FTC has Curriculum now?

[JohnFogarty]

Got this interesting email from South Carolina's FTC AF this evening.

FIRST has been listening and working in the background…

Attached please find a presentation from the Annual Partners’ Conference that I attended last week. This details two programs being developed and implemented to provide classroom support to the FIRST Tech Challenge teams. This also details information about how our program aligns with various standards criteria from different organizations. If you note the slide titled “Educational Standards Alignment” the NGSS Science alignment might look unfortunately low, but in actuality, this is because the skills addressed by FIRST Tech Challenge do not match when it comes to Chemistry and Biology as well as some of Physics. Now, if you take Technology or Engineering in this set of Standards FIRST Tech Challenge comes out with 100% alignment!

The curriculum being developed are as mentioned two different programs. The first, aka “FIRST Class”, is a FREE FIRST Tech Challenge oriented “introductory” course. It will be an on-line course with performance based assessment. It will have 8 or so modules which can be used in a mix and match form to facilitate the needs of the specific team or organization.

The second set of curricula is being jointly developed by FIRST®, Intelitek, Pitsco Education, and the University of Iowa. It is a DUAL CREDIT course with credits being offered by the University of Iowa – generally considered targeted at Junior to Senior level in high school. It is NOT FREE. There is a financial investment necessary. It is being designed to use smaller robots based upon TETRIX and current robot control technology. This course is being piloted this Fall. FIRST is seeking additional schools to pilot the program if you are interested please contact me so I can put you in contact with the appropriate people.