Go to Post I'm looking foward to the challenge! - Adrienne E. [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > Other > FIRST In the News...
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Reply
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #31   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 18-11-2009, 12:48
Pjohn1959's Avatar
Pjohn1959 Pjohn1959 is offline
Registered User
AKA: Paul W. Johnson
no team
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 543
Pjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond reputePjohn1959 has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Texas FIRST teams doubling in 2 years

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Tonthat View Post
I'd be inclined to even start them on VRC, it's the cheapest, and closest approximation of FRC, in my opinion.
Oh, if were only so easy! But since FIRST has distanced itself from IFI, I'm afraid that it will only go to FTC.
Reply With Quote
  #32   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 18-11-2009, 13:15
Rich Kressly's Avatar
Rich Kressly Rich Kressly is offline
Robot/STEM troublemaker since 2001
no team (Formerly 103 & 1712. Now run U.P. Robotics (other programs))
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Pennsburg, PA
Posts: 2,045
Rich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond reputeRich Kressly has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Texas FIRST teams doubling in 2 years

OK. I’m going to attempt to write this more as a prayer than a rant. I hope it comes across the right way as I realize there is some detailed information we don’t yet have at our disposal. However, there are a few things I just feel compelled to state:

I pray…
1. … that the Governor and State of Texas apply their awesome vision for STEM/robotics education in a fiscally responsible and sustainable/lasting way.
2. … that this $1M won’t be thrown around quickly as a solution all by itself, with no consideration for the people in schools who will be asked to implement the program. I’ve seen ugly situations in the past.
3. … that these funds won’t be gobbled up by “hungry” schools who don’t really understand what it takes to compete in FRC/FTC.
4. … that, if we do wind up creating a bunch of new FIRST teams really fast, TX can find a way to support them all sustainably. The number of non-returning new teams from last year frightens me and I do NOT envy the job of the TX veterans
5. …. that when I see the key factor being a teacher or teacher decision as the reason for a team dropping out this year, that this WILL NOT become a program that creates more of these situations. I’m a full time teacher and the amount of energy it takes to sustain a full-time FRC program in/with the school is ungodly on top of the full-time job I get paid for. Not a year goes by I don’t consider stepping back. We’ve introduced FRC to at least three-dozen other teachers in our district. Most run away scared or laugh out loud even though they think it’s “cool”. For the brave few who have helped, I haven’t been able to sustain participation of any of them for more than two seasons and currently I’m the only teacher directly involved with our FRC team (unless you count one that said they’d look for pool noodles for us). Now if you want to talk VRC and robotics education in general, I can point to three other teachers in our district with a lot of involvement. (can you tell this part hits really, REALLY close to home for me?)
6. …that, although I’m thrilled TX supports STEM in schools with other funds as well, this $1M doesn’t make less of a lasting impact than it can.
7. …that there will be some application process whereby an applicant school MUST SHOW it’s READY to take on the program rigors and sustain both financial and people efforts needed to be a success (similar to NASA grant process, perhaps?).
8. …that someday someone will call and say they’ve got $1M to spend on robotics education and want to know what my friends and I think should be done (OK, this one is a little vain, but you get the idea…) By the way, I REALLY like Blake’s question above.

Namaste, TX, and good luck. My gut tells me you may need it.
__________________
technology, innovation, and invention without a social conscience will only allow us to destroy ourselves in more creative ways
Reply With Quote
  #33   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 18-11-2009, 13:31
JaneYoung JaneYoung is offline
Onward through the fog.
no team
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 5,996
JaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Texas FIRST teams doubling in 2 years

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich Kressly View Post
Namaste, TX, and good luck. My gut tells me you may need it.
There may be an even bigger picture to think about/look at. I've created a new thread for discussion here.
__________________
Excellence is contagious. ~ Andy Baker, President, AndyMark, Inc. and Woodie Flowers Award 2003

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
~ Helen Keller
(1880-1968)
Reply With Quote
  #34   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 18-11-2009, 15:03
EricH's Avatar
EricH EricH is offline
New year, new team
FRC #1197 (Torbots)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: SoCal
Posts: 19,823
EricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond reputeEricH has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Texas FIRST teams doubling in 2 years

I think that the "lots of teams" model won't work very well. I'd rather see a third of the teams or fewer, but larger, with a very wide sponsor base apiece instead of a deep sponsor base for all of them. You have a wide base and lose a sponsor, you get another one. You have a deep base and lose a sponsor, you're hurting for years.

Instead of going for everybody, you go with one location in X area. That team is now responsible for getting rooted, developing business relationships, spreading the word, etc. in that area. Give it a few years, and ideally, it's ready to spin off another team that can last a long time because of existing relationships and new advertising. Something on the order of NiagraFIRST a few years back: we work as "one business unit" until you guys are ready to go it alone.

This is almost ignoring the FTC/VRC level, but you could easily modify that to work the same way. Club X runs out of room for new students, all the students in club X from Y area form club Z with its own complement of teams--and the relationships needed already in place.
__________________
Past teams:
2003-2007: FRC0330 BeachBots
2008: FRC1135 Shmoebotics
2012: FRC4046 Schroedinger's Dragons

"Rockets are tricky..."--Elon Musk

Reply With Quote
  #35   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 07-12-2009, 20:42
Andrew Schuetze's Avatar
Andrew Schuetze Andrew Schuetze is offline
499 Founder / Alamo FTC & FLL AP
no team
Team Role: Leadership
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 689
Andrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schuetze has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Texas FIRST teams doubling in 2 years

Quote:
Originally Posted by lynca View Post
Texas added 46 rookie teams in 2009 (91 total) ,

(Early Estimates) 10 rookies & 6 veterans have dropped out for 2010
Roughly 20% of teams started are having trouble and this will only get worse as you stretch your veteran support thin.

As of now, Texas has 15 new rookies in 2010 (89 total teams)

How have other states dealt with rookie attrition and helping train large crops of rookies ?
As of December 7th, 2009 data shows only 9 teams from 2009 not returning but one or two of those may be on a wait list bringing the number down to 7 or 8 of inactive teams. Of the current 9, three or four are veteran teams so about a 10% or less attrition rate in a 2 to 1 rookie to veteran team ratio. Current number of active Texas FRC teams is 105. greater than 10% net growth but 20% actual considering the attrition rate.

Anybody have figures for any other states? How does Texas compare? The above are estimates and guesses as I have not directly contacted the 120 total teams in Texas (current or past) to determine actual status for 2010.
__________________
APS

Founder FRC 499
Parent alumni FRC 2745 & 4219
Co-Coach FTC 4549 & 6407
Alamo FTC Affiliate Partner
Alamo FLL Affiliate Partner
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Calling all Texas Teams!! marisaDKNY General Forum 6 12-03-2009 16:55
LabVIEW Training for Central Texas FRC Teams Richard McClellan FRC Control System 2 03-10-2008 14:41
Texas Teams Affected by Hurricane Ike lynca FIRST E-Mail Blast Archive 0 30-09-2008 21:40
Oklahoma or Texas Teams? plutonium83 Finding A Team 11 03-06-2005 14:09
ANY TEAMS FROM TEXAS? archiver 2001 3 24-06-2002 00:38


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 15:12.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi