Help! Getting teachers inspired

[Jay H 237]

I should also have mentioned that you could tell the teachers getting involved that they don't have to commit to every night of the week. They may have other commitments or interests. If you have several teachers they could pick different nights to help out and it takes the burden off of one or two having to be there all the time. Our school requires a faculty member there while we meet at nights and the few "helper" (for lack of better term) teachers we have chose certain nights according to thier free schedule allowing the main two teachers a night off (and the ability to have a life outside of FIRST ).
I'll also say there isn't one correct answer or idea. Different schools have different regulations and different teachers have different hobbies, interests, or commitments that may collide with or influence thier amount of involvement. What works for one team may not work with another. You should listen (actually read ) all the different ideas and suggestions being presented here and decide which ones would work or are worth trying with your circumstance.

[Joshua May]

Originally Posted by Jay H 237

I should also have mentioned that you could tell the teachers getting involved that they don't have to commit to every night of the week. They may have other commitments or interests. If you have several teachers they could pick different nights to help out and it takes the burden off of one or two having to be there all the time.

We are starting to grow on the school as a team to help alieviate the burden on our teacher, too. Apparently, another math teacher who knows a thing or two about engineering will be helping us out next year. This year, our mentor really was overwhelmed, and our new teacher should be a great addition to the team. But really, just show the teachers (and administration, we got the principal to come to comp last year) what this program is all about.

[Billfred]

By all means, make sure you've got teachers that are good at what they do. Shoot, if you've got a teacher whose sole skill outside of the classroom is making buttons, get 'em. I've seen in just a year how much teachers can make the difference in a team...well, more like parts of a team, but I assume the idea scales well.

I may have to suggest the rotating concept for next year--this year our preseason was one night a week, plus all saturday during the build. I'm sure adding a few days to the schedule would lend itself better to building up a robot with plenty of drive time, programming, and DANGIT! correction experience. And just to get everything organized...especially with three schools with three different forms for everything.