How To Host a FIRST Robotics Workshop Day Nancy McIntyre FIRST Senior Mentor Chair Southern California Regional Organizing Committee Program Director Eagle Engineering Team #1138 Purpose of the Day      To prepare teams for the upcoming FIRST season. To help teams get organized. To encourage teams to fully participate in all of the facets of the competition. To get teams excited about the upcoming season. To bring local area teams together. Audience       Students Mentor Engineers Teachers Parents Potential Sponsors Rookie Teams Developing a Planning Schedule      Start Early Work backwards from the event date. Order materials so that they arrive a week ahead of time. Follow up with presenters for last minute changes. Have all details taken care of early in the week of the event. Selecting a Day      Begin at least six months ahead of time to secure a location. Check with area schools to see what else is going on locally that could impact your event. Check with the College Board exams that take place in the fall. Stay away from holiday weekends. Inform teams of the date well in advance of the event. The Program  Motivation Motors Drive Systems Pneumatics Arms and Lifts CAD 3D Studio Max Animation How To Story Boarding Animation Work Session Website Design How To Give a Presentation FIRST Awards FIRST Scholarships Chairman’s Award Intro to Electronics Advanced Electronics Programming Intro to C Advanced Programming Sensors Camera Rookie Workshop Design Process Business Plan Systems Engineering Leadership/ Team building Organization Mentor Workshop Team Organization Time Management Team Spirit Summer Camps Vex FIRST Lego League How to Use Parents Safety Project Management Teacher’s Workshop/NASA Alliance Robotics Projects Scouting Welding FIRST Store  Lunch Time LAPD Bomb Squad Medtronics Caltech DARPA Team Shell Solar Technologies ITT Tech Walt Disney Imagineering Lunch Time  Demonstrations and Table Presentations – – – –  Local Bomb Squad Local Technology Companies FIRST Scholarship Providers Local Professional Organizations Food Options {Keeping teams at the event site provide them with the opportunity to share information that they have learned in the morning sessions.} – Have teams bring a potluck lunch and tailgate – Have a local company cater lunch – Have everyone bring their own lunch Strand Workshops  Rookie – Introduction to FIRST – Fund Raising – Project Management  Animation – Autodesk {Double Session} – Storyboarding – Work Session  Teacher – How to Use Parents – Organization Techniques – Robotic Curriculum for the Classroom  Mentor – How to be a Mentor – Project Management – Strategy Securing Equipment    Communicate through writing to with each of the presenters to find out what they need to be successful. Have needed materials in place in their rooms or at a central check in location. Typical items include DLP projectors to hook up to lap tops, Internet access, Overhead projectors, microphones. Developing an Event Budget           Location rental Equipment rental Food for hospitality room for presenters. Making Photo copies. Signs Office supplies Handouts Parking Security or Physical Plant staff as needed. Thank you gift for presenters. Registration     Have teams pre- register to ensure that you have enough sessions and rooms. Provide a financial incentive for teams to register early. Allow for onsite registration at an increased rate. Develop a budget for the event and use the funds to offset your expenses Volunteer Staff  Develop a committee to complete the advance work. – Speaker Coordinator. – Lunch Time Presentations. – Lunch Food for Presenters, Staff, Audience. – Equipment – Location Liaison – Registration – Publicity Additional Volunteer Staff Onsite       Presenter Check In Hospitality Center for Presenters Team Check In Coordinator for student team to assist presenters with materials to their rooms. Staff an information table on FIRST. Keep a person in the event office for the day. Selecting Presenters     Look for local experts who work with teams. Look for companies that you would like to involve in FIRST and ask for their time. Look for groups and organizations who specialize in a specific area. Work with local universities, community colleges, and trade schools. Details       Parking Directions Air conditioning / Heat Signs for rooms/ maps Two way radios or cell phones are a good source of communication for trouble shooting. Having an adult in each room. How to Get Started      Address the needs of your local teams Start small Add one or two new things each year. Ask for feed back from students and adult participants. Involve teams in support roles. – Hosts for the event. – Check in – Demonstrations at lunch For additional information or To attend our event on November 4, 2006 at California State University Northridge School of Engineering Northridge, California  Contact: Nancy McIntyre [email protected] 818 347 8300