a large projected jump in funding in 2016 as well. Is there something happening in 4 years we don't know about, or are they projecting that 2016 is the "year" that their plans are fully implemented?
|
I talked to someone who works with VirginiaFIRST back in May and told me that the state was looking to jump on putting FTC in middle schools. I don't know if that will result in a Jr FTC and an FTC, but the JrFLL/FLL kids will be using the same programming. Maybe they will be far limited to make it more like a programmable erector set and FTC gets its mini-machining for high schools on a budget.
I believe points b) and d) are connected specifically with the district system. Maybe we will see FIRST start a mandated roll out of the district structure across the continental US and possibly roll out a new pricing structure with it.
Regardless, the district model allows for more local exposure which can equate to more teams in an area.
Registering an FRC team, affording an FRC team, and being able to commit to it are things FIRST never seems to measure together. I think to be competitive a rookie team should look to operate under at least double their registration fee. Even a team that runs $25-30k will be pinching pennies if they are going to multiple events.
As it stands, the program has no reason to shrink in any of its divisions. The problem they are hopefully noticing is making sure FIRST is built more like a house and less like a house of cards going into a hopeful period of economic growth and education reinvestment in the country.
This is a great resource teams can use to use as a supplement for sponsor presentations. A fiscally responsible and efficient organization targeting growth of students of all ages is something any business would want to be a part of. A corporation being a major partner in that would be even better. When/if the lid blows off the secret jar of FIRST jelly, companies would want their name on it to say "we were there".