Mentor/Student Involvement Philosophies

[MrJohnston]

This is such a tough subject because there isn't really any "right" answer... It is very true that each team has to have its own way of operating due to the personalities, capabilities, needs, etc. of its own students and mentors.... It is also true that team that attempt to really maximize the amount of decision-making power and construction hours their kids have are at a major competitive disadvantage when facing teams where the mentors hold the balance of power.
Philosophically, I do believe that it is ideal for each team to find it's own balance. However, in many ways, that undermines the spirit of competition. Really: who is competing against whom?

I suspect that, if FIRST wants to continue to hold "Championships" and if the community keeps hailing "elite" teams, FIRST is going to have to give some guidance as to an appropriate balance.

However, there will always need to be a some freedom for teams to do things for themselves. Our team is a great example: Last year, we were loaded with upper-classmen - students with three years of FRC under their belts. This year, we have very few upper-classmen and our leadership team is dominated by sophomores. Last year, our mentors stepped back a lot more and let the upper-classmen have much more "say" in the process. We let them make the mistakes they needed to make, etc. This year, the kids require much more direct guidance.

I do believe that, in order to inspire the kids, they really do need to be involved in the building and design process. They can't be spectators. AT the same time, mentors are important because they bring education, experience and specific expertise to the table to which the students would not otherwise have access. The mentors must also play a major role in the process.

I have been to Championships once... While wandering about the pits of all the "elite" teams and those often accused of having "mentor-built" robots, I noticed one thing very consistently: There were always students working on the robots. Sometimes they were working hand-in-hand with mentors. Sometimes mentors were simply supervising. Sometimes the kids were working, basically, on their own. I see nothing but good in all of these models. I would be concerned if, I were to wander into a pit and see three or four mentors actively working - and no students to be found. I just haven't seen this.