2012 Regional Chairman's Award

[RoboMom]

FIRST has added a new page to the website for the FIRST Senior Mentor hosted calls. http://www.usfirst.org/community/vol...training_calls

Links and outlines are still being added.

The past calls on RCA have been very informative - usually featuring the National Judge Advisors.

The call for 2012 is scheduled.

Date: 10/25/2011, 7 P.M. ET

[waialua359]

Glad that its been added.

[RoboMom]

If you tried to get into the Senior Mentor RCA call tonight, they have finally opened it - 15 minutes late.
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nce-recordings for the outline with the call in number.

NEW so far in 2012: State/District/RCA teams who have "earned" this award will have their written submission posted on the usfirst.org site within a week after "earning".
They are trying to get away from the terminology of "winning".

[Jim Wilks]

Very informative discussion.

Where do the transcripts get posted?

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

NEW so far in 2012: State/District/RCA teams who have "earned" this award will have their written submission posted on the usfirst.org site within a week after "earning".
They are trying to get away from the terminology of "winning".

Does that team mean that more than one team could earn a chairman's award? Less than one?

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Does that team mean that more than one team could earn a chairman's award? Less than one?

There was a lengthy survey conducted by FIRST a couple of months ago about the award system. There were a LOT of questions about the awards process. One of the million questions was about should an award be given out if it is not earned - in other words, do they give out awards simply because they are there to be given out.

I'm speculating that part of the verbage is to move things from "winning" to "earning" and it is theoretically possible that at a particular competition an award isn't given out because of insufficient effort by the team. I'm speculating that might be the how things might go for certain awards ?!?!?!?

I doubt anything is changing regarding the "one per season / per team" on the RCA.

There is a lot of discussion on CD about how to pursue the RCA. One of the intentions of the Chairman's Video was to initiate a process whereby other teams could see what a team did to earn the RCA. That video project didn't work out so well. Posting a RCA teams submission will effectively do the same as what the video intended. It gives everyone a much clearer understanding of what teams are doing and how judges are viewing things.

super..

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by ebarker

I'm speculating that part of the verbage is to move things from "winning" to "earning" and it is theoretically possible that at a particular competition an award isn't given out because of insufficient effort by the team. I'm speculating that might be the how things might go for certain awards ?!?!?!?

I do not like the word "lucky" for much the same reason. Luck has little to no effect on outcomes; I would never say, as I've heard others say, "Team WXYZ was so lucky to have won the RCA." No, they were determined, prepared, focused, and reached their goals. Fortunate, perhaps. Lucky, no. They earned it. I think the wording change is appropriate.

There is a lot of discussion on CD about how to pursue the RCA. One of the intentions of the Chairman's Video was to initiate a process whereby other teams could see what a team did to earn the RCA. That video project didn't work out so well. Posting a RCA teams submission will effectively do the same as what the video intended. It gives everyone a much clearer understanding of what teams are doing and how judges are viewing things.

Does this mean the video aspect may be going away, or made voluntary, in the near future?

[rees2001]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

NEW so far in 2012: State/District/RCA teams who have "earned" this award will have their written submission posted on the usfirst.org site within a week after "earning".

Wouldn't opening up all of the EARNED submissions after Championship help keeps teams from trying one-up other teams just before Championship or later regionals. If your team were to EARN the award in an early week regional that may push later regional attending teams to try and do things just get an edge. It seems a lot like last year's minibot issue with teams copying what worked in early regionals.

I know the written portion of the award will have been submitted in February but at many regionals the presentation and judges interviews can play a large part in which team EARNS the award. I also understand that point of the award is inspiration but many teams see it as a shiny piece of justification.

I would like to clarify that I have no problem with the submissions being posted publicly. I have been a proponent for this for many years. It is important for teams to see what others are doing so they can help others out. We have posted our submissions online since 2005. I just wish everyone would. Looks like my wish just came closer to reality.

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Does this mean the video aspect may be going away, or made voluntary, in the near future?

IMHO the video thing is weak, very weak. It isn't used for judging and it should not be. They are not shown very often and of poor quality.

Having said that, I hope it doesn't go away but over time teams learn how to better communicate their teams efforts. Hopefully one day teams will look forward to watching chairman's videos as much as they enjoy looking at awesome robots.
.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by jgw

Very informative discussion.

Where do the transcripts get posted?

See link in my post. The recording will be posted.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Taylor

.

Does this mean the video aspect may be going away, or made voluntary, in the near future?

DVD is still a requirement for this year. NO DVD-no interview.
DVD is the only format to be used. Must be no more than 3 minutes. No minors to be identified by name or locations. Must have permission to use music or use non-copyright music.

It should highlight what went into submission, but it is not used as part of the judging package (package = executive summary/essay/interview/previous years info - apparently the judges refer to notes from previous years/other data points)

DVD will be shown at closing ceremony.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

If you tried to get into the Senior Mentor RCA call tonight, they have finally opened it - 15 minutes late.
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nce-recordings for the outline with the call in number.

NEW so far in 2012: State/District/RCA teams who have "earned" this award will have their written submission posted on the usfirst.org site within a week after "earning".
They are trying to get away from the terminology of "winning".

I was just notified by HQ that this would not be implemented this year.

[rees2001]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

I was just notified by HQ that this would not be implemented this year.

Guess that means I can remove that page from my favorites. I was really looking forward to this going live this year.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by rees2001

Guess that means I can remove that page from my favorites. I was really looking forward to this going live this year.

Indeed. And I have to update a presentation that I use on judging.

[Wendy Holladay]

We post all our submissions RCA, WF, DL on our website. We also post our RCA videos to the website via you tube. We learned a lot from other teams who posted theirs (wished more did) and wanted to return the favor. Also when teams ask about how to write the awards, etc, its easy to say,

"Visit our Website". that does 2 things, helps others to see exactly what we are talking about and gets them a chance to know us better.

So far we have earned, 3 RCAs, 1 WF, and 4 DL. Check us out!!