New Leader Need Help, Please?

[Semicolon]

Hi, I am the Competion Leader for my team, but i'm new to being a leader. As Competition Leader, I am the lead programmer of the robot, the driver picker and trainer, and am in control of pretty much anything that has to do with competitions (Rules, Scouting, Etc.). Well, now that I have laid my job all out, here is my problem.

Problems
+ I dont' know how to teach C programming very simply
- (my new team members have a constant blank stare during xplanations)
+ I need tips on how to make it seem more enjoyable
- (Turn it from a chore to a game somehow.)
+ I would like other basic tips on making meetings more enjoyable
- (I plan on having just for fun meetings over at my house, etc.)


Anything else that you can tell me would be great and most appreciative (IU hoped I spelled that right). I have fun programming and like to have a good time and what not, I'm just having some problems making it fun for my team

Thank you for your time and thoughts.
~ Semicolon ;

[Alexa Stott]

Well, if they see things as being a chore, then maybe they're not really doing what they want to do. Are people choosing to be programmers, or are you just teaching pretty much everyone programming? On our team, if you want to be on programming, you sign up at the beginning of the year and you are taught programming by our head programmer(s).

Also, on the subject of teaching C Programming, I would just first ask if anyone has any experience in programming. If that is the case, then try to teach those people things specifically about robots (analog vs. digital inputs, programming autonomous, etc.). However, if the people have little or no programming experience, start out with simple things, such as what integers are and such. A very important part of programming is knowing how the robot actually works. Show them the bot and points some important stuff out to them, like the RC with the PWMs, the motors, encoders if you have them, etc., and explain the functions of each.

Then, explain the if else statements and such. Show them the code and say what it literally means.

Example:
if (t<30)
{
pwm01 = 127;
}

Literally say to them, "This code segment means that if the variable 't' is less than 30, pwm will be set to 127." It helps a lot to say things out like that when first learning programming, because it helps them to learn the logic about it.

After you've done that, have them maybe do you some simple things like program the joysticks and all the buttons on them, if used. Don't do it for them, but give them hints like "So if this button is pushed, we want the shooter wheel to turn on." or something, and have them figure out how to write the code seg for that. You have to make them think for themselves so that when you're gone, they know what to do.

Once you've gone through some simple things like that, it might be a good idea to get out one of the old robots (maybe something with an arm, or such) and have them program the joystics again for that specific robot, and do a basic autonomous program.

When I learned how to do autonomous, our first program simply made the arm of the 2005 robot go up for a little bit, and at a certain point, go down again.

You have to let them make some errors in their programs so they will learn from them and be able to think for themselves what they need to do and debug the code.

I just learned programming about a year ago from our head programmer, and he did many things like this that made it very easy to understand and another student and I picked it up fairly well.

Best of luck!

[JamesBrown]

Teach them how to write psuedo code first. Teach them how to form the logic behind what they want the robot to do. If they want to learn C point them in the direction of basic C tutorials (i.e. Hello world). If you have 5 programmers only 1 or 2 of you has to know every thing about how to code in C. It is much easier if you have 3 or 4 people writing algorithms and 1 or 2 people coding than having 4 or 5 people all trying to integrate their code into every one elses. Get the newer kids to learn to write algorithms, they will pick up C syntax and how to actually program as they go.

If you have alot of extra parts or just a vex kit or 2 building a robot now is a huge help. If you have multiple vex kits let them build and program with those and hold a small competition, this will give them an idea of what works and what doesn't before they have a strict deadline.

James