ideals in FIRST robotics competitions worth copying

[DougHogg]

Originally posted by Ken L
If I really want to start up some other competitions, what's some of the best stuff I could copy from FIRST.

Imagine high school competitions for bio engineering like genetics, or chemical engineering, or EE and CS type of competition. Heck, it doesn't even have to be engineering. Just imagine there will be more FIRST like competition around the country, getting students enthusiastic about their subject through competition environment.

So, what I am really asking is, what makes FIRST so successful that could possibly be copied to another event?

Aspects of FIRST that make it successful and that could be copied to another type of event:[list=a]
FIRST is very hands-on oriented. You have to actually create something, not just answer questions.

FIRST has elements of art because all the robots are created from scratch and they are all different. I think every robot is a moving mechanical art form, and I see people walking around taking pictures of all the robots and just admiring them for their creativity and ingenuity.

FIRST involves competitions between teams which is exciting. Which design and strategy will win?

The matches themselves are an art form in the sense that people get enjoyment from watching the interaction of the 4 machines to see what will happen.

Another very creative aspect of FIRST is the fact that the game designers create a new game every year, and we are all held in suspense as we await the details of the new competition.

FIRST involves a number of subjects: electrical, mechanical, computer science, strategy, pneumatics, public relations, finances, promotion, fundraising, art, drafting, CAD, animation, web design, etc., so there is something of interest to people with many different interests.

The FIRST Robotics Competition teams students up with mentors, teachers and parents, and they all work together as team members. As far as I know, that is unique.

FIRST Teams often involve apprenticeships where students are working with professional engineers. I think apprenticeships are an excellent addition to education, because the student is able to fully interact with the professional in producing something, as opposed to just listening to a teacher in a class with time only for occasional questions. Further, I have heard of students on FIRST teams going on to apprentice at a sponsoring company, which gives the student additional first-hand experience.

FIRST requires teams to form alliances with other teams, which results in lots of inter-team communication, so we get to know lots of great people.

The concept of gracious professionalism helps to raise the competition to a much higher plain than the other high school competitions I have observed.

FIRST has lofty goals so team members feel that they are doing something worthwhile:
1) Inspiring students to higher achievement in science and other fields by allowing them to experience the excitment and satisfaction of using their knowledge.
2) Inspiring students to make the world a better place.

FIRST actually is making a difference. Due to their achievements in FIRST, many students are becoming more interested in careers involving math and science, computers, the internet, writing, animating, designing, publishing, etc. [/list=a]
The bottom line is, in FIRST, students actually use their knowledge to create real things in the real world, and as a result, they gain actual skills that are highly valued in our society.