Should FIRST expand beyond robotics?

[Rich Kressly]

I would MUCH rather see FIRST partner with like-minded STEM organizations to promote all similar programs.

Duplicating the efforts of other organizations, when we already collectively reach so few students, schools, and communities is a waste of resources - especially for a small office that is already way overworked and underpaid.

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

I would MUCH rather see FIRST partner with like-minded STEM organizations to promote all similar programs.

FIRST isn't a robot advocacy society. FIRST has a vision and a mission to promote STEM education and change our culture. Creating a new program within FIRST creates significant challenge.

I think the award structure at FIRST should contemplate and emphasize things teams are doing to encourage STEM activities of all types in addittion to the FIRST key values.

There is a ton of interesting things students can do in the STEM field that complements FIRST.

full disclosure: My statement may sound a little self serving in light of our other STEM related awards but I can personally attest to how much this activity has enhanced our FIRST activities.

[Merle]

I feel that the FLL themed competitions and research project provide a great STEM addition to the robotics competition. In the years I have coached an FLL team our students have:

NanoQuest: Observed many items under a microscope & had their hair imaged in a scanning electron microscope
Power Puzzle: Toured solar powered buildings & made potato batteries
Climate Connections: Visted and discussed weather related issues with the local ambulance association
Smart Move: Climbed aboard a blimp (Snoopy I) and talked with the pilot and crew

Having a themed research project at the FRC/FTC levels might be a managable expansion of the program. My recommendation would be that the final presentation be handed in as a video (or in addition to live presentation), rather than a live presentation (done in a room with only judges present) so that others could view the presentation and learn from it.

Merle Yoder
Mentor - Granby GRUNTS Team #3146
FLL Coach - Granby Red Blox

[Tetraman]

FIRST needs more Graphic Design, Industrial Design and other artistic focuses. Imagry is becoming bigger and bigger each year, video has become important and even photography is a key componant to a team.

Granted that Art is the total opposite of Science and Technology, but when you see teams that promote with their visuals and graphics and design, everything just looks so much more unique.

[ICntIHaveRbtics]

Originally Posted by Tetraman

FIRST needs more Graphic Design, Industrial Design and other artistic focuses. Imagry is becoming bigger and bigger each year, video has become important and even photography is a key componant to a team.

Granted that Art is the total opposite of Science and Technology, but when you see teams that promote with their visuals and graphics and design, everything just looks so much more unique.

I wouldn't say that Art is a total opposite. You need an artistic touch to market to the masses. You can come up with technology for say -- a car, but if it doesn't look good/cool/appealing, its not going to sell. IMO Engineering, Art, and Business all go hand-in-hand.

Topic wise - FIRST does tend to preach that "anyone can join and benefit from the experience" but when it comes down to some of the perks (scholarships) all of the popular schools are "engineering majors only". While I firmly believe the 'triad' of Engineering-Art-Business are all needed to sustain a team, Engineering hugely overshadows the other two. I think FIRST needs to decide if it wants to be more open to "non-future-engineers" and work on supporting those students as well. I don't think I would call that "expanding beyond robotics" as much as just supporting the various 'subdivisions' within the robotics programs beyond the future engineers and programmers.

[dag0620]

I would like to see a FIRST run Side competition that highlights programming. This is a major field that is constantly growing, and to add a new challenge for the veteran programmers could be interesting.

[angelawence11]

Sounds like we'd kinda be agreeing to this blindly, but hey! everything FIRST is amazing!!! I'd definitely be in!!!!!

[delsaner]

Originally Posted by angelawence11

but hey! everything FIRST is amazing!!! I'd definitely be in!!!!!

This made me hatch a thought. My opinion still goes with expansion outside of engineering would be a bit complex and possibly risky, but if we gathered enough people who are motivated and excited to make a change in the system, then a positive change is inevitable. I am on board for a brainstorming discussion as to what we can do to expand FIRST, and if we come to several interesting and possible conclusions, I would be more than happy to participate. Change happens through the actions of people, not the actions of the system.

Just a small thought.

[falconmaster]

I think team should do the expanding like we have done, FIRST needs to do FIRST. If however you mean expanding FIRST to include college age kids in events, then I am all for it. Many times former FIRST team members complain that college is boaring because there is no FIRST. There needs to a FIRST event for University level kids nationally.

We do our part to help, we host NURC
www.h2orobots.org

[Cyberphil]

Personally, I think ti would be really cool If FIRST went green. Maybe FIRST could develop a competition to most efficiently do a certain task, mechanically. Like If we had to literally do something very small, like paint a ball or something easy like that, but while using the least amount of energy possible. Although this would be impossible to create a competition with this, there could be like an aesthetics part to it, and judges could be used to select the most attractive, innovative, and efficient design. I think that this would be a great integration of all of what FIRST stands for.

[Bob Steele]

You mean there is robotics in FIRST?


Our team is a combination of a business firm, a graphics art department, a systems engineering consulting firm, a purchasing department, a budget managment consultant, a fund-raising organization, a travel agency, a health and safety consultant, a website managment team, a strategic planning committee, an institution of higher learning, a computer programming consulting agency, a community service organization, etc etc... and

oh yes...

A robot design and manufacturing company...

How do you expand beyond that?

I say FIRST needs to keep doing what it is doing.... inspiring young students to do their best as part of a team....
There is something to be said for doing something really really well... and FIRST is doing that...

We just need to find a way to make it more affordable for more students....


More trophies? nope... we don't need no stinking trophies....

We need dedicated mentors and teachers.... they need training.... they need to see what teams like 341 and 67 and 111 and dozens of other teams are doing in their communites...

FIRST already embodies so much more than robotics.... it is already there...