Is Bag and Tag Necessary?

Originally Posted by DMike

We don't set our goal as victory at all cost. We know from the start to win you need to have a durable machine that does it all. 10, 12 weeks won't make us into that team right now. We set goals and try to fulfill them as close to 100% as possible. This year our goals were a 10 point hang an accurate shooter with targeting and speed control and a direct drive Mecanum chassis all assembled into a durable, dependable package. We have achieved this at 90% and are happy with the results. There are certainly kids in the group that don't understand gyro programming, encoders and accelerometers. G-Code , solidworks or manual machining, powder coating, anodizing or waterjet cutting, material selection and fabrication, welding , forming , etc. etc. etc. My goal as the only manufacturing mentor on our team is to share knowledge from real life experience. This is like teaching calc II in 6 weeks and giving the kids one test. All in all it's still great fun and fulfilling to most involved, however great things can be made better.

Teaching students should take place in the offseason. Applying the skills learned is what the real season is for. Like you said, trying to teach Calculus in 6 weeks and then giving students a test on it will work out terribly. However teaching them Calculus in an expanded and focused time period and then testing them for 6 weeks works.