I seem be having an issue with the executive summary for my teams chairman’s award submission. Could someone please explain what FIRST means by “Team’s communication methods and results (500 characters allowed, including spaces and punctuation)”? If it means the communication of FIRST’s message it seems a bit redundant since they also ask “Team’s innovative methods to spread the FIRST message (500 characters allowed, including spaces and punctuation)”
I would appreciate any help I can get.
Here is our example from last year.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2644
We take it to many your communication methods with in the team and your community.
On 1912 we normally put interesting demos or out-of-the-box events in the ‘Innovative’ short answer. Inside the communication methods, we discuss our newsletters, social media, website, regional webcasts, newspaper coverage and any internal or external communication methods we think are of note. In our minds that response it meant to cover how your teams talks about robotics in the community either through digital or print methods. On a second thought, this short answer has a similar-ish-kinda tone to the new Digital Media Award.
I’m not sure if this would be helpful, but below is a copy of our short answer responses for 2010 - 2012: (The years we have been lucky enough to have been RCA winners at the Bayou Regional)
http://team1912.com/docs/rca_short10.html
http://team1912.com/docs/rca_short11.html
http://team1912.com/docs/rca_short12.html
Notes from presentation given Nov. 2012: http://www.mdfirst.org/images/stories/documents_2012/2013-judging-101.pdf Slides 18-20.
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This information came from a call hosted by the National Judge Advisors in Oct. 2011.
Interview and written submission are just 2 of the tools. The award is based on what the team is about.
Interview, written submission, team website, notes from previous year, fact checking all go into process. May have other judges ask questions. Will look at notes from previous years. RCA judges will arrive early on Friday and check out the pits and the robot.
NOTE: Doesn’t matter where you submit. No hometown advantage.
The Written submission gives you multiple opportunities to tell the story of your team. Use all areas of written submission for separate information. Don’t repeat. This part of the jigsaw puzzle includes the Executive Summary, the Essay, and Photos or illustrations.
Have at least one other person read and edit your submission. Grammar? Spelling? Punctuation? Did you answer the questions honestly?
Do not say anything misleading and take credit for something that you did not do. Avoid embellishment. Answer the questions.
Executive Summary. Very important. Give your best first impression. Include team name and number. Did you do a good job answering the questions? Be concise.
Emphasis on 2011-2012 and the prior two years.
• Share the impact FIRST has had on your community with the judges• Demonstrate what you have done differently or improved on from last year to this year.
Key criteria. Be specific. Avoid general statements.
Q1. Impact on team members. Must address this. Interest in STEM? College? GPA? Life skills?
Q2. Point out things you have done as role models. BE SPECIFIC. Mentoring, GP, volunteering,
Q3. Impact with results. Avoid general statements. Specifics on community outreach. FLL? FTC? FRC mentors? Curriculum? Other programs? Other impact?
Q4. Innovate. Opportunity to shine. Looking for something new and way to distinguish your team. Numbers are good. Volunteering. Fundraising, Presentations, Workshops, Off-seasons.
Q5. Partnership. Look at all constituencies. YOU define who your partners are. Mentors? Sponsors? Internships? Parents? Alumni? Other support?
Q6. Communications. Include all. Websites. Sponsor and mentor recognition. Newsletters, presentations.
Q7. General. Be creative. Think about ways to tell your story. Be factual. Set the stage for your interview*.
Innovative methods to spread FIRST’s message might include something like starting a dozen or so rookie teams and organizing the first FRC regional in western Canada. 
It’s along the lines of what are you doing to get more people to know about FIRST.
Team communication methods and results tends to be more “internally focussed”… how does your team communicate within the team, mentor, sponsor group. How do you organize your meetings and communications and how has that impacted your team’s development.
Jason
Here’s what we did with those two questions last year:
Teams communications methods and results:
-“Big Simbot Little Simbot” pairs students with a mentor who they can go to with any issue
-Implemented a Google Group, Google Doc, and a Dropbox account for efficient communication
-Host an annual banquet for team members, parents, and sponsors that showcases the highlights of our season
-Created an online repository of CAD files for accessibility
-Entire hallway of the school is dedicated to showcasing team awards, achievements and past robots
-Demonstrations held at school open house annually
Teams Innovative methods to spread the FIRST message:
-Featured in Professionally Speaking Magazine; delivered to over 230,000 teachers in Ontario, and is available online
-Part of an exhibit at the Ontario Science Center where 500,000 people can learn about FIRST
-Integrated a student created VEX curriculum into the mandatory Design and Technology course for middle schools in our school board
-Featured on “Degrassi: The Next Generation” and reached out to 6 million teens worldwide
-Demonstration of 2008 robot to 25,000 fans at a Canadian football game
For reference, the entire essay can be found here: http://www.simbotics.org/outreach
Karthik,
It looks like you guys post your essay on your site but not your executive summary. Would you guys be able to post that or am I just missing it?
Executive Summary:
**Briefly describe the impact of the *****FIRST ***program on team participants with special emphasis on the 2011/2012 year and the preceding two years:
-Mentors took students to a university fair in Toronto to encourage interest in post secondary education
-98% of graduating students pursue post-secondary education, with over 86% in the fields of science and technology
-85% of alumni still involved in FIRST
-Young mentors gain valuable “hands on” experience, to help them prepare for the workforce
-12 FIRST alumni have received internships with Simbotics’ primary sponsor, General Motors
-4 team members have earned scholarships through FIRST
Examples of role model characteristics for other teams to emulate:
-Started 12 FRC teams, 47 FLL teams, 46 VEX teams
-“Textbook for Success” provides guidance to robotics teams, viewed 20,000 times online
-3 Woodie Flowers Finalists, 9 Volunteer of the Year, and 2 Deans List Finalist winners
-Our team designed a drivetrain for rookie teams to emulate, the “Kitbot on Steroids”
-“Textbook for Success” and “Kitbot on Steroids” are incorporated into a mobile iOS app that has been downloaded 1206 times in 65 countries
-Annual scouting databases, downloaded over 10,000 times
**Describe the impact of the *****FIRST ***program on your team and community with special emphasis on the 2011/2012 year and the preceding two years:
-37% school enrollment increase since 2004 has been accredited to our team
-Due to increased interest in the field of science and technology at our school, a Manufacturing Specialist High Skills Major program was introduced
-Hosted/ran FLL and VEX tournaments in St. Catharines, Sudbury, and Toronto
-Held a demonstration for local special needs children; they have now become fans and view all of our competitions over webcast
-Featured on a variety of television news stations including CHCH and CTV
Teams Innovative methods to spread the FIRST message:
-Featured in Professionally Speaking Magazine; delivered to over 230,000 teachers in Ontario, and is available online
-Part of an exhibit at the Ontario Science Center where 500,000 people can learn about FIRST
-Integrated a student created VEX curriculum into the mandatory Design and Technology course for middle schools in our school board
-Featured on “Degrassi: The Next Generation” and reached out to 6 million teens worldwide
-Demonstration of 2008 robot to 25,000 fans at a Canadian football game
Describe the strength of your partnership with special emphasis on the 2011/2012 year and the preceding two years:
-General Motors uses our team for their employee development model, which allows them to train future executive employees
-Regularly featured in GM’s newsletter, and robot and past trophies showcased in lobby
-The District School Board of Niagara graciously lets us use their facility for our practice field
-Our machine shop is always open for other teams, with over 15 teams utilizing it over the past 3 years.
-Provided a robotics demonstration for GM which was showcased to over 3700 people
Teams communications methods and results:
-“Big Simbot Little Simbot” pairs students with a mentor who they can go to with any issue
-Implemented a Google Group, Google Doc, and a Dropbox account for efficient communication
-Host an annual banquet for team members, parents, and sponsors that showcases the highlights of our season
-Created an online repository of CAD files for accessibility
-Entire hallway of the school is dedicated to showcasing team awards, achievements and past robots
-Demonstrations held at school open house annually
**Other matters of interest to the *****FIRST ***judges, if any
-Over 6.7 million people reached via media and demonstrations
-Created a robotics challenge to teach corporate executives about gracious professionalism and co-opertition with the help of former FIRST Chairman John Abele
-Sent a German school, Gymnasium Spachinghein, our 2009 practice robot in order to teach them about FIRST
-Team members have helped to create two FRC regionals, the Waterloo regional in 2005 and the UOIT regional this year
Simply, it is asking about how do you communicate within your team: facebook, emails, blog, yelling across the room…
different ways to communicate with teammembers, other people, sponsors, etc, not necesarily the spread of FIRST and its message