Dear Mr. L.D. Davidson,
You recently wrote an article about "Letting business shape K-12 curriculum is terrible idea”. I suggest you attend the upcoming kick-off of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) event on Jan. 5, 2013. It is an amazing event. At that event you will see that the sponsors are very well respected and trained Technical Experts at MIT and other well know Universities. Also these competitions are supported by past and current Presidents.
You will see the excitement and enthusiasm this event generates in the young adult students.
My experience is that this challenge is different and the competition provides a real life experience for the students to apply what they have learned. Every year the challenge requires the Robotics Team to build a robot in 6 weeks with a limited amount of funding, and the team has limited skill set. So, doesn't this sound like a real life experience? The Mentors works along with these Students are a trained Engineer dedicating their time to the school for free all across this nation. They not only pass on the critical thinking skills, teaching students how to read and evaluate specification, game rules, and technical drawings but they also learn how to calculate gear ratios, and robot speed. These Students learn Electricity, Computer-Aided Design, Machining and Metal Work, and Programming. Moreover, these students are not athletes but they learn how to operate in a team Environment. They also learn how to operate in a multi-team environment called an alliance.
Most importantly, individuals, Mentors and Teachers are taught to practice Gracious Professionalism. Teams compete like crazy but they do not in any way degrade a team member, another team or an adult. Booing at a competition is not allowed. When a Robot breaks a competing team helps the other team fix their Robot with parts, labor, or expertise.
Now does this sound like a setting where kids are goofing off and not learning?
Most of the Teams I have dealt with hold Robotics Team Meeting and build times after school have ended. Our school requires grade checks on all students. If we find out a student is not maintaining his or her grades we do not allow them to attend the Team Meeting. In some cases we provide a tutor.
Sincerely Yours,
Norman Collier
FIRST Team Mentor
San Jose, CA
Normcollier@comcast.net