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Originally Posted by Pat Roche
The FIRST is I agree more seminars would be good. It doesn't necessarily need to be at the Championships either. Many people don't go to the Championships so at the regional level would be really good.
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I would suggest that you create a more robust seminar program - targeted more at kids - that is not "for pay" above and beyond the entry fee, though you could limit the number attending from each team.
Have the seminars be put on BY KIDS not by mentors, and have it concentrate on the various aspects of engineering a robot. Give the kids a chance to shine and show their engineering brilliance, while teaching others how they succeeded - without it having to go on in the pit.
While there is a lot to do in the pits and for the drive team, many schools bring ALL their kids, and - beyond scouting and fetch and carry - it would be great if each FIRST event featured something for the kids to learn or do who are NOT part of the direct pitcrew/drive team. We found things, but having some of the kids present and/or attend conferences on the topics mentioned above might well have been a great experience for them.
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a few points on these posts
the seminars are recorded and available later for viewing / listening. that is done to help those who cannot attend atlanta (that is what most of the Rolls-Royce sponsorship covers).
FIRST pays extra to the dome for the space, equipment, etc. for the conferences. Sponsorships hep, but the small fee charged to students and teams helps offset the expenses.
FIRST makes a request for presenters to submit seminar topics early in the season. anyone can submit an idea. Maybe a student / mentor combination? -
And, I will send an email to the conference coordinator and see if there is a way to create an option for students / teams to 'request' specific topics and then FIRST could recruit to find people to present those ideas. I will also ask aout including the 'Student' / 'mentor' focus in the descriptions.