FLL Coaches Workshop 2014Carey Smith

Objective: Help you be a successful coach

Topics– Coaches Resources– Calendar/Schedule Recommendations– Core Values– Project Tips– Robot Building & Programming meetings– Programming Workshops– T-Shirts

Ask Questions

FLL Coaches Resources

• Helpful links at FLL national website– http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challe

nge/teamresources

– http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/teamresources#Preparation

• Coaches Handbook• Wood table instructions• Folding foam-bard table

instructions

Recommended Book:• “Winning Designs!”, James

Trobaugh

You can also put 2x4’s on the ground.

Calendar/Schedule Recommendations

• You determine how often and how long to meet. My teams:– Robot programming once per week

for 1.5 hours

– Project research & presentation once per week for 1.5 hours

– Many teams more often

• Consider multiple ideas for the robot, depending on the missions you choose. Don’t settle on 1 design in the first 2 weeks.

• Consider multiple ideas for the project.

• July– Team members attend basic or

advanced robot programming workshops, depending on their experience

• August: – Put together the “Field Set-Up” kit

(Mission models)

– Try to guess what some of the missions will be

– Start project research

• September & October– Challenge rules released

• Encourage team to think of more than one way to do each mission they are considering

– Serious programming– Serious work on the project

Core Values are the Cornerstones of the FLL Program

• Friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals, and that helping one another is the foundation of teamwork.

• ▲ We are a team– I have the kids work in pairs on each mission

– Can have snacks or traditions to build teamwork

• ▲ We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors– The kids make the decisions

– The kids do the programming• Encourage every kid to help program a mission

– The kids write their presentation

– The coach can teach building techniques (Can share the book)

– The coach can show how the sensors work

– The coach can encourage think of multiple ways of doing a mission

– The coach can help them find resources for their project

FLL Core Values, Page 2 • ▲ We know our coaches and mentors don’t have all the

answers; we learn together• ▲ We honor the spirit of friendly competition• ▲ What we discover is more important than what we win

– The goal is to learn science & programming, not to win– Less than half the teams win awards, so don’t measure success by

woinning an award. But enjoy it if you do win.

• ▲ We share our experiences with others– Find a way to present your project solution to others

FLL Core Values, Page 3 • ▲ We display Gracious Professionalism® and

Coopertition® in everything we do– Gracious Professionalism: Treat everyone with respect

• Teammates, Competitors, FLL officials

• Remember, everyone is a volunteer

• Being overly focused on winning or arguing with the referees can disqualify your team

– Coopertition: Help other teams when you can• Get together for a friendly competition with others teams

• At a tournament, help another team, if it is struggling or needs a part.

• ▲ We have FUN!

Core Values, Page 3

FLL Tournaments

A. Robot competition: 1 practice round + 3 official rounds

B. Robot design judging: right after one of the 1st two rounds

C. Project Presentation Judging

D. Core Values Judging

• Attend a practice tournament– PVEF Camarillo, Oct. 25– Mesa Union, Nov. 2

• Attend a qualifying tournament– PVEF Camarillo, Nov. 15– La Reina (T.O.), Nov. 23

2014 FLL Project Theme:WORLD CLASS Challenge

• What is the future of learning? FIRST® LEGO® League teams will find the answers. 

• In the 2014 FLL WORLD CLASS Challenge, over ℠230,000 children ages 9 to 16* from over 70 countries will redesign how we gather knowledge and skills in the 21st century.

• Teams will teach adults about the ways that kids need and want to learn. 

• Details Coming August 26, 2014

http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/2014fllworldclass

Project Research Ideas

• Each year, the teams research a topic

• Then, the come up with an innovative solution

• Talk to an expert–Do a field trip

• Ideas on presentation styles: “Inventioneers Video”

• Background: Research education ideas that are already in use

• Can consider how to teach a particular subject, such as math or science

• Or consider a school wide approach– Traditional schools– Alternative (magnet schools)– Charter schools– Private schools

• Or consider how to use technology– As a teaching supplement– Hybrid class (part-online)– Flipped class

• Kids need to come up with their own ideas.

Tips for Running Robot Building/Programming

• Work in groups of 2 or 3• Judges want to know your strategy

– Take time in Sept. to talk about the missions.– Decide on your top priorities– Discuss multiple ways of doing each mission, before choosing one

• When some missions are polished, consider adding a 2nd mission to an already accomplished mission

• You won’t be able to do all the missions• Encourage everyone to help program some mission

– Don’t let 1or 2 do all the programming– “What we learn is more important…”

• Encourage your most experience to try a difficult mission• Use a sensor in at least one mission• Discuss a core value at each meeting

Programming Workshops

• The 1st workshop covers installing the software and programming the robot to move forward, backward, turn, and how to use a motorized arm.

• The 2nd workshop covers how to use the sensors and some common strategies.

• Both are primarily hands on, so bring a robot & a laptop with the software, if possible.

Coaches: June 3 & 10, 7:00-845 pm

Carey Smith’s House, 388-3865

5234 Meadowridge Ct., 93012

Kids: July 19 & 26. Details are TBD.

Need to register & have adult supervision for each team.

I could use several coaches and/or mentors to help individuals.

Links to Build Basic Robots

Domabot:• http://www.damienkee.com/home/

2011/8/20/domabot-classroom-robot-design.html

Tribot—Sometimes requested for the advanced day camp, but not a design you would use in competition.

• http://penfieldrobotics.com/fll/FLLResources.php

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS2MOB4VQq8

You Can Download the EV3 Software

• For NXT robots, you can use the NXT software or the EV3 software

• For the EV3 robots, you need to use the EV3 software• Can be downloaded for free at:• http://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/downloads/software/ddsoftwaredownload/

T-Shirt Designs Are Due Sept. 12

Good designs are simple and made using vector graphics.Use one or 2 images, if possible.

Unacceptable Designs: Bit-maps. No individual names. You can decorated them later with fabric markers, etc.

Good designs