[jman4747]

Originally Posted by indieFan

1. If you're primary teaching tool is at that time, then you're not utilizing the rest of your year well.

2. If you need to "win" because of sponsor donations, you need to reset in the sponsor's minds what this program is about.

3. Engineers have drop dead dates. When they don't meet those dates, there are stiff penalties, typically financial in nature. The lesson of a drop dead date seems to be getting lost on people these days.

1. I am... I said "the most" not "the only". The most motivation to learn what can be at times less exciting material and skills comes during the excitement of build season. Competitions also provide a quick pay off and referendum of the work you did. Gratification for what you did right and the resultant consequences of your mistakes. It is the most effective learning environment IMHO.

2. By "Sponsor engagement" I mean that I have the most material and financial resources available to me via sponsors than any other time of the year. None of our sponsors care much about how well we do at competitions.

3. A competition is just a better drop dead date to me. The consequences are more tangible. It's also not like I can't set my own deadlines for my students anyway.