MENTORS

FIRST® mentors and coaches support over half a million students across the globe a year. As a mentor or coach of a FIRST team, you help inspire and empower students to be innovators. You're working side by side with FIRST participants to build their leadership and problem-solving skills and, more importantly, their sense of belonging and self-confidence. Your contribution to the success of FIRST programs is immeasurable.  

As a mentor or coach you can:

Mentors or Coaches can be:

General Expectations of Mentors: 

What does MENTORING look like at team meetings?   

Guide the team towards a good design.

Help troubleshoot problems.

   have students watch and learn.

General Expectations of Students: 

What does BEING mentored look like at team meetings?   

Be open to concerns & suggestions.

Let mentor decide what is "good enough".

    you are right there watching and learning.

Team #1799 Wired-Up!

Defined Mentor Roles:

There are some professional knowledge, skills, and guidance that an FRC team will need to be successful.  We know we need mentors to fulfill these needs.  Once a new mentors is acquainted with the team and knows their availability we will work to put them in a role that is best for everyone.  This role could be year long, just during the season, or shorter term assignment.  For example, a design mentor could teach design for a few meetings in the fall, or lead/guide the design of the competition robot during build season (Jan-Feb).  A business mentor could guide and support the team year round, or work the the students leaders before and during build season on project management, or just assist in developing and sustaining sponsor relationships.  If one of these defined roles is not a match, we will find one that does.  Email me (christopher.gray2@jeffco.k12.co.us) to begin the conversation about mentoring.

FRC Business/Project Management Mentor

 There is an extensive business side to running an FRC team.  Its not just building robots.  Writing/updating the team's business plan, developing a budget, fundraising, purchasing, scheduling, organizing transportation, advertising, and community outreach all are needed for a successful FRC team.  Currently we have 3 students assigned to the business team.  As a team grows, this becomes more important and more students will be assigned to work on these tasks.  When that happens, this job could easily be split into several mentor roles.

Mentor Tasks & Time Commitment for Each (You could volunteer for one or several tasks)

August - Marketing/Recruitment Lesson (1 meetings / 2 hours)

September - Mentor development of Marketing Campaign (3 / 6)

Fall - Project Management Lesson (Gantt Chart) (1 / 2)

Fall - Budget Creation & Documentation Lesson  (1 / 2)

Fall - Video Production Lessons (3 / 6)

January - Mentor Project Gantt Chart - (8 / 16)

February - Mentor Bill of Materials - (2 / 4)

March - Mentor Impact Award Video (first 2 weeks 4 / 8)

Spring - Mentor season debrief and updating Business Plan (2 / 4)

April - Teach How to run meetings Lesson (1 / 2)

May - Teach Leadership Lesson (2 / 4)

Example of Areas of Need

Public Speaking - Presentation

Budget & Scheduling

Planning & Facilitating meetings

Marketing Message Design

Video Editing

Social Media

FIRST Robotics Design Mentor

 Each year the game and rules are reviled to team during the Kick-Off event in January.  Teams have just a few weeks to design an original robot to play the game.  Our team guides the students through a rigorous strategy development and design process.  The identified design is then 3D modeled by students using Autodesk Fusion 360.  This model is used to fabricate the custom designed parts needed for the robot.  We can 3D print, laser cut, and CNC routes parts at school.  More complex parts could be sent out for a team sponsor to make.  The students designer also monitor the assembly and testing of the robot to help troubleshoot any problems that arise.  CAD drawings and specification are developed to document and communicate with the robot design.

Mentor Tasks & Time Commitment for Each (You could volunteer for one or several tasks)

August - 3D Modelling - Part Creation Lesson (Autodesk Fusion 360) (4 meetings / 8 hours)

September - 3D Modelling - Drawing/Dimensioning Lesson (Autodesk Fusion 360) (4 / 8)

Fall - 3D Modelling - Assemblies Lesson (Autodesk Fusion 360) (4 / 8)

Fall - Engineering Design Process Lesson  (1 / 2)

Fall - FRC Robots - Parts & Systems Lesson (2 / 4)

November - Mentor Practice Robot Design (4 / 8)

January - Mentor Robot Design Process - (8 / 16)

February - Mentor Robot Specification & Documentation - (4 / 8)

March - Mentor Robot Design Presentation (4 / 8)

Example of Areas of Need

Identifying Criteria

Facilitating Brainstorming

Evaluating Possible Designs

Forming Consensus

Trouble Shooting

Reviewing Documentation

FIRST Robotics Fabrication Mentor

We can 3D print, laser cut, and CNC routes parts at school from CAD models.  Students are learning to use these machines but they don't have the experience yet to avoid mistake.  A mentor who can help choose materials, advise how to set up fixtures, and who can warns students of predictable mistake would be very valuable.  Students need similar guidance in the use of shop and portable power tools and basic hand tools.  A mentor who has access to professional fabrication shops could make sure part designs are communicated clearly and arrange demonstrations.

Mentor Tasks & Time Commitment for Each (You could volunteer for one or several tasks)

August - Teach Reading Technical Drawings (2 meetings / 4 hours)

September - Teach Part Layout and Machining (2 / 4)

Fall - Teach Laser Engraving w/ Corel and Epilog (3 / 6)

Fall - Teach CNC Routering w/ Vcarve and Shark(4 / 8)

Fall - Teach 3D Printing with GrabCAD Print & Statasys F170 (3 / 6)

November - Mentor Practice Robot Fabrication (6 / 12)

January - Mentor Robot Prototyping - (8 / 16)

February - Mentor Robot Fabrication - (8 / 16)

March - Mentor Pit Packing, Transportation & Setup (4 / 8)

Example of Areas of Need

Selecting Materials

Demonstrating Machines

Minimizing Waste

Reviewing Layouts

Supervision Shop

Trouble Shooting

FIRST Robotics Mechanical Mentor

 A mentor with experience with mechanical systems would be helpful in the design, assembly, and troubleshooting of mechanical robot systems.  Even when following instructions students often make mistakes in assembling gear boxes or forget to install spacers on an axle.  A mentor may have the experience to know when something doesn't sound right, to identify where parts are binding, or advise on which motors to use and what mechanical advantage a gearbox should have.  

Mentor Tasks & Time Commitment for Each (You could volunteer for one or several tasks)

August - Teach Simple Machines w/ Robot Examples (1 meetings / 2 hours)

September - Teach FRC Robot Mechanical Parts (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach Mechanical Advantage - Drive Train (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach Mechanical Advantage - Manipulators (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach Chassis Design, Wheels & Traction (1 / 2)

November - Mentor Practice Robot Design, Assembly, & Testing (6 / 12)

January - Mentor Robot Design & Prototyping (8 / 16)

February - Mentor Robot Assembly & Troubleshooting (8 / 16)

March - Mentor Robot Pit - Maintenance & Checklists (6 / 30)

Example of Areas of Need

Choosing Drive Train

Center of Gravity

Mechanical Advantage

Selecting Motors

Selecting Gearboxes

Reducing Friction

FIRST Robotics Electrical Mentor:

A mentor with experience with electrical systems would be helpful in the design, assembly, and troubleshooting of electrical robot systems.  Our team is getting better at making secure connections, but they need someone encourage high quality work and to inspect systems before they are powered.  A mentor may need to help students identify different gages of wire, suggest the correct type of connectors to use, or identify problems with the routing of wires.  We need to have as good of electrical systems as our team name suggests.  1799 Wired-Up!


Mentor Tasks & Time Commitment for Each (You could volunteer for one or several tasks)

August - Teach Wire Management w/ Robot Examples (1 meetings / 2 hours)

September - Teach FRC Robot Electrical Parts (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach Soldering Wire Connections (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach Crimping Wire Connections (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach Custom Circuits for Robot LED Lights (1 / 2)

November - Mentor Practice Robot Design, Wiring, & Testing (6 / 12)

January - Mentor Robot Design & Testbed for Testing (8 / 16)

February - Mentor Robot Assembly & Troubleshooting (8 / 16)

March - Mentor Robot Pit - Maintenance & Checklists (6 / 30)

Example of Areas of Need

Identifying Wire Gage

Diagraming Circuits

Crimp Connector

Soldering

Selecting Sensors

Wire Management

Electronic Component Layout

FRC Software/Programming Mentor

 FIRST Robotics and other teams have made many standard and example programs available but you need to know what you're looking at and how to adapt it to your team's robot.  There are many different programs needed to set-up electrical components, some devices need their software to be updated often, integrating sensor data takes experience and skill (not just knowledge).  A professional who has work with FRC approved components would be ideal, but with some research any programmer could quickly get up to speed and ready to mentor.

Mentor Tasks & Time Commitment for Each (You could volunteer for one or several tasks)

August - Teach Software Development w/ Robot Examples (1 meetings / 2 hours)

September - Teach FRC Robot Programming - Saving, Deploying, Testing (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach FRC Robot Programming - Drive Station (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach FRC Robot Programming - Autonomous (1 / 2) 

Fall - Teach FRC Robot Programming - Integrating Sensors (1 / 2)

November - Mentor Practice Robot Design, Wiring, & Testing (6 / 12)

January - Mentor Robot Prototype Programming for Testing (8 / 16)

February - Mentor Robot Programming & Troubleshooting (8 / 16)

March - Mentor Robot Pit - Program Adjustments between Rounds (6 / 30)

Example of Areas of Need

File Management

Version Management

Variables

Tuning Motor Controllers

Install Robot Firmware

Debugging Programs

Encoder and Gyro Sensors

FRC Alumni Mentor

 FIRST Robotics Competition are large and complex.  The team would benefit greatly from having a mentor who has experiences several competitions as a students, volunteer and/or mentor. 

Mentor Tasks & Time Commitment for Each (You could volunteer for one or several tasks)

August - Teach History of FRC and Highlight Favorite Games (1 meetings / 2 hours)

September - Teach Gracious Professionalism (1 / 2)

October - Mentor KCMT offseason scrimmage (2 / 10)

Fall - Teach FRC Spirit and Dean's List Award (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach FRC Outreach and Impact Award (1 / 2)

Fall - Teach FRC robot Awards w/ Examples (1 / 2)

November - Mentor Practice Robot   (6 / 20)

January - Teach "Robot in 3 Days"  - (2 / 2)

January - Mentor Robot Strategy & Design (6 / 12)

February - Mentor Colorado Scrimmage - (2 / 10)

March - Teach FRC Buttons, Spirit, & Dancing (1 / 2)

March - Mentor Online Scouting & Develop our Sales Pitch (3 / 6)

March - Mentor Colorado Regional  (4 / 30) 

Example of Areas of Need

Spirit

Team Image

Scouting

Networking w/ Teams



This is what a mentor (from another team) says:

“Today’s world is full of complex problems. Computer Science provides the roadmap to help solve those challenges and build solutions for the future. My experiences with FIRST taught me to embrace problem-solving and ignited my passion for code.”

Natalie Koenig has been involved with FIRST for 13 years. What began as a passion as a middle and high school student has transformed into sharing that very same passion and STEM knowledge as a FIRST mentor and volunteer. She puts her FIRST-gained skills to use as a Software Engineer at FIRST sponsor Zebra Technologies Corporation and utilizes her expertise in Computer Science to inspire the students she mentors to explore the field.

#CSEdWeek #CelebratingProgress #FIRSTAlumni (copied from LinkedIn)