FIRST Class?

[Kristian Calhoun]

Originally Posted by Booger

i can see what your saying, and while i completely agree with you i feel that the resion for making the class is so a team can have more time to work on the robot during the six weeks thats just think.

I agree 100% with Ken on this one. And from your viewpoint, you're saying that the purpose of the class is to have more time spent to work with the robot. Now if this was a semester course, it would probably start several weeks into the build season. So you're losing time there [if you want extra time], and then it is only going to be the length of one class peiod [~45 min -1 hr]. So where exactly are you going to be gaining that much extra time to work with the robot where it will make a huge impact, I 'm not so sure of.

On the other hand, if it were to be a full year course, then the majority of the time the class is in session would be spent during the off-season, and only 4 months with the bot [Jan-April], and then whichever off-season events you go to, but then again, those would be on weekends.

I really don't see an advantage that would either make or break a team based on whether or not the school had a class based soley on FIRST. It would be extremely hard to grade each student as Ken previously mentioned. Having a class would put FIRST into an entirely different perspective, which its purpose is not.

There are many more advantages to classes which teach students some skills which they can use whether or not they join the school's FIRST team. [i.e drafting/programming class] I know our school offers Computer Science coursees [Java] and CAD/Inventor classes. Now granted that not all of the kids from these classes did not join the robotics team [although a select few did], everyone benefitted from them. Our scouting program this year was developed and programmed by the AP Computer Science class, and it gave them a chance to apply what they were learning into a real life application. Now opposite of this, these classes also allow students who are on the robotics team to enroll in these courses in order to learn new things which they can effectively apply and contribute to the team.

[KenWittlief]

Originally Posted by calhounian

Our scouting (SW) program this year was developed and programmed by the AP Computer Science class, and it gave them a chance to apply what they were learning into a real life application.

wow! thats awesome.

I have heard of students taking photography and video classes following the FIRST team, and going to competitions, as an assignment for their class.

You could also do things like having students in a mechanical CAD class generate the drawings for a gearbox or motor mount - some type of part that might be a standard on the teams robot over several years. If the members of the FIRST team designed it, and the drafting class only made up the drawings then I think that would be within the spirit of the competition rules.

The more I think of this, the more examples of FIRST related science and technology that could be gleaned from the team, and incorporated into already existing HS classes.

As long as you dont make the FIRST team itself a HS course.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Booger

does anyone have an actual class devoted to first during the year. my teacher told us he was going to try and get this started i thought it was kindof odd. if anyone does have it can u guys fill me in on how it works?

Thanks for making this post Booger. It has generated some thought and exchange of information. If our homework is to establish a FIRST team in every high school, there will be lots of flexibility and creative opportunities explored in exactly how to accomplish this goal. Through Philmont 629's post, I've learned that Mr. Martus has developed an excellent FIRST course outline for us to look at and use as a guide if anyone wants to think along these lines. You could print this white paper off and present it to your teacher as a reference.
Jane

[Booger]

Originally Posted by Jane

Thanks for making this post Booger. It has generated some thought and exchange of information. If our homework is to establish a FIRST team in every high school, there will be lots of flexibility and creative opportunities explored in exactly how to accomplish this goal. Through Philmont 629's post, I've learned that Mr. Martus has developed an excellent FIRST course outline for us to look at and use as a guide if anyone wants to think along these lines. You could print this white paper off and present it to your teacher as a reference.
Jane

No problem. It has been very informative to me also.

[talltree357]

In our high school, Upper Darby, one of our mentors, Ms.Hale, has started and teaches a Robotics Programming course that is taught using both FLL and FVC robots. It was a year round, half block class in which we learned programming basics and moved onto accomplishing set goals. Basically to finish up the FLL section, we played the game Ocean Oddysey since we had spare kits from hosting the FLL tournament. Then we moved on to Vex and learned more about the programming using EasyC, along with calculating things such as torque, using different sensors, etc..

The really cool thing was, based on the work I did in the class, I am currently learning over the summer how to program our FRC robot so I can be of greater assistance next year.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

I tend to agree with Ken on this that "FIRST" itself should not be constrained by the academic world. Inspiration seldom comes from the classroom.

I do, however, believe that extra credit in academics can be applied from the FIRST program and activities.

All manner of skills / studies are applied in FIRST. Mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering, Programming, CAD design, Math, Physics, Social studies (interaction), Business, Accounting, and most of all real life problem solving in a team enviroment. All of these things give the FIRST student a significant advantage because it demonstrates real world applications of the things that are taught in the classroom.

[KelliV]

WildStang Members are all enrolled in a class at RMHS/WHS.
The courses are full school year and we do VEX challanges the 1st Semester


Engineering Technology
Engineering Physics 1
Engineering Physics 2
and for all 4 year members Technology Education Independent Study.

We all get grades, I think they were by reaction sheets that we filled out online and our weekly participation. Whole Team meetings were every monday from 5:30-8:00-ish unless your subteam went longer.

[AudieMurphy]

We have a class. During the season it helps to cut down on some of the after school hours and keeps me from getting the thousand yard stare when I'm in the workshop. I get that sometimes during our late nighters. That's when I lose touch with reality and start seeing visions of my fluffy bed at home far off in the distance. Of course, the majority of our work is still done after school and on weekends because there is just so much to do, but having a class sure helps.

In the off season, we just try to learn new things together and pass on what we already know to the newbs. There is no rigid curriculum. We decide what we want to learn together, and grades are given for effort like in PE. We are pretty happy to have it. It certainly allows us to do more and learn more than we could without it, and it saves some of our sanity during the silly season.