Looking for advice...

[Jim Meyer]

We are an experienced FIRST team but going to be an OCCRA rookie. None of the remaining adults have even been in the CDI.

What advice, if any, can you give us?

For example, in FIRST the adults seem to keep everything on track. If someting critical isn't getting done by the students, the adults jump in. Is this an issue with OCCRA teams?

(This message board needs some activity!)

Jim Meyer

[Mike McIntyre]

Adults do take an active role in OCCRA on most teams, they just are not doing the designing or the fabrication; the adult mentors/coaches need to help establish timelines, allocate human resources, facilitate the brainstorming process, monitor spending, answer questions, point out safety concerns...etc.; the only help with fabrication that an adult can give is to make cuts with an electric saw (and then only if the adult is afraid for a student's safety, not just because the adult feels they could do it better or faster!). We are not trying to eliminate adults from the equation, we simply want the OCCRA robots to be student projects. If you have further concerns about OCCRA, please feel free to call me at 248-451-2732 (after 2P.M., please) or write me at: michael.mcintyre@oakland.k12.mi.us. I am sorry I have not been on this fantastic site lately, but we've been swamped running OCCRA workshops, designing the playing field, making brochures, setting up venues...etc.; certainly once the OCCRA season starts, those of us on the Game & Kit Committee will be visiting this site daily.

[Mike Martus]

It is important that students do the design and the actual work on the robot.

Unlike the CDI when Adult help is encouraged, OCCRA has a statement regarding this.

Adults can keep pushing and keep the team on task and focused.

The workshops and the support materials are super. USE THEM!!!!

Ask questions here and we will provide appropriate answers for all to see.