Go to Post Many would say it is both gracious and professional to make sure your robot will not damage another team's robot. - 4throck [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > FIRST > General Forum
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 05-04-2005, 09:37
Joe Matt's Avatar
Joe Matt Joe Matt is offline
Wake Up Get Up Get Out There
no team
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: CAK
Posts: 5,067
Joe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond repute
Re: When do mentors go too far?

Quote:
Originally Posted by KathieK
Wow, didn't see a single post in this thread about mentors and the non-engineering aspect of a team... just a question, not meant to insult or inflame, just curious, on the student-led teams, how did you eat during your Regionals? Was one of your students in charge of figuring out where the team would get breakfast, make the bagged lunches, figure out what restaurant could seat you all for dinner? And did you put your hotel reservations on your credit card (to be reimbursed later)? Our team has a large mentor base. I'd love to talk to a team which is more student-based to see how you do it all.
Don't get me wrong, I agree mentors, parents, and teachers are a VERY important part of a working team, from what you described to actually inspiring kids into science and engineering, but from what I have read, it seems that many people are disappointed in the whole "new train set on Christmas day" type scenario. I read this in a tour book once about if you are doing it for the kids or if you are doing it for yourself. Imagine you are 7 years old on Christmas (or any other holiday) day and you got a huge, new, shinny train set. You have the train, the track, the little people, the cool gates that go up and down when the train comes near it, even a faux tunnel! But before you get to play with it, your dad takes it downstairs to build it up, allowing you only to watch and see it in motion. Your dad thinks it's best if he sets it up and runs it, he thinks you'll get more out of it.

That's the thing I think people have problems with, the whole "engineers with toys" portion of it. The engineers don't have to be greedy or power hungry, just a little to excited to inspire. Is this analogy true, I don't know, I'm only part of one team so far. But I can see where these people are coming from.
__________________
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 06-04-2005, 20:12
Andrew Blair's Avatar
Andrew Blair Andrew Blair is offline
SAE Formula is FIRST with Gasoline.
FRC #0306 (CRT)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Corry
Posts: 1,193
Andrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Blair has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to Andrew Blair Send a message via Yahoo to Andrew Blair
Re: When do mentors go too far?

Quote:
Originally Posted by KathieK
Wow, didn't see a single post in this thread about mentors and the non-engineering aspect of a team... just a question, not meant to insult or inflame, just curious, on the student-led teams, how did you eat during your Regionals? Was one of your students in charge of figuring out where the team would get breakfast, make the bagged lunches, figure out what restaurant could seat you all for dinner? And did you put your hotel reservations on your credit card (to be reimbursed later)? Our team has a large mentor base. I'd love to talk to a team which is more student-based to see how you do it all.

Also, not to inflame or sound cocky, but quite a bit yes. Our team has an extremely small mentor base, only three of them, and, though we obviously do not charge a several thousand dollar amount onto our own personal credit card, we do take care of the hotel arrangements on our own (using a very trusting mentor's credit card), as well as some food. However, we do not make seating reservations at large resturants, nor drive ourselves to the competitions. Our mentors are wonderful to us, and our team is very grateful for their support, but our team, and I'm sure many others, get along fine with more responsibilties placed upon them.
__________________
Reading makes a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.
-Sir Francis Bacon

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."
-Albert Einstein
  #3   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 06-04-2005, 23:18
Argoth Argoth is offline
Registered User
AKA: The Prez
#1255 (Team Blarglefish)
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 41
Argoth can only hope to improve
Re: When do mentors go too far?

I believe what Dean may have been saying is that education in and of itself is worthless. There must be some driving force that causes you to DO something with what you have learned, and I think that was what Dean was getting at. As my father always says... "you can have a PhD., but if you don't get your head in the game you'll be digging a ditch with a pretty certificate. " I don't think Dean was knocking the educational experience of FIRST at all, just taking another view of it. But, I guess the only way to truly know the answer to that is to ask the man himself.
__________________
BEWARE OUR ROBOT, It has serious anger issues. Prone to attack whatever is infront of it randomly! Tried to cut our sponsors jugular!

"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completly foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of fools." ~Douglas Adams~
  #4   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 06-04-2005, 23:59
David Guzman's Avatar
David Guzman David Guzman is offline
Registered User
AKA: Dave
FRC #1251 (The Techtigers)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Broward, FL
Posts: 522
David Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant futureDavid Guzman has a brilliant future
Re: When do mentors go too far?

In my opinion FIRST is about creating relations between students with adults and the only way this can happen is if they work together and learn from each other. Now if only the mentors work on the bot and there is no comunication with the students then that relation is being lost.

I am very proud to say that in my team, we students do all the work and our mentors just sit back and relax. During the building season they give us their thoughts and they help us develope ours, but we design and we built. At the competition mentors are the ones who actually don't touch the bot, once in a while they'll give us an advise or correct us but always letting us fix it or improve it.
__________________
Team 1251 The Techtigers
2010 FL Regional Winner (BIG thanks to 86 and 1612)
2009 FL Regional Finalist (BIG thanks to 79 and 744)
2008 FL Regional Winner, FL GM Industrial Design, SC GM Industrial Design
2007 FL Regional Winner, FL GM Industrial Design, Palmetto Regional Finalist, Palmetto Motorola Quality.
2006 Palmetto Regional Winner, Daimler Chrysler Team Spirit Award
2005 FL Regional Judges Award, FL Regional 3rd seeded and finalist, Palmetto Regional Xerox Creativity Award, Palmetto Regional 1st seeded and finalist
2004 UCF Regional Rookie All-star Award
  #5   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 07-04-2005, 10:15
cbolin's Avatar
cbolin cbolin is offline
Programming & Electrical
FRC #0342 (Burning Magnetos)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 72
cbolin is a splendid one to beholdcbolin is a splendid one to beholdcbolin is a splendid one to beholdcbolin is a splendid one to beholdcbolin is a splendid one to beholdcbolin is a splendid one to beholdcbolin is a splendid one to behold
Re: When do mentors go too far?

Being a geek of 40+ years, I have always had difficulting respecting and enjoying the company of 'teens' and seeing them as important individuals. I allowed differences in taste such as music, hairstyles, clothing, language, etc. to create this really big generation gap between myself and teens.

However, a few years ago I began teaching a group of junior/high school students how to program computer games. Additionally, during the past two years I have learned to work with teens in robotics.

Consequently, in my personal life, FIRST and common technology interests have served as bridge between myself and teens. Now I enjoy their company and look forward to working with them. FIRST has provided me with a 'new language' to communicate with high school students.

Because of this common language and regained confidence in young people, I can trust them to take on significant robotic tasks (electrical and mechanical design and wiring, programming, strategy) successfully so I can sit back and be as passive as possible during the robotic six-week build phase and competitions. I am available when they have questions and I interject when necessary to keep things moving along safely and smoothly.

Its neatto see all the inspiration and education that results from FIRST robotics...benefiting students and mentors.

High school students today really rock! I am proud to work with such wonderful people.

Regards,
Chuck
__________________
Team 342 Programming & Control Systems
Good luck and have fun!
  #6   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 07-04-2005, 20:24
White_Orpheus's Avatar
White_Orpheus White_Orpheus is offline
Woot for Aphex Twin!
AKA: Chris Teresi
FRC #0253 (MRT)
Team Role: Animator
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: California
Posts: 59
White_Orpheus will become famous soon enoughWhite_Orpheus will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to White_Orpheus
Re: When do mentors go too far?

I think all too often a team is heavily mentor run for the wrong reasons. Are you taking too much initiative because you want to see your team perform well at competition, or because you honestly believe it is more beneficial to your students to watch you work on the bot?

As everyone is so quick to point out, FIRST is about inspiration and learning, not winning. Our robot was absolutely terrible last year. Far more than half of our matches were spent helplessly watching the bot sit in the starting position. Did I still learn a lot? Yes. If anything I was more inspired to learn more about engineering by watching a terrible bot than I would be watching one do well. In my opinion, it is far more beneficial to the students to be 100% responsible for every aspect of the team, with adults merely present to make sure discipline is enforced, and offer advice when asked.
__________________
Team 253
2004 Silicon Valley AVA Winner

Last edited by White_Orpheus : 07-04-2005 at 20:25. Reason: typo
  #7   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 07-04-2005, 21:20
plutonium83
 
Posts: n/a
Re: When do mentors go too far?

My sincere apologies to 1114, 1503, 1680 for my judgments of your collaboration and the teams at FLR. It was unfair for me to accuse your team of being inspirational or judge the quality of your 6 week build based on based on conjecture and rumor.

I learned a lot from this thread. Such as the difference between being educational and inspirational and the balance between mentor and student involvement. I didn't know such issues have been debated again and again at cd. However, I learned the most important lesson of all, I learned that I should think before I post anything potentially offensive toward another person.

Again, my sincere apologies.

Kevin Cheng
Team 639
  #8   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 07-04-2005, 21:34
MattB703 MattB703 is offline
Registered User
AKA: Matt
None #0703 (Team Pheonix)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Rookie Year: 1998
Location: Saginaw, MI
Posts: 233
MattB703 has much to be proud ofMattB703 has much to be proud ofMattB703 has much to be proud ofMattB703 has much to be proud ofMattB703 has much to be proud ofMattB703 has much to be proud ofMattB703 has much to be proud ofMattB703 has much to be proud ofMattB703 has much to be proud ofMattB703 has much to be proud of
Re: When do mentors go too far?

Quote:
Originally Posted by White_Orpheus
I think all too often a team is heavily mentor run for the wrong reasons. Are you taking too much initiative because you want to see your team perform well at competition, or because you honestly believe it is more beneficial to your students to watch you work on the bot?
Well, I've been mentoring FIRST teams for 7 years now. I cannot begin to list the things I've given up in other parts of my life to be a part of this grand experiment.

As others have pointed out, part of the reason I do this is because it IS fun. I enjoy it. I also enjoy Autocross racing. I could be spending this time making my car faster. SO why do I throw myself so heavily into FIRST? Because I truly believe this is our best chance to change our society.

To directly address what White_Orpheus said above;

I am not in this to inspire the students on my team.

There are 10s of thousands of students who are exposed to FIRST each year. We can best inspire all of them by each of us doing the very best we can to increase the excellence of each FIRST event. Our best chance at influencing 100s of thousands is to get a mass audience. To do that we need the competition to be so awe inspiring that even people who are not involved will want to watch.

My personal goal will always be to contribute to the excellence of each event. I think that is the best shot at inspiring the most people.

Matt B.
  #9   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 08-04-2005, 11:24
Sean Schuff's Avatar
Sean Schuff Sean Schuff is offline
Year 18 in FRC!
FRC #0093 (N.E.W. Apple Corps)
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: May 2003
Rookie Year: 2000
Location: Appleton, Wisconsin
Posts: 316
Sean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond reputeSean Schuff has a reputation beyond repute
Re: When do mentors go too far?

Wow! This discussion has evolved quickly! Just like every other one on this topic.

I'm a big picture kind of guy and I don't like to see people ruin a good thing because they don't like a small part of what they see. Don't trade in the Cadillac just because there is a scratch in the bumper. FIRST is bigger than a handful of teams that some perceive to be in violation of some rule that doesn't exist.

I've said this before in an unrelated post and figured it fit in just as well here. Relating to why students (and mentors for that matter) get involved in FIRST...

Whatever the "reason" for their wanting to be a part of something really cool, it's their reason and just as valid as anyone elses.

Who are we (any of us involved in FIRST) to judge another team/robot/approach to FIRST? I take pride in the way our team operates and I fully understand the philosophy behind FIRST. And I certainly don't belittle other teams because they don't share the same operational philosophy that I do. I will admit that when I was new to the world of FIRST I had some skepticism toward teams that are driven more by mentors than by students but I've changed over the years. I get it now. I understand what FIRST is all about. Big picture - kids think engineering and science and math and technology and being an ubergeek is cool! We are succeeding!

My thoughts on the notion of FIRST not being an educational enterprise... Being an educator I find it very difficult to not view FIRST as an educational endeavor but that's simply becuase I look at most things in life as educational in some respect. That's my perspective and that's how I operate. You can take the teacher out of the classroom but you can't take the classroom out of the teacher. My life revolves around teaching, sharing experiences and getting kids excited about learning. It's a lifelong process that they need to be prepared for.

Different teams. Different philosophies. Different approaches to the anamoly that is FIRST Robotics. If you have a hard time reconciling this simple truth you may want to find something different to do with your time.

Bottom line for me - I do this FIRST thing because it's fun. When I'm no longer having fun doing it (can't imagine that!) I'll find something else fun to do.

Best of luck to ALL teams no matter how you operate. You all deserve it!

My one cent (the other is paying for expensive gas!)

Sean
__________________
Every child. Every program. Everywhere.

Thanks Plexus Corp. for two decades of partnership and counting...your company gets it!!

www.nacteam93.com | Tesla Engineering Charter School
  #10   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 15-04-2005, 10:29
naskie18's Avatar
naskie18 naskie18 is offline
Registered User
FRC #1506 (Metal Muscle)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Clarkston, MI
Posts: 6
naskie18 has a spectacular aura aboutnaskie18 has a spectacular aura about
Send a message via AIM to naskie18
Thumbs up Re: When do mentors go too far?

Quote:
Originally Posted by MattB703
As others have pointed out, part of the reason I do this is because it IS fun. I enjoy it. I also enjoy Autocross racing. I could be spending this time making my car faster.
Nice Formula, btw Still running the 2.8L?


It has been my experience, in being on a FIRST team and in mentoring a FIRST team, that the kids on the team seem to get more out of it when they get to build and design the robot. Maybe that was just the group of kids we had this year, though, this being the rookie year of the team I helped to found and mentor. While we mentors took care of most of the planning of the meetings and getting registration done and organized and planning many of the fundraisers and such, the students got to design and build the robot how they wanted, and it was really cool to not only see them do that, but to see them when we were in our first match at our regional and it all worked. That was really cool. It has also been very cool for us seeing the students get more involved in running the team, when they won the Rookie All Star award and qualified for Nationals, they did some serious brainstorming to try and come up with ways to raise the money so that they could go.

Originally I was sure that the best FIRST team was one that the students got to design and build the robot. Now, I'm not so sure that there is a best format for a FIRST team. Students designing and building it seems to work well for some teams, and engineers desiging and building it seems to work well for others.

In high school, I was on a team where the robot was, for the most part, designed and built for us. And while I would've liked to have had a more active role in it, I had a lot of fun and it pbviously impacted me a great deal, as I decided to help to start and mentor a FIRST team. Yes, this team is being run differently than the one I was on in high school. But it seems we're having the same effect on the students, inspiring them to learn and to have fun while doing it. As long as that continues, I see no reason to complain about doing it either way. As Sean said, when it stops being fun, then there's a real problem to address. But until then, I'll be right here continuing to mentor and participate in FIRST.
__________________

Nick www.metalmuscle.com www.naskie18.com AIM: Naskie182010

  #11   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 15-04-2005, 13:55
Mark Pettit's Avatar
Mark Pettit Mark Pettit is offline
Addict
FRC #0991 (The Dukes)
Team Role: Coach
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 177
Mark Pettit is a name known to allMark Pettit is a name known to allMark Pettit is a name known to allMark Pettit is a name known to allMark Pettit is a name known to allMark Pettit is a name known to all
Re: When do mentors go too far?

An ex-mentor turned FIRST judge told me that, during a pre-regional judges meeting, FIRST told the judging staff that they were going to hear a whole lot of "our robot is 100% student built" as they made their rounds. This was followed by a directive that this does not matter and should not play into a team deserving any awards over a team that was 100% engineer built. He was surprised to hear that from FIRST and so was I when he told me about it.
Our team is in a constant state of change. 5 years ago when I first became my team's coach, we had a very overpowering mentor that designed, built, and programmed the robot. Our team more or less revolted against this and we had to make a really tough decision to get away from utilizing his knowledge and skills at all. For two years after that, we had students who were all of knowledgeable enough, interested enough, and capable enough that they could do everything themselves. All the while, we had a couple of underclassmen joining our "club" not team (see THIS THREAD) who were maybe into electrical and programming more than using tools and machining equipment. Today, these students are upperclassmen who require our mentor staff to do the majority of the build, at least the mast/arm portion of our machine, and then they (students) wire and program. Incidentally, we have some current Freshmen who are incredibly motivated and apt enough with tools and ready to take things over so we are planning now for a more student-built machine in the coming seasons. It's a constant evolution and whichever state we're in during any given season, the students who are in FIRST for the right reasons still take away knowledge, experience, and a desire to pursue engineering.
Basically, it just doesn't matter.
__________________
Mark Pettit
Team #991 - The Dukes
Brophy College Preparatory
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
THE DUKES: Humans Competing In The Unlimited Class
  #12   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 15-04-2005, 10:53
seanwitte seanwitte is offline
Registered User
None #0116
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Herndon, VA
Posts: 378
seanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant futureseanwitte has a brilliant future
Send a message via AIM to seanwitte
Re: When do mentors go too far?

Quote:
Originally Posted by White_Orpheus
In my opinion, it is far more beneficial to the students to be 100% responsible for every aspect of the team, with adults merely present to make sure discipline is enforced, and offer advice when asked.
Thats a valid opinion, but you will have a hard time finding qualified adults who are willing to give up their free time to sit and watch and wait. I think the best environment is where the students and the mentors act as peers. I think there are more adults like me, who got involved because they like building robots, than the remarkable people who do it because they want to inspire today's youth. I consider myself just another member of the team. I think students AND mentors get more out of the program as peers, but every team is different. Why should the students have all the fun?
  #13   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 15-04-2005, 11:09
vic burg's Avatar
vic burg vic burg is offline
Alumni, Mentor, & AmeriCorps VISTA
AKA: Captain Obvious
no team
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 544
vic burg is a splendid one to beholdvic burg is a splendid one to beholdvic burg is a splendid one to beholdvic burg is a splendid one to beholdvic burg is a splendid one to beholdvic burg is a splendid one to beholdvic burg is a splendid one to behold
Re: When do mentors go too far?

Sometimes the mentors, and I'm talking in general, do seem to dominate over the teams. On the other hand, since it is only at the regionals where we witness what is going on with the individual teams, we can only assume somethings. but, I do agree, some teams seem to be powered by their mentors and/or sponsors. If I was to say how much that is unfair, I might get yelled at but, to the other teams, it is not fair. To be rational, you can use the machines at the place where you build but, there is an extent of whether or not the mentors should step in or just let the team itself work on the problem and try to correct it. I do recall seeing some teams where the robot looked a little too good to be made by majority students with some of the mentors helping. But, then again, that team could just be really advanced and be really good at what they do. Unless you are there the entire season with the team, you can't be entirely sure or unsure what goes on but, some teams don't seem to have a limit to where the mentors need to stop helping.
::Just my opinion::
__________________
RoboColts--Hallandale Elementary
--Thanks goes out to Cody C for making me ^^this^^ user bar!!!!
Nuts and Bolts help the world go 'round.... They also keep us all together. Including the Robots we build. -vic burg
I have been dubbed an honorary member of 1902 and 744 (by the members).
And yes, I am in the habit of collecting team t-shirts.
  #14   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-05-2005, 08:06
Jack Jones Jack Jones is offline
Retired
no team
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Waterford, MI
Posts: 964
Jack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond reputeJack Jones has a reputation beyond repute
Re: When do mentors go too far?

There is another side to the “When do mentors go too far?” coin. Please read the following excerpt that I Googled and copy pasted here. Names have been changed so as not to embarrass this teacher, who IMO, is a much more common example of a mentor that has gone too far.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Anonymous FIRST web page
Read this page daily for Important announcements for US FIRST Robotics:

Last updated by Coach SMITH:

Friday and Saturday, Feb 13 and 15, 2004 -
1) Attending were -- NOBODY (except Coach SMITH). Both days. I was there from 3:30 until 8 pm (non-stop, no breaks, no food, no drink) on Friday and from 9 am until 6 pm (non-stop, no breaks, no food, and I wimped out and had a bottle of juice). Having a great time, doing a lot of work, learning a lot of things I wish you were learning, too. Wish you were here!
2) Xxx Xxxxx is closed on Sunday (otherwise I would be there) and is closed on Monday (will be at Science Olympiad at school from 9 am until 3 pm). MH will be open on Tuesday through Friday from 3:30 pm until 9 pm and on Saturday from 9 am until 6 pm. I am committed to work with Science Olympiad on Tuesday and Thursday, but I will go to MH after we are finished on those days which will be about 5 pm.
3) We made a committment to Mr. Cxxxxxxxx and to NASA to spend the $6000 grant well. That means, build a robot and compete. If we do not compete, we will have a hard time getting the second year grant. No grant, no robot, no robotics team.
4) I am going to my daughter's Junior Parent Weekend at college and will not be able to work Saturday the 21st. I will lose about 9 hours of working time. I am hoping to get someone to step up and fill in for me.
5) The robot must be picked up by FedEx by 5 pm on Thursday, February 26, or we are disqualified from all tournaments and the robotics competition season is over. I can work at most maybe 3 hours Tuesday (Feb 17) , 5 hours Wednesday (Feb 18), 3 hours Thursday (Feb 19), 5 hours Friday maybe (Feb 20), none Saturday, 5 hours next Monday (Feb 23), 3 hours Tuesday (Feb 24), 5 hours Wednesday (Feb 25). Part of that will be building the shipping crate and getting the robot ready to ship on Thursday afternoon. In other words, unless we can get some folks (teacher(s) or parent(s)) to fill in for me, we don't have much time left. If we can get some folks in on Saturday in shifts, we can pick up an extra 9 hours on top of these 29 hours I can possibly attend. That gives us a potential of almost 38 hours. From what I have accomplished myself in the last 14.5 hours, we should be OK. Of course, this assumes I drop everything else in the rest of my life for the next 10 days.
  #15   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-05-2005, 09:00
dhitchco's Avatar
dhitchco dhitchco is offline
Awards/Photo/Video "wizard"
AKA: Doug Hitchcock
FRC #1511 (Rolling Thunder)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Rochester, NY USA
Posts: 333
dhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant futuredhitchco has a brilliant future
Re: When do mentors go too far?

Dear students,
I didn't go back to the beginning of this thread, but did re-read the postings from the past few days and I totally agree with what you all have to say about mentor over-involvement.

But....at the same time, it is also your responsibility to really talk to your mentors and PUSH THEM OUT OF THE WAY (not literally....)

In the corporate world, the leadership roles go to those employees who positively ASK FOR THE JOB. If you sit back and do nothing, the mentors will take over. But, if you step up to the plate, almost any mentor should (and must) back-away and let you succeed or fail on your own.

Carpe Diem....go for it! Especially in the off-season.
__________________
The THUNDER just keeps getting LOUDER in 2008....
Team 1511 now supports over 15 FLL teams

RollingThunder....Winner of the 2007 Chairman's Award at Finger Lakes Regional and Spirit Award at Boston.....Winner of 2006 Finger Lakes Regional Engineering Inspriation and Boston Imagery awards.......Winner of 2005 World Championship Rookie All-Star (plus FLR Rookie All-Star, Buckeye Top-Seeded Rookie, GTR Champion, Spirit, and Inspiration)

"Gracious Professionalism is a WAY of life".....
Closed Thread


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
**FIRST EMAIL**/FIRST Announces New Class of Senior Mentors. Billfred FIRST E-Mail Blast Archive 1 23-12-2004 13:32


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 21:07.

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