Recruiting FL Teams for the FIRST Longitudinal Impact Study

Posted on May 17, 2013 by tmw2010

FIRST and Brandeis University are asking for your help with an important evaluation initiative for FIRST.

brandeis and firstLast 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

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FIRST World Championship, April 24-27

Posted on April 19, 2013 by tmw2010

Championship graphicThe FIRST Championship is the culmination of the season’s FIRST programs, bringing together three separate robotics competitions for the ultimate Sport for the Mind™. The event includes the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship, the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship, and the FIRST LEGO League World Festival. Also featured is the Junior FIRST LEGO League World Festival Expo.

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/

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FIRST Interactive Annual Report Online!

Posted on April 19, 2013 by tmw2010

annual reportWant to get up close and personal with FIRST’s reach and impact?  Check out the  interactive 2012 FIRST Annual Report , now available online. Great for sharing with schools, educators, and potential sponsors.  Please note that the data is for 2012.  You can get the most recent numbers on the FIRST website.

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Be a Florida FIRST Showcase Team!

Posted on February 14, 2013 by tmw2010

FL FIRST Showcase TeamNo one tells – or shows – the FIRST story better than FIRST teams! FIRST in Florida is raising the bar in showcasing FIRST statewide, and we’re inviting Florida teams – Jr. FLL, FLL, FTC & FRC –  to be an active part of our statewide outreach efforts, gain some recognition for your teams and schools, and hone student marketing and presentation skills in the process. Here’s how it works:

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.

Filed under: FIRST events, FIRST in Florida, FLL, FRC, FTC, Jr. FLL | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Tampa Bay FIRST Benefit Showcase Brings Teams & Business Community Together

Posted on February 5, 2013 by tmw2010

final programThe first ever Tampa Bay FIRST  Benefit Showcase event, sponsored by USF Connect and the Florida High Tech Corridor and held February 3rd at the University of South Florida, brought area teams and members of the Tampa Bay business and technical community together to raise awareness about the academic and career readiness value of FIRST, and to build support for the Orlando Regional FIRST Robotics Competition event.

FIRST founder Dean Kamen recorded a special message, just for our event, and FIRST alumni Barry Bohnsack, now with Lockheed Martin and an FIRST in Tampa Bay-cactive 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!

Showcase guestsWe’re deeply grateful to the  business leaders and organizations that showed up on Super Bowl Sunday to celebrate a different kind of Army ROTC-c 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.

alumn-c

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!

learning from alumni-c

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FTC Update: Thank your Mentor Day, Programming Survey, FIRST Scholarships

Posted on January 17, 2013 by tmw2010

FTCicon_RGBIt’s national Thank your Mentor Day.  Thank you FTC Mentors! (We couldn’t do this without you)mentor month

Contents:

  1. Announcing 1-credit hour Mentor Training
  2. Team Programming Survey
  3. IR Beacons temporarily out of stock
  4. FIRST Scholarships update

1.   Beginning Feb. 18, FTC Coaches and Mentors will have access to a free, IACET certified, online continuing education course.  Visit the FTC Blog for more information.

2.  We want to know what programming language you use.  Let us know by taking this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/V2VZPVD.  It should take 2 minutes or less.

3.   The IR Beacon is temporarily out of stock at HITECHNIC.com.  We currently expect them to be available mid- to late- February.  We’ll keep you posted on any relevant updates to their availability.

4.  Check out the scholarships FIRST students are eligible for.  There are several brand-new ones, like the Bart Kamen FIRST Memorial Scholarship fund.  The deadlines for many of these scholarships are coming soon, so don’t forget to take a look: FIRST Scholarship Updates

 

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Teams & Mentors Invited to Tampa Bay NI LabView User Group Meetings

Posted on January 8, 2013 by tmw2010

NINational Instruments is a proud supporter of  FIRST Robotics and contributes to the FIRST community in a variety of ways, from offering free LabVIEW training for Mentors and providing resources for FLL, FTC and FRC teams through the National Instruments Community for  FIRST Robotics,  to   annual  grants to assist teams.  The Tampa NI LabVIEW User Group has been recently reactivated and is kicking off the New Year with a FIRST presentation for members, and invites local area teams and mentors to attend, to learn more about LabView and National Instruments and related FIRST resources NI offers.

Join us for the return of the Tampa LabVIEW User Group meeting, hosted by Peter Flores, your local. This user group last took place in 2011 and we are happy to announce its return to four meetings in 2013 and beyond!

National Instruments field engineer Peter Flores will provide a brief introduction about National Instruments LabVIEW and the 2013 schedule for the Tampa user group meetings. Austin Smith, academic field engineer, will also provide an introduction from the academic standpoint, and Tampa Based FIRST Central Florida Regional Director Terri Willingham will follow with a presentation about FIRST and the involvement in central Florida.

The first meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 Please register here in advance for this meeting so we can gain an accurate head count for lunch as it will be provided for free by National Instruments.

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Call for FIRST Outreach Teams in Central Florida

Posted on January 8, 2013 by tmw2010

We are FIRST v 2 croppedThere’s no shortage of upcoming opportunities to share your love of FIRST in Central Florida! The following are events to which FIRST  has been invited to have a showcase exhibit presence and we’re looking for showcase teams to participate!

Please reply to twillingham@usfirst.org by the requested date listed next to each event, to be included.  These events will be staffed on a first come, first served basis.

These are active and important (and fun!) outreach events, and participating teams must be able to represent FIRST at the highest level, exhibiting GP conduct at all times, being articulate about their FIRST involvement, capable of engaging event guests in meaningful conversation about what they do and why they do it, and inviting to student visitors to try their hands at driving, CAD or related engineering activities.

Participating teams will receive letters of appreciation from FIRST in Florida, and can use these opportunities to promote their team along with FIRST, get in some drive practice, network with potential new mentors and supporters, learn new things,  and hone presentation and interview skills.  And if you want to see FIRST teams in action, look for our FIRST in Florida Exhibit areas at each of these events!

Upcoming FIRST Outreach Opportunities – January – March, 2013

1 ) Otronicon, Orlando Science Center – Friday, January 18-Monday, January 21  - reply by Jan. 11

The schedule this year is as follows:

  •   Friday                    January 18,          10am – 9pm –
  • Saturday                 January 19           10am – 9pm
  • Sunday                   January 20           10am – 5pm
  • Monday                   January 21          10am– 5pm -

All program levels, need teams of 3-4 students with 1-2 mentors able to provide outreach and demonstration in 3-4 hour shifts

 2) FIRST Night Showcase, Univ. of South Florida, Tampa – Sunday Feb. 3 – 2pm-6pm - reply by  January 25

  • Need 2-4 FRC teams for this Orlando Regional fundraiser event, and 1-2 FLL and FTC teams

3) USF Engineering Expo February 22-23, 2013, University of South FL, Tampa – from 9:00AM – 4:00PM – reply by Feb. 15

  • All programs – able to provide outreach and demos in 4 hour shifts - FIRST will have a full exhibit area at the expo this year

4) Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Pasco Rotary Concourse, Hudson  - March 23 – 10-6pm – reply by March 15

  • All programs – 2-3 teams each, Jr. FLL, FLL, FTC & FRC  – outreach and demos throughout the day

Filed under: FIRST events, FIRST in Florida, FLL, FRC, FTC, Jr. FLL, STEM news | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

FRCs Ultimate Ascent Puts all Four FIRST Programs Underway!

Posted on January 5, 2013 by tmw2010

FIRST_Homepage_Ascent_graphicsIt’s official – with the kick-off of the 2013 FIRST Robotics Competition, Ultimate Ascent,  earlier today, all four FIRST K-12 programs are underway in Florida and nationwide! The intense six week FRC build, this year throws a bunch of old rules out the building, with new drive train possibilities, new components, and a whole new game!  Teams all over the country and internationally gathered together in schools, arenas, homes, Boys & Girls Clubs, 4H centers, and wherever they could to watch the 2013 Season Kick-off.

At the Orlando Science Schools, one of three kick-off locations in Florida, 14 teams came from across central Florida to pick up their Kit watching Grant Imahara videoof Parts and see the kick off. While they waited for the kick off, they sat in on some great presentations on solid design processes and good drive trains, courtesy of hosting team, Clockwork Mania . We’ll be archiving the presentations on our Library page soon.

considering drive trains Now it’s nose to the grindstone for a frenetic six weeks of building before it’s tools down on February 19.

So right now, all over Florida, students in kindergarten through high school are hard at work researching, designing, building, programming and doing outreach in Jr. FIRST LEGO League (Jr. FLL) , FIRST LEGO League (FLL) , FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC),  with students in the latter three vying for coveted spots, via their Regional events, in the FIRST World Championship in St. Louis, MO in April.

If things are heating up in Florida, it’s all that brain power – the collective intellectual and creative energy of nearly 10,000 young people enthusiastically building and learning as they go, developing the teamwork and technical skills to create a better future for themselves, and for us!

Go teams!

Filed under: FIRST Championship, FIRST events, FIRST in Florida, FIRST in the News, FIRST Resources, FLL, FRC, FTC, Jr. FLL, Orlando Regional, South Florida Regional, STEM news | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Happy Holidays from FIRST in Florida

Posted on December 24, 2012 by tmw2010

get what we celebrateFrom FIRST in Florida to you,  hearty best wishes for the holidays, and an enormous thank you  to all the  teachers, parents,  mentors,coaches, engineers,  business people, and to the countless volunteers who make FIRST in Florida possible for thousands of youth statewide.

You’re amazing and the gifts of your dedication and devotion, and the time, energy and money you put into this program because you believe in it and you believe in our kids, is deeply appreciated and valued.   You are helping transform culture in deeply needed ways, giving our youth the support, encouragement, tools and trust they need to live successfully and meaningfully in the world.

All the best to you and your families, and may your new year be rich in the blessings of joy, peace, health and happiness, and all our futures bright with the promise of loved, educated, and cherished children.

Filed under: FIRST in Florida, FLL, FRC, FTC, Jr. FLL | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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