New Member Motivation

[i like dirt]

Hello CD,
Our team is having a bit of a problem. Our new members are not motivated to learn about robotics and they basically don't want to do anything robotics related. We have tried playing videos of our team performing in competition, first promos, all of that stuff. We have even let them drive the robot, build mini robot kits but they just dont want to learn. Any Suggestions as to what we should do at this point. I think some of them just come to the meetings to play ps2 and computer games.

[Dan Richardson]

This is always a problem preseason, but in my experience once you get into build season, that is when the new members begin to come out of their shell and do robotics. However, in some cases the ULTRA Cool kids won't break out of their shell completely till they get to a competition. If they are still not helping out than maybe FIRST isn't for them.

After looking over all the whitepapers, this one might be helpful:
Continuous Improvement Process (Written by Chris Fultz)
In addition, looking through some of the posted team handbooks might help for getting an idea regarding how other teams approach involvement in the post/pre-season.

Possibly, poll the members of the team to gauge interest in a development seminar on programming the robot, CAD, animation; though if they weren't caught by the mini-robot build, I'm not sure about the success of this.

My suggestion is in lieu of this, have acompletely non-robot related teambuilding day (or evening). My former team held a teambuilding day on the 341st day of the year- the first time we did this I was worried it would be 'cheesy', but it turned out to be really enjoyable, and afterwards I felt much more connected with the other team members. Hope this helps.

[jackie Ha]

OK, not to sound mean or anything, but video games isnt the way to go. my team has the same problem, we have members that arent really interested in doing much. so were trying something new this year with our new members. maybe the members are interested because they dont really know the team. my first year, i kept to myself, granted not for long, but at first. were attempting to have like a get together night. like a team thing, invite all the members, new, old, mentors, and even parents to like some fun event, maybe cosmo bowling, laser tag, or even the arcade. that might get the kids more comfortable around eachother and perhaps spark some interest. hope that helps.

[i like dirt]

Originally Posted by jackie Ha

OK, not to sound mean or anything, but video games isnt the way to go. my team has the same problem, we have members that arent really interested in doing much. so were trying something new this year with our new members. maybe the members are interested because they dont really know the team. my first year, i kept to myself, granted not for long, but at first. were attempting to have like a get together night. like a team thing, invite all the members, new, old, mentors, and even parents to like some fun event, maybe cosmo bowling, laser tag, or even the arcade. that might get the kids more comfortable around eachother and perhaps spark some interest. hope that helps.

Thanks, but its not so much that they aren't comfortable around each other (they're all pretty much friends), its more that they don't have the urge to do anything productive.

Do you guys have any additional incite as to how we can spark their engineering side?

[Adam Richards]

Originally Posted by i like dirt

Thanks, but its not so much that they aren't comfortable around each other (they're all pretty much friends), its more that they don't have the urge to do anything productive.

Do you guys have any additional incite as to how we can spark their engineering side?

Have you tried showing them a machine, telling them how to use it, and letting them just drill and mill up a chunk of metal or a sheet?

[987HighRoller]

I think you should give some of the new team members something to do that makes them really feel a part of the club. Maybe give some of the more interested new members a project (i.e. assigning them to try and get a specific business to sponsor your club); make them feel like they are doing very important club business. While the other kids that aren't being focused see that some other first years are getting assigned to projects and tasks, they will feel out of the loop, and they will have to take initiative and want to learn more so they can be assigned things and be a more important part of the club. I know I didn't really know what to do when it was my first year, but I started to get assignments and jobs from my mentors directed specifically towards me, and I began to feel more in place and more motivated to do anything that needed to be done.

[JaneYoung]

If they are friends/friendly, they may have fallen into a group think together, following each other's lead in unproductivity. They may be a little intimidated or unsure and so follow the pattern you are seeing.

Try creating a couple of activities to break the group into separate small groups. During the fall season, sometimes we have the new members disassemble and reassemble sections of our robots. Old members are around to answer questions and to assist but the new members do it.

The suggestion of making some time just to do some fun activities is a good suggestion as well. And again, break the group into smaller groups, mixed with you veterans. Also the suggestion of giving them individual tasks, assignments is excellent.

Jane

[Jeremytice]

Yea sounds a little like our team. I know in pre-season last year when I was a rookie I just wasnt really interested b/c all i had on my mind was the build season which was ahead. Like others have said I think that they will be interested once the build season starts up.

[Kim Masi]

Our team has found it the most helpful if you set goals for individuals, groups and even the whole team. This might sound cliche, but having a list of things to do and accomplish makes it a lot easier to be productive.


177 has different sub teams, each led by a student. Each week, the teams set goals saying what they wish to accomplish. We find it the best to set "tasks" to people to give them something to complete. For example, our video team is working hard on a video just for fun and promotional purposes. But the students are motivated to show the team their final product.

Also, during the last week or two before kickoff, we're going to have a presentation night when each sub team gives a presentation of all they've accomplished pre-season. The idea that the rest of the team is interested in what you've done will give the students more motivation to want to give a meaningful contribution to the team.

If you think there is nothing for the team to accomplish during pre-season, then make up projects to do. look at other teams websites and see how you can improve yours. Have the students actually plan the fun night so they feel like they have a contribution to the team. Brainstorm new ways to get the team together, think of new promotions the team could make. And if worse comes to worst, clean the shop I know thats what our mechanical team was doing the past couple of weeks!

I know my first year in FIRST I was completely lost, and it was hard to be productive because I didn't know what to do. Perhaps once build season comes, the excitement and adrenaline is there, and students will be more interested in learning something new. If not, then maybe FIRST isn't for them.

JMHO
-Kim

[Jeremytice]

Originally Posted by Kim Masi

Our team has found it the most helpful if you set goals for individuals, groups and even the whole team. This might sound cliche, but having a list of things to do and accomplish makes it a lot easier to be productive.


177 has different sub teams, each led by a student. Each week, the teams set goals saying what they wish to accomplish. We find it the best to set "tasks" to people to give them something to complete. For example, our video team is working hard on a video just for fun and promotional purposes. But the students are motivated to show the team their final product.

Also, during the last week or two before kickoff, we're going to have a presentation night when each sub team gives a presentation of all they've accomplished pre-season. The idea that the rest of the team is interested in what you've done will give the students more motivation to want to give a meaningful contribution to the team.

If you think there is nothing for the team to accomplish during pre-season, then make up projects to do. look at other teams websites and see how you can improve yours. Have the students actually plan the fun night so they feel like they have a contribution to the team. Brainstorm new ways to get the team together, think of new promotions the team could make. And if worse comes to worst, clean the shop I know thats what our mechanical team was doing the past couple of weeks!

I know my first year in FIRST I was completely lost, and it was hard to be productive because I didn't know what to do. Perhaps once build season comes, the excitement and adrenaline is there, and students will be more interested in learning something new. If not, then maybe FIRST isn't for them.

JMHO
-Kim

Great Idea Kim! Our electrical team is so bored haha. Where teaching some things about the electrical on the robot and they like it but after an hour they get bored pretty easily. Might have to try some of those things. I will have to tell Dylan about the ppt thing you guys are doing. Thats an awsome idea.

[jackie Ha]

Originally Posted by i like dirt

Thanks, but its not so much that they aren't comfortable around each other (they're all pretty much friends), its more that they don't have the urge to do anything productive.

ok then, try this. my team also does like a mini vex thing. nothing big, just something between the team. make up a game, give them a time line, and have like a huge thing like before a major holiday, maybe before X-mas. were having our before thanksgiving. then after the you've played the game, turn it into a party, bring a bunch of cool stuff, psp, x box, ps2, game cubes, hook em up to like a big screen or a TV or something. give them another chance to bond, and the vex will help get them interested in design, strategy, building, to name a few.

[Taylor]

I know it's difficult to do, but sometimes you just gotta be the bad guy. Don't allow PSPs or other games there - or set aside a time when they can do that stuff. Let them know that when they're in the robotics room, they're doing robotics stuff. Lay down the law early and hard, they'll get the point. The ones that are there for the right reasons will be relieved to be rid of the distractions; the ones that are there for the wrong reasons and probably would have been a negative aspect to your team will take care of themselves.
I'm not saying make it a sweatshop; during the build season we take about 45 minutes to play football, take our minds off things for a while, not completely burn out. But before we do so, we set goals - when the goals are achieved, the team earns the privilege to goof off. Then we get back to work reenergized and refocused.

[i like dirt]

Thanks for the help you guys.
I'll definitely propose these ideas to the other officers on our team.

[Steve S.]

as posted in a few other responses, have the members involved in a team building activity that is related in one way or another to FIRST.

For an example, For our teams first project/activity this year, we are having members design and build a robotic arm that can pick up a ping-pong sized ball 1 foot away. The arm is being done in groups, it is brainstormed out, designed on AutoCAD and then they are being built. Allow use of any materials available, this will hopefully help get them interested and get their creativity going.