Last summer, Brandeis University and FIRST launched a new, multi-year impact study of student participants in the FIRST® LEGO® League, FIRST® Tech Challenge, and FIRST® Robotics Competition programs in the United States.  Working with FIRST Teams and Team Leaders in ten target states, the study is following approximately 1000 FIRST Team Members and a similar number of comparison students for up to five years.  The goal of the study is to assess the impact of FIRST on young people’s interests in science and technology, their life and workplace skills, and their educational and career goals.

An initial group of Teams joined the study last fall.  Brandeis and FIRST are now seeking additional Teams and Team Leaders to participate in the study.  Team Leaders in the study will be asked to do the following during the first year of the study:

• Participate in an initial training webinar on the study’s procedures.
• Distribute and collect a packet of study materials (surveys, permission forms, etc.) to new student participants in FIRST who are joining your Team for the 2013-14 season, following up as needed to promote a high response rate among new Team Members.
• Help recruit comparison students by distributing recruitment packets in at least one science or math class per grade in the school or organization where your Team is located.
• Help administer a second, spring 2014 survey to the members of your Team who are in the study.
• Participate in interviews or focus groups on the Team experience.
• Complete a Team Leader survey in spring 2014.

In subsequent years, study participants will be contacted directly by Brandeis for an annual Spring survey.  In those years, Team Leaders may be asked to help update contact information and/or encourage participants who are still on the Team to complete the annual surveys.

Team Leaders who participate in the study will receive a stipend of $300 in the first year of their involvement in the study as a “Thank you” for their time and effort.  More importantly, Team Leaders will be helping FIRST achieve its long-time goal of conducting a major impact study across its programs.

If you are interested in having your Team participate in the study, please go to https://brandeis.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1AYoPJJObckwMrG  to provide your contact information and to answer a few qualifying questions.  Teams to be included in the study will be selected from among those who respond, with the goal of providing a nationally representative sample of Teams in the study.

We hope that you will take the time to consider this invitation and join this important effort.  Even if your Team is not selected for the final sample, we will keep you informed about the study and look for ways to solicit your input as the study moves forward.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Alan Melchior and Cathy Burack, the Brandeis Project Directors at FIRSTstudy@brandeis.edu.

Robert Tuttle, Interim President

FIRST

The high-tech spectator events combine the excitement of sport with science and technology. Join students as they showcase the results of weeks of intense preparation, competing in thrilling matches and working on their robots in the “Pits.” This event is open to the public, free of charge.

Teams from all over Florida will be at the event, including:

FRC Teams

79- Tarpon Springs , FL
180 – Stuart, FL
233 -Rockledge/Cocoa Beach, FL
744 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Galileo
801 – Merritt Island, FL
1251 Coconut Creek, FL
1523 – Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens, FL
1902 – Winter Park, FL
2383 – Plantation, FL
3242 – Ocala, FL
3410 – Miami, FL
3627- Sarasota, FL
4471 -Hollywood, FL -

FTC Teams
5070 N.U.T.S. Orlando FL
3846 Maelstrom Tampa FL

FLL Team
10299 Taz Bots RENEGADES 8 H Boca Raton FL

Visit the Official FIRST Championship page for absolutely everything related to the event!  And watch live action streaming throughout the event courtesy of NASA - http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/robotics/

1. Actively and professionally participate in a minimum of three outreach events organized in Florida by FIRST.

2. Document involvement in at least three additional outreach events in your community – science fairs, e-week, etc..

That’s it! Of course, we have some protocols for teams seeking Showcase status.

• GP conduct at all times – Everyone (adults & students) at an event must be dressed appropriately, business casual with team shirts, and long pants, unless otherwise advised; be attentive to guests, and chaperons must be attentive to kids – no texting, non-FIRST game playing (gaming, horseplay, etc)
• Students do the outreach – We’re trying to showcase how capable our students are and they need every opportunity to become capable of explaining what they do and how they do it. Outreach events are great practice!
•  Understand your FIRST program – Team members should have an “elevator speech” explanation of FIRST that’s easy for kids to share (i.e. something like “FIRST teaches science and engineering through robot competitions.”), and introduce FIRST programs by their full name before using the acronyms.
• Be informed about the event at which you’re exhibiting – And be able to relate FIRST involvement to the business community involved in the event.

Showcase teams will be

• Recognized on the FIRST in Florida website at http://www.FL-FIRST.org
• Receive letters of appreciation from FIRST in Florida, and
• Receive the FIRST Blue Ribbon icon above to use on team websites and promotional materials.

Documentation of outreach will be accepted throughout the calendar year, January through December. If you want to be a FIRST Showcase Team, included in outreach opportunities in your area, email twillingham@usfirst.org with your team name, number and contact information, along with the area in which you’re available for outreach. All teams will always be advised of outreach opportunities, but teams that signify a special interest in outreach will be contacted for regional and media opportunities that may arise.

ROBOT STOP BUILD DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY, 2/19/13! On this day, your team MUST stop work on your robot and seal it in the bag provided in your Kit of Parts (KoP), with the tag from your KoP. You may work on your robot until midnight local time, but the seal must be on the bag when the clock strikes midnight!

Is your team ready? Have you:

•         Located and printed the Robot Lock-Up form?
•        Called or emailed Team Support with any questions or concerns?

Important Deadlines:

Award Submission (via STIMS):

•       *  Website Award: 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET 
•         Chairman’s Award: 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET
•          Woodie Flowers Award: 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET

Award Submission (via TIMS):

•         Dean’s List Award: 2/21/13 @12 pm (noon) ET

FIRST Future Innovator Award Submission (via http://www.allthingspatent.com/FRC/): 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET

FRC Blog: There have been several important updates posted on the FRC Blog recently. Please review a recent post on wireless security here:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-wireless-security-karthik-at-tedx-and-a-pop-safety-quiz. In case you missed last month’s important blog about safety and the announcement of our Safety Animation Award winner – you can find it here: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-safety-safety-safety.

2013 FIRST Scholarship Opportunity Updates:  Find out about new scholarships, and all FIRST Scholarships with deadlines in March at:http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Scholarships/2013_Assets/FIRST_Scholarship_News_2-14-13.pdf

Go Teams!

FRC Team Support

FIRST® is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Public Charity

V 1(800)871-8326

F 603-666-3907

E frcteams@usfirst.org

W www.usfirst.org

*There was an error in today’s FRC email blast regarding 2013 FRC Award submissions. Please note: There is no FRC Website Award this year. In addition to the Chairman’s Award and Woodie Flowers Award submissions, Entrepreneurship Award submissions are due via STIMS on 2/21/13 @ 12 pm (noon) ET. We apologize for the miscommunication.

Award Submission Reminder:

Robot Stop Build Day- Tuesday, 2/19/13: On this day, your team MUST stop work on your robot and seal it in the bag provided in your Kit of Parts (KoP), with the tag from your KoP. You may work on your robot until midnight local time, but the seal must be on the bag when the clock strikes midnight! You will also need to complete the Robot Lock-Up form: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/upload/pdfs/2012/12/Robot_Lockup_form_v3-0%2011.20.12.pdf. Please note: Robot Lock-Up forms will be inspected upon arrival at your event. Details on the process are available in section 5 of the Administrative Manual- Robot Transportation: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/.

FRC Blog: Please review the FRC Blog: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-mandatory-team-update-and-axis-m1013-camera for information on a mandatory Team Update.

Airline and Car Rental Discount Programs for FRC Teams: For information about these travel discounts, please visit: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/travel-discounts.

FIRST® Virtual Technical Advisor: Are you looking for help with your robot? Do you have technical experience and want to help a team? We have the solution! FIRST Virtual Technical Advisor (VTA) is here to help! Sign up to find/give support from anywhere in the world! https://my.usfirst.org/FIRSTPortal/Login/Virtual_login.aspx.

Message from Autodesk: Check out Phil’s third webinar, where he completes the drive base kit by adding the Toughbox Mini assembly. Phil also reviews how to share your robot design using Autodesk Design Review and Autodesk Inventor Publisher. You can view these and other entries throughout the season on Phil’s Autodesk Inventor FRC blog.

Go Teams!
FRC Team Support

FIRST® is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Public Charity
V 1(800)871-8326
F 603-666-3907
E frcteams@usfirst.org
W http://www.usfirst.org

FIRST founder Dean Kamen recorded a special message, just for our event, and FIRST alumni Barry Bohnsack, now with Lockheed Martin and an active FIRST volunteer, provided the keynote address, giving a powerful overview of FIRST and its proven relationship to academic achievement and workforce readiness.  FIRST alumni Jessie Poen, a Dean’s List winner and FIRST Ambassador at both the Orlando Regional and the South Florida Regional, shared her experience, which included earning six community scholarships based on her FIRST involvement and a spot in the USF Honors College.  And special guest Patricia Gehant, Director of Workforce Initiative with the Tampa Bay Technology Forum and the value of FIRST to help close the technology gap for students and satisfy workforce needs for Tampa Bay.

Area teams from Academy at the Lakes in Land O’Lakes, who brought their FLL & FRC Wired Wildcats teams, Middleton High School’s Minotaur FRC team and Palm Harbor University High School’s FTC team, Pandara did a fantastic job showcasing their work for event attendees.  Showcase attendees were even treated to a great research presentation by the Wired Wildcats FLL team, that pretty much stole the show!

We’re deeply grateful to the  business leaders and organizations that showed up on Super Bowl Sunday to celebrate a different kind of hero – youth and their mentors who are transforming our culture by creating the science and technology leaders we need in the world.  In addition to representatives from USF Connect and the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, we were happy to  welcome business leaders from the Southeast Capital Equity Group,  the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Basler Electric,   2Z Consulting Inc. and Bar Camp Tampa Bay, among others.

FIRST Alumni members Andrew Schreiber, Victoria Burg, Barry Bohnsack and Jessie Poen.

The involvement of Florida FIRST Alumni was an especially powerful part of the program, giving guests an opportunity to meet and hear firsthand the personal experiences of former FIRST students and how FIRST paved the way for academic and career opportunities for them.

Thank you to all who made the Tampa Bay FIRST Benefit Showcase possible, and so enjoyable!