Quitting FRC for Vex?

[JohnFogarty]

Long story short. Aiken County Robotics lost the funding needed and the leadership needed to run a FRC level team. Why they are quitting FTC too actually is somewhat intertwined with this discussion. Vex seems to have very effectively obliterated the opportunities for growth in FTC in SC. It's not necessarily a terrible thing, but a reality in my opinion nonetheless.

Aiken County Robotics did discover that Vex has become huge in SC since it got funded by Palmetto Partners like some 13 odd local events pre-state championship. It still amazes me because FTC still hasn't grown beyond 30 teams and 1 event in SC since maybe 2010?

Vex is now the most cost effective, and successful robotics competition in South Carolina, and soon if not already to be so in the world.

[Fusion_Clint]

Originally Posted by JohnFogarty

Vex is now the most cost effective, and successful robotics competition in South Carolina.

By having several curriculums written and mostly free of charge, VEX has a huge advantage over FTC (which is the real competitor). If FTC teams don't have a really dedicated mentor or students willing to really learn the systems that team is in trouble.

Where any teacher with a little bit of technical ability can teach based on the VEX curriculum and field a successful team.

FTC is missing the boat; they need a legit curriculum asap. From what I have seen a lot of the really successful FTC teams are home schooled. Which is parents and students wanting to learn. If FTC really wants into the public schools they need to help the teachers.

[staplemonx]

Originally Posted by Fusion_Clint

FTC is missing the boat; they need a legit curriculum asap. From what I have seen a lot of the really successful FTC teams are home schooled. Which is parents and students wanting to learn. If FTC really wants into the public schools they need to help the teachers.

Absolutely spot on!!

And it also applies to FRC. FIRST needs to make the value proposition for teachers, schools , and school systems tangible and measurable. Right now FRC and in many instances FTC are just add on activities that take place at the school. VRC is in the classroom, it is on the teachers desks, it makes students earn a grade.

FIRST needs to make teachers lives easier. Right now all it does is ask for teachers to just donate tons of time with no way to get anything back from their leadership in terms of career. I know this is a blanket statement and that many teachers have figured out a way to make money off of the time they put it, but for many, all they get is ata-boys from their principal.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by JohnFogarty

Aiken County Robotics lost the funding needed and the leadership needed to run a FRC level team.

Running a few VRC teams sounds like a beautiful way to grow the infrastructure needed to run a successful FRC team, even if the FRC team perhaps only competes every second or third year to save money (and to save wear and tear on mentors).