CNN Special Featuring FIRST, Sunday 5/15

[JB]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

I already regret my last post. Getting hung up in the details is, for lack of a better word, stupid.



That jump was when you won the first match in the quarterfinals in Philadelphia. Notice that it was 1712 standing next to you.

My mistake, both experiences were extremely memorable. You guys were great alliance partners in Philly!

[akoscielski3]

Unfortunatly they never pointed out that there were teams all over the worlds from canada, isreal, mexico , austrilia, ect.....

[JaneYoung]

Did anyone make use of the Parent And Educator Guide provided? Further insight and questions were provided that help understand the purpose of the Special.

The focus wasn't on FIRST. The focus was on the failing education system and its inconsistencies in the United States. You have to understand that to understand the program. Don't let your FIRST blinders prevent you from thinking.

Jane

[Alex_Miller]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

The focus wasn't on FIRST. The focus was on the failing education system and its inconsistencies in the United States. You have to understand that to understand the program. Don't let your FIRST blinders prevent you from thinking.

It seemed to me that FIRST promoted it to us (people in FIRST) as being more centered around FIRST. I feel like FIRST has been over promising things to FIRSTers more lately.

[Kims Robot]

Originally Posted by Alex_Miller_2175

It seemed to me that FIRST promoted it to us (people in FIRST) as being more centered around FIRST. I feel like FIRST has been over promising things to FIRSTers more lately.

I can definitely see what would make you think that, but if you read FIRST's official announcement...

I am pleased to announce the airing of a TV special scheduled for this coming weekend on CNN entitled ‘Education in America: Don’t Fail Me,’ hosted by Soledad O’Brien, which prominently features three FIRST ® Robotics Competition (FRC®) teams as they navigate the 2011 FIRST season. I have seen a preview of this special and it is very thought provoking about the future of education in this country and how you, as a part of FIRST, can help for the better.

It really doesn't say that the program was ABOUT FIRST. It just says it follows 3 kids on FIRST teams as they navigate the season, and how we, as a part of the FIRST program can help.

I think we all heard what we wanted... that FIRST was finally getting its own 1 hour promo special... I know I thought that too, until I read & reread the articles previewing it on CNN's website.

But overall, I thought it did a decent job of capturing the build season, and I was happy that so many of my friends & family watched it. If you had a touch of background, it really gave more insight into "a buildseason in the life of a FIRSTer"... My grandmother and her brother (my great uncle I guess?!), and many of my friends and other family watched it and were thrilled to get a better understanding of the FIRST program, even if it was a little buried under the education system theme.

Overall, it is a little depressing how far our country is falling behind in world education. One of our mentors moved from China at a young age, but spoke at our pre-ship event about how intensely education is expected and enforced over there. Here in America, students have choices, there you are EXPECTED to get a good education and to work insanely hard for it, or you will never get a job or go to college (I'm paraphrasing from what I remember). Here in America, most kids go to school because that is just what you do... sure some have the drive to succeed, or some push/reach for more, but if we are going to get ahead, we need a much higher percentage of kids who WANT more education & WANT to do better.

[JamesBrown]

Did any one get a good quality recording of this program? I am working on starting an FRC team in the area and having a copy of this program would be valuable to me. CNN does allow recording of their programs for educational purposes so you wouldn't be violating any copyright laws.

It appears the program is airing again tomorrow, I don't have cable (sorry I am cheap) so if some one would record it for me and could send me a DVD I would be very grateful. I would be willing to cover the cost of the DVD and shipping and would provide a t-shirt from the new team once we are formed and shirts are printed.

[plasma_54]

The whole show is on our YouTube channel in six parts.

Heres the playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PL203C7369FC4D423D

Hope this helps.

[Andrew Zeller]

Thanks a ton for that link!

[Kusha]

Originally Posted by plasma_54

The whole show is on our YouTube channel in six parts.

Heres the playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PL203C7369FC4D423D

Hope this helps.

Thank you so much for this playlist. I'll be posting it on our twitter and informing our members via our facebook group.

I really wanted to see this

[rsisk]

I would like to relate two anecdotes relating to the effectiveness of this program.

I did like most of us in FIRST and spread the news about this program. A co-worker watched it with his family. His 8yo daughter saw the robots, thought they were cool and asked her dad if she could build one like the girl on the Arizona team. We are now mentoring their FLL team.

Next story, I received an email from our regional director forwarding an email from a mother who wanted to get her son involved with a team. Joaquin will be on our team during the summer then we plan to start a team at his school in the fall. I asked the mother today how she learned about FIRST. She saw the special on CNN.

Just two stories that show that the CNN special has been able to reach beyond the echo chamber of us who already know about FIRST and affect people in a way that brings them to FIRST looking for the same things they saw in the special.

Thank you to CNN and Soledad O'Brien for putting this together.