For Mentors Only: Inspiring Youth

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

Small failures and setbacks along the way are ok, as long as you have a plan B. Showing up at a regional with a fancy 130 pound statue violates the prime directive for mentors: no matter what, dont let your team fail (show up at a regional with dead robot).

I agree completely. Some time ago, someone posted a survey asking if the robot should be student-designed and mentor-built, or mentor-designed and student-built -- no other choices, pick one. To me, FIRST isn't an advanced shop class, better have the kids design it.

Originally Posted by Mike Shaul

I would have to agree with the sentiment that you can't allow things to just magically appear for the students, if they don't do it, we CAN'T do it for them.

In general I agree, but there is some room for exceptions. It's extremely important to have the kids see what goes into fabricating a part, including having them fabricate it themselves wherever possible. On occasion, we come across something that simply cannot be fashioned in the limited shop at the school, so it might be taken home or to work where the facilities are better. But, this is rare, and should remain so.

But the main point is this: If there comes a time where you, the mentor, must step in and guide the kids more aggressively, then do so. Let them fail until you hit the pointo of no return, and then prop them up. Like Asimov's 1st law, a [mentor] cannot harm a [team] or through inaction cause a [team] to be harmed.

It is a difficult balancing act - we're engineers because we like to solve problems, and to take a step back and let someone else solve it, with what may be a poorer solution, is darn hard. Letting a kid cut it, then cut it again ("it's still too short!"), when you're running ,ow on materials, is darn hard. BUT, if that's the last (or only) piece, and it's essential and more cannot be had before ship date, then make darn sure it doesn't get ruined, even if you have to do it for them. Hate it, tell them you hate it, but...

Don't let them fail at the end.

My 2 cents.
Don