pic: We Left The Boys At Home II

[MrForbes]

Great job, girls (women) of 842! here's a short video...you were having fun...we could tell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ebeSD9cSQ

[ReaperGoat]

out of curiosity, because you take "just the girls", do you make sure that ALL the girls who go are able to 1)answer all of the judge's questions, 2)fix the robot if it breaks, and 3)have an extensive knowledge of each subsystem on the robot? also, do you mix up who you have in the stands and who you have in the pits?

[Cait1070]

I definitely noticed this team at the regional. I come from a permanently all girls team myself and I was excited when I heard it announced that there was another all girls team present. I think it is cool that some of the girls got to step up and take charge on your team but I also think that maybe teaching the girls AND guys to take equal leadership and responsibility for the robot would have been just as good.

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by Cait1070

I definitely noticed this team at the regional. I come from a permanently all girls team myself and I was excited when I heard it announced that there was another all girls team present. I think it is cool that some of the girls got to step up and take charge on your team but I also think that maybe teaching the girls AND guys to take equal leadership and responsibility for the robot would have been just as good.

You also have to take into account that ours school is 93 percent hispanic. In the hispanic culture women have a much harder time being assertive in male dominated roles. This is an added obstacle for our girls. It is easy to say they should just be assertive and another to do it in our cultural environment.

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by ReaperGoat

out of curiosity, because you take "just the girls", do you make sure that ALL the girls who go are able to 1)answer all of the judge's questions, 2)fix the robot if it breaks, and 3)have an extensive knowledge of each subsystem on the robot? also, do you mix up who you have in the stands and who you have in the pits?

The girls did all the roles. The ideas is to give the the chance without any subliminal effect from male peers. The mere presence of guys would affect the "experiment". So to answer you question, they talk to the judges and fix the robot but they don't necessairliy have an extensive knowledge of each subsystem, but they learn it on the fly, in the heat of battle. The team still has the saem mentors. The female mentors have the dominant role here with the male mentors in an assistance or supportive role. They learn a tremendous amount very quickly. On a side note the girls got selected for a finals alliance and made it to the semifinals! They also won the Kliener Perkins... award!

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by squirrel

Great job, girls (women) of 842! here's a short video...you were having fun...we could tell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ebeSD9cSQ

Thanks for the video! It was great to see it!! You guys are the best!! Hope to see you again soon. Don't forget to sign up for NURC!!!!!!!

[JaneYoung]

Hey 842!
Looking forward to hearing about the experience and what you've learned this year!

Jane

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Hey 842!
Looking forward to hearing about the experience and what you've learned this year!

Jane

We are still debriefing....
Overall, it had some similarities, and some differences. It was again a great experiences for the girls and the guys were even more eager for the girls to have this opportunity. They made it to the semifinals! They improved the bot as well. More later.....

[falconmaster]

sorry I duplicated

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by falconmaster

We are still debriefing....
Overall, it had some similarities, and some differences. It was again a great experiences for the girls and the guys were even more eager for the girls to have this opportunity. They made it to the semifinals! They improved the bot as well. More later.....

I hope debriefing also includes - getting some rest and eating ice cream.

Semi-finals rock!

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

I hope debriefing also includes - getting some rest and eating ice cream.

Semi-finals rock!

We go to Vegas this weekend, Ice cream sounds good!

I really find this idea interesting. But to ask a question... Do you ever do a "Leave the Girls at home" trip? I realize it's a nice idea to support affirmative action, but in order to truly promote balance and equality, you need to apply both...

By celebrating differences, and requiring an administrative level action to bring girls into the experience, you're acknowledging the differences, and conditioning the youth that affirmative action is the way that they'll move forward. I realize this topic has been beaten to death in last year's iteration of this, but I really can't stop myself from asking.

So was there a male only trip? And if not, why?

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

I realize it's a nice idea to support affirmative action, but in order to truly promote balance and equality, you need to apply both...

The whole point of affirmative action is that it counteracts the existing imbalance and inequality. In a perfect world there would be no need to leave the boys at home for one competition, but we don't live in that world (yet).

[Britt]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

I really find this idea interesting. But to ask a question... Do you ever do a "Leave the Girls at home" trip? I realize it's a nice idea to support affirmative action, but in order to truly promote balance and equality, you need to apply both...

By celebrating differences, and requiring an administrative level action to bring girls into the experience, you're acknowledging the differences, and conditioning the youth that affirmative action is the way that they'll move forward. I realize this topic has been beaten to death in last year's iteration of this, but I really can't stop myself from asking.

So was there a male only trip? And if not, why?

Well if you think about when men and mechanics are together they are like one. Most of the time the girls want to be involved but are shy and don’t want to ask a male team member to show them how to do something. Team 842's normal driver is a male. By only taking the female team members it puts the responsibility on the girls. It's a learning experience for the girls because they can’t depend on the boys they have to figure it out and learn to fix it. It’s putting science and technology into the minds of females. Its hard for a female to survive in a mans robotics world. We are not trying to change the whole computation just get girls more involved.

[N7UJJ]

I’m reluctant to weigh in on this, but here goes.

I understand the concerns of the posters who worry that we are selecting drivers and such by gender rather than ability. It would certainly put a team at a disadvantage, and on the surface, seem unfair to those with greater ability. But….

1. We really do want to “change the culture” and while it seems a little Pollyannaish, we rally have seen a profound effect on our school, state (and a bit of influence nationally and internationally) so a little social experimenting which may demonstrate how to include more underrepresented minorities in STEM activities seem to be warranted.
2. Because of the fantastic backing of the Arthur M. Blank Foundation, we will be going to 4 competitions. Taking the same students to all four events means a lot of school would be missed, so most kids will go to 2 or 3 events.
3. No professional team plays just it’s beat players all the time. A five member basketball team is always moving players in and out as well as having even their best performers “sitting out” a game or two. FIRST Robotics is no different for us. We have always shuffled our driving team. That way even sophomores can gain experience even though the seniors may be the best. We are always looking ahead a year or two.
4. We did not field the school’s girls team. We do not have a girls team. We have the Carl Hayden High School Falcon Robotics team. Last weekend, the coaches only fielded the girls. We don’t have two teams. Last week’s team did an excellent job and made it as far as the semifinals before being beaten by an unbeatable (at least in L.A.) alliance.
5. The girls were getting better every match. Experience enhances ability. That’s why we sometimes play sophomores and juniors and let the seniors sit out a match or three. To do otherwise, would be short changing those with potential, but little experience.
6. The girls have learned a lot. The boys have learned a lot. I have learned a lot. We have demonstrated that when the women are placed in the same environment and allowed to gain experience, at least this time, the results are similar.
7. We plan to have a more comprehensive report at the end of the season.
8. If we can get the funding, we want to do this again next year.

We realize this is just our philosophy and there are many other fantastic ways to run a team. After all, we need to inspire everyone, especially those who need a little more encouragement.

Allan