Let it begin…Robotics
Step 1: Set Your Goals
Step 2: Do some robot work and have fun
Step 3: Build the mat
Step 4: Develop a strategy using Computational Thinking
Step 5: Build Robot Base Bots in pairs
Step 6: Test out mission ideas
TIP: DOCUMENT EVERY IDEA!
Step 7: Decide on teams and robot body base design
Step 8: Each team builds 3 copies of robot body
Step 9: Develop team strategy for missions
Step 10: One robot is main robot and other two are for testing purposes
Step 11: Document robot and test ideas right up until tournament time
Let it begin…Research
Step 1: Set Your Goals
Step 2: Brainstorm as many ideas as possible
Step 3: Each person gathers facts about topic of their choice
Step 4: Share facts and ideas
Step 5: Narrow down to top ideas
Step 6: Once teams established narrow down to top 3
Step 7: Final pitches and come to consensus
Step 8: Field trips and prototype designs
Step 9: Begin script writing
Step 10: Begin prop making, memorizing lines, etc.
Step 11: Present to as many people as we can
Step 12: Competition
I also like to keep parents updated with the process. Without parents it is impossible to have the success that we have had over the years. Part of this is communication. As we all know communication is the key to things working smoothly and things falling apart.
I like to send out a weekly newsletter informing parents what we doing, our goals, and how we are moving along. Here are a few samples
Now you can share in a variety of methods. There are times when an email works just fine instead of a Sway or anything fancy. Additionally, you can bring parents into the practice to showcase what the students are doing. The more the parents understand the challenges and expectations, then the more they can help support what needs to be done at home.
Each year we have our students design our shirts. There are so many creative teams out there so this is by no means a perfect example. The best example is the one your team creates.
The beauty of FLL is that students have a chance to take the amazing ideas from inside their heads and bring them outside to the real world. We brainstorm a lot and always have students turn around and prove it. If they are sold on their idea, then work to make it happen!
We may not use the idea, but it just might help us learn something new and inspire us to find our solutions.