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ok so fine, because the words learning and teaching arent in the letters of FIRST, that means that its not supposed to be involved in the first experience...thats a boatload of xxxx. If watching people machine is all u think is involved in inspiration, then go home and watch the learning channel or something. but i'd have to agree with martin, "LEARNING AND SOLVING PROBLEMS WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO WHAT FIRST IS ABOUT, BEING INSPIRED." Also, having the students build and learn about robotics without the engineers is just better for the students overall, so fine it isnt required in FIRST that the students build the robots, but think about it, make it the best for the students (what this competition is focused on) and have and/or make the students build and design the robot. Take the FIRST experience at your school to another level, even if that means sacrificing some fuctionality in the robot, it will just be better for the students.
Also i'd have to agree with l1jmx, "And anyone that tries to respond to the issue by saying 'this competition is about inspiration and not about winning' is missing the point completely..." What this issue is about is the idea of this being a competition, if this was not a competition, all would be well, but because we're bringing up the word 'fair' and 'competition', having robots built by only engineers and robots built only by students competing against eachother just doesn't make sense. Yes, yes, i know that Kamen doesn't want the whole winning vs. losing thing to be there, its there anyway because of the fact that its a competition. And it just isnt fair having kids who learn about robotics during the FIRST competition competing against people who can build a robot with their eyes closed. I dunno, maybe it's just me.
So maybe instead of us discussing what FIRST is, maybe we should be discussing what FIRST SHOULD be. Now we all know that there are 100% student teams and that students can do it, so lets all bring it to the next level maybe and make this competition a student only competition. Then students would be getting inspired and learning at the same time (oh my gosh! thats impossible!), and they can be making something that they can call their own, something the students can be proud of etc. this list could go on forever.
So ya, maybe im missing the point myself, but thats what im thinking.
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Friends don't let friends draw.
Last edited by Mike Martus : 24-02-2002 at 19:22.
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