Hello, my name is Cal Tran, and I am the new Team Captain for Team 2410, BV CAPS Metal Mustang Robotics. I was wondering how other teams go about using Chief Delphi, and what they do in terms of members having accounts. Yes, I realize I’m getting answers that will be biased like crazy due to the nature of the question. Specifically, I’m looking into teams whose members utilize Chief Delphi frequently, teams who require members to have accounts, whether they’re supposed to use said account, and how they monitor this action.
Is it a good idea to “require” membership? Or would it be best left up to the individual on how much they wish to put into FIRST?
What’s your though on team members and Chief Delphi?
The way we have, we use Chief Delphi as a source to ask questions, and look at responses/answers that we can’t find out. Our members aren’t required to have an account, but if they want, they can create one. Chief Delphi isn’t big with our team, only our programmers so far use it.
It’s up to the individual students. While a few others have accounts on CD, I’m really the only who’s up checking on here.
I’d love for more students to get involved though, it really helps leaps and bounds just to stay in communication with other FIRSTers, in just so many diffrent ways.
Congrats on becoming a Team Captain! Good luck, it ain’t easy.
Don’t require membership, don’t make people do things they don’t want to do, just manage them (you’ll learn that soon when your captain). However, make them aware of what CD has to offer and make sure they represent your team here well. This place goes crazy during build season. Lots of teams have tried to require membership in the past, but it really doesn’t do much unless you have a reason to use it.
Some teams like to have an official team account. Don’t. Its a matter of legal responsibility and who said what. Be an individual, make friends (or alliance partners) and embrace the social network that exists here. Go be formal on the official FIRST forums.
We leave it up to the students on whether or not they make an account, however I’ve pushed a lot of our team members to make an account and check up on here often.
The only 2 big posters from our team are me and ekcrbe, probably the only 2 big readers also.
Guess the general feel so far is leave it up to the students, but encourage membership.
I’m the big poster and reader for our team here; followed by Jeffy. Though, not sure if he qualifies, as he’s alumni and currently a mentor for 159. Can’t say we have any other posters, but I think we have a few readers running around.
To be honest I do not know if any of our members have accounts. I know of 2 of us who have accounts and we are both mentors who created the accounts while students on the team. I am the most active but I generally only read new posts and skim to see if there is anything I think is important to read.
We leave it up to individual team members. While most of the officers read CD every day or every other day, I am the only current team member with an account.
When I first joined 25, we had a bunch of active members on Chief Delphi. I was never told that I had to make an account nor was I ever told not to make an account. I simply decided I wanted in. I observed my teammates and other CD members for a bit to get a feel for the sort of stuff I should and should not be posting and then jumped in.
I would encourage them to make an account and to look at Chief Delphi but as was previously said in this thread people can’t be forced into something that they don’t want to do. This is my rookie year not my team 1649 but my rookie year and I have learned so much from CD I was able to become a driver. I am also one of the only people on our team non alumni or mentor who constantly uses CD. I am also head of mechanical and I am one of the more knowledgable members on my team is it a coincidence no. In conclusion encourage them but don’t force them.
Tell any rookie members if thy wish to become an important member of your team then they should make a CD account.
Devise CD scavenger hunt challenges that will demonstrate just how useful CD can be. Lurking is how most people get started anyway.
If you have members with special interests in mechanical, electrical, pneumatics, etc. challenges could be interest based:
Mechanical: uncover plans on how to implement two new drivetrains.
Electrical: plans for two different systems to control balls this year.
Programming: ways to integrate a particular type of sensor
Pneumatic: alternate layouts that each weigh less than it’s predecessor.
Make some easy just to get them started, later ones could be based on what you might want to try during the off-season.
Maybe pick a problem that’s known and been discussed, so the new members have to locate where possible solutions are discussed.
This is so true. Our team made a huge improvement from since last year(from never entering elims to becoming regional finalists), and it is mostly due to me being on CD so much.
I’m fairly new the CD but i feel it is extremly useful, as i already know more about first, the community around first, and robotics then i did before i joined. i think a good idea is depending on the team size let a few members make accounts so that they can spread new things they learned, and teach all of us new things.