[Bob Steele]

We had an interesting discussion about this at our the executive mentor group last night. We basically came to the conclusion that this is a decision best left up to the student and his family.

Being an AP teacher myself AND the coach of the team... I can see a variety of issues here. I understand that college finals can be an issue but in the end, as much as I enjoy having college mentors around, I am reminded that this is a high school program and that is what this dilemma should be focused on.

College finals and other activities have always been an issue with FIRST in regionals and in finals.

For the high school student it is easy for me to cop out and say
"If you don't know it by now you won't learn it in the last 2-3 days"
I am not sure that for some finals that this is a correct statement.

I teach both AP Physics and AP Environmental Science and these tests are dominated by ideas and the application of them... more so in physics and APES....

For classes that have much to be memorized... for instance AP History...
I can see this being an issue... a last minute cram session might add a few points.... I am not really sure about this... although in the scheme of everything a late night cram session is ONLY good for the test... it will never really add to your learning...

Learning takes time... and has to be nurtured over weeks and weeks of lecture, projects, labs, papers, study and reading....
This is what I am really after... as a teacher...

So the idea that the last few days are critical for the test really doesn't hold much water for me... although some study sessions are certainly valuable for the test.

So I see the real issue here... the exhaustion that always comes with the Championships.... I do think that this is really just an issue for tests taken on the first day.... or perhaps the first two days.... depending on when you get back...

I believe that on our team I will be discussing this issue with students and parents....

My own opinion is that perhaps a student could go to the Championships and leave on Saturday night and then be rested enough to be able to do well on a Monday test with a full Sunday to rest...

Another option might be to go for just Wed-Friday and take an early flight back home...

Being an AP Environmental Science teacher... I do suggest something else..a partial solution...
I will volunteer to lead a study session for the APES test for anyone that wants to attend...AT the championships.... it might be fun.... it could certainly be interesting....

Maybe we could find an AP Chem teacher and an AP Psychology teacher to do something similar....
If we could perhaps find a room at the championships to do this... I think it might, at least. be a partial solution to all those seniors out their that have been waiting to go to Championships their entire FIRST career....

Anyone interested in this?
I am thinking about 90 minutes somewhere.... student discussions... study groups.... lecture.... whatever we want....

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