[DougHogg]

I am also just getting going with a team over the summer. We had some glitches with computers not talking to the Lego Robot, so I would recommend that you get your computers set up and working ahead of time. For example, we needed a patch for Robolab to work with Windows XP so we could download our programs. (We have some team members who have Macintosh computers which only work with Robolab, so we have standardized on Robolab vs RIS. Question: What happens if we download a Robolab program into slot 1 and then download an RIS program into slot 2? Will that work or would we have to download different firmware first?)

Also recently we have found that Windows XP uninstalls the USB driver if we unplug the USB infrared tower. Then it asks for the installer CD the next time we go to use it. Anyone have a way to get Windows XP to leave the USB driver for the tower installed?

As SarahB mentioned above, the Minnesota First Lego League has great resources at their web site at http://www.hightechkids.org/fll/.. If you dig down a bit, you will find the following page which is a gold mine for data on programming and building Lego robots:
http://www.hightechkids.org/fll/coac...smaterial.htm/

Also there is a manual and other good references for Robolab and Lego Robot Building at
http://www.ceeo.tufts.edu/robolabatc...on/default.asp

You will save some time if you learn to program in your chosen language (Robolab or RIS) before you start working with the students. We also found that it helps to have more than one RCX Brick if possible. (Right now we have 2 but want another one.)

My question for experienced team leaders is, how did you divide up the students into teams? In FIRST we have programming, electrical, mechanical, animators, web site builders, etc. Does anyone have a list or ideas for corresponding categories for FIRST Lego League? Any other ideas on the sequence of events at meetings, activities, etc. Also what kind of jobs have you found for parents to do to help out?