To Kate,JJ and other frustrated players

[archiver]

Posted by Andrew Trax, Coach on team #180, S.P.A.M., from Southfork,Martin Co. High and UTC.

Posted on 5/8/99 4:42 AM MST


In Reply to: To Kate,JJ and other frustrated players posted by michael bastoni on 5/7/99 7:12 PM MST:



'But I noticed one thing at 2007...the students are doing the
design process FOR COURSE CREDIT....'

In Florida, in grades 1-12, most students have to submit an entry for
science fair, whether it's an experiment or report. As an option, students
at our team's 2 high schools were given the option of doing a project or
being on the FIRST team.
Some high schools have incorporated FIRST into the curriculum. It isn't
just an after school activity.
You make an excellent point. The level of time, money and effort is
dispropportionate to the school credit some of the students receive. But
I really believe that as more high schools get involved, we may see the
robotics teams competing weekly against other local high schools just as
the sports teams do.
What if the kits and rules were available to classrooms in September. Maybe
even the previous year's kits. Call them 'non-national team kits' and a reduced
price. Spread them throughout a school district and make it intramural.
Leave participation in Regionals and the National as an option. But make
the game a local sport as well. It would almost be an 'Advanced Lego League'.
And isn't that the real goal? To make science and technology as exciting
and rewarding as any sport?

Mrs. Trax