|
Maybe you only partially "get it"
I'm an engineer on team 47, I will at least try and attempt to respond to the questions at hand.
1) Is it fair that small student built robots compete with "big money, engineer designed and/or built robots"?
2) Someone (Matt) wanted to know how or what our philosophy or approach to FIRST was?
The answer to #1) the question wasn't really clarified till later in the thread when Turbo stated "I just have a hard time with looking at other robots that it is totally obvious that the students did not build it and I have to go to the competition and get my butt whooped by this killer robot, it just kind of destroys our hopes before we even get there."
My response is - see Lori's post in this thread - she get's it - she worked for Dean and was obviously listening. But, let me add this - the FIRST experience CANNOT be, no - SHOULD NOT BE - judged as FAIR or UNFAIR, based on the financial commitment of a company, but more importantly, the level of dedication that the people have contributed to the program. Measure it in hours of the amount of time interfacing with the students, explaining, teaching, and cooperatively developing the design and the strategy that they will utilize, or in developing and producing the Chairman's award, Animation, or in developing the Competitive Assessment, or in Marketing their team, or in Fund raising - Doesn't matter to me HOW you want to slice it - MONEY isn't what differentiates a Great Team, Great Time, and Great FIRST experience. I'm sorry if you feel bad about "getting whooped by a killer robot that the students didn't build" BUT, that is NOT a problem that FIRST has created - it's something that is a by-product of living in an "unfair world" - It's also very clear that FIRST doesn't exist to promote "student designed, built, and completely funded robotic programs. But, on the other hand, FIRST is smart enough to know that, if that's the only way to get a foot in the door, or to inspire a single student - it still could be an awesome experience. So. let's just end the "Engineer built or bought vs Student only built" arguement as it is meaningless in FIRST's eyes - although I'm sure it makes you feel better to get that off your chest. By the way, if success is measured using inspiration aas the metric - I would think that every school could rejoice in knowing that this program helped shape the direction of many of the students that were lucky enough to enjoy the FIRST experience - I can vouch for many, many students that I have had the pleasure of mentoring at PCHS.
As to the 2nd question - (Matt) Our program is set up such that the FIRST team members, do take a half semester of FIRST Robotics - they have a class during the day and lesson plans are developed relative to the FIRST robotics experience. Mr. Martus and the rest of the Education Coaches do a fantastic job. This program is a year round program, with alot of hard work and committment needed and provided by many Engineers and Teachers. I'm very proud of what we have accomplished in the past 7 years - I know it has made a difference - and that's all that matters.
I am not sure how to deal with the inequities that are inherently part of any event of this magnitude - I suppose 3 classes or groups may allow some folks to "feel good" about competing with an equitable opponent - but, it seems like alot more work, and more room for teams to exploit others. I must admit I just don't know what the solution is - I liken it to the Westminister Dog Show - so many classes and groups of dogs competing to determine the champion of the breed, then all the champions get together to determine the BEST in SHOW. Doesn't matter what the size, shape, weight, group, or class - or how much the dog costs, how much it was trained - one of those dogs emerge as champion (the rest of the dogs are not envious, but maybe their human trainers, owners, fans, etc. might be). My advice is this - Nothing can make the FIRST experience FAIR, and that is NOT what should be the focus - instead, try as hard as possible to "Celebrate the things that are relavent" - Your team accepted a challenge (by the way, winning matches and being crowned champion wasn't that challenge) - you (hopefully) successfully designed and built a robot that meets all the technical requirements including size and weight, and also it may even function the way it was intended to (yeah). Along the way, I hope you were succussful in mentoring the students and helping them recognize the benefits and advantages associated with the vast number of opportunities in the fields of Science and Technology. If you were even remotely successful (one student), you have succeeded.
Good luck to all this season - Stay focused on the students, not the outcome of the game.
Last edited by meaubry : 19-02-2002 at 22:00.
|