“42 Days of BEST”
The following is a “generic”
schedule to follow. Each hub establishes its own guidelines, deadlines, etc.
Different teams organize themselves in many different ways. This is just one
example of tasks to manage.
Pre-Kick Off
R
Recruit support (teachers and/or parents)
o Industrial Arts/Shop – provide workspace, tools, expertise, after-hours
access; serve as safety officer; support the “manufacturing process”
o Computer Science – supervise web team administration, web site design
o Graphic Arts/Journalism – supervise BEST Award project summary notebook, table
display design/construction
o Drama – BEST
Award oral presentation and table display interview coaching
o Travel Agent/Parent – someone to help organize 3 trips (plus Regionals); distribute/collect
permission slips, medical release forms, lodging, etc.
R
Recruit mentors locally
o Make sure they understand the time commitment!
o Anyone can be a mentor - parents are welcomed!
o No engineering degree or robotics experience required
o Folks with technical or mechanical interest and
experience are most helpful
o Engineers/technical professionals can be found in
public utility companies
R
Recruit students for BEST team
o Determine eligibility (GPA restrictions, discipline)
o Recruit students from mixed grades
o Stress BEST is a student-led, not teacher-led
competition
o Stress ownership and responsibility
o Identify strong officer material – competent,
dependable students
R
Develop local funding support
o Work with Fundraising Team Leader to: §
Identify needs • Travel (transportation,
food and/or lodging) to BEST events
• T shirt printing
• Materials for BEST Award (notebook, presentation,
table display)
• Spirit materials (banners, posters, shakers, etc)
§
Prepare an estimated budget
§
Identify local sponsors
§
Devise solicitation plan/campaign
§
Develop a process for handling contributions
§
Develop sponsor recognition efforts
R
Conduct team building exercises with
students
o “Break the ice” so students and mentors feel
comfortable in team setting
o Work with mentors to lead activities
o Utilize activities on the Teacher-Mentor Training
WorkshopCD, check the internet, or create your own
o Incorporate a “reflection component” to each activity §
What did you learn about yourself?
About others?
o Incorporate opportunities for mentors to share how
leadership and teamwork are used in their work
R
Begin BEST Award discussions
o Identify who will work on BEST Award (notebook, oral
presentation, table display and interview, and t-shirt/team logo design
R
Conduct pre-construction session with
students, mentors
o Have “safety officer” lead a tool and shop safety
session
o Go over in-case-of-emergency steps
o Set up ground rules for tool use
o Go over medical release form (if appropriate)
o NOTE: it is always appropriate for
mentors to operate power equipment instead of students!
R
Kick Off Day planning
o Travel plans (transportation, food, release forms)
o NOTE: you
will need room for: § Four
(4) pieces of plywood (ea 4-ft. square)
§
Bundle of pvc pipe (4” wide x 5’ long)
§
Large box of parts
o Team assignments (sub-groups for playing field and
robot dynamics, BEST Award team leader, photographer, etc.)
Week One
R Attend
Kick Off Day
o Team
registration
o BEST Award
sign-up
§
Attend BEST Award meeting (for
teacher/students)
o Receive Returnables Kit, Consumables Kit, Game Rules
packet
o Video/photograph playing field and prototype robot
R Check
BEST Award progress
o Establish
team “theme” after studying the game
o Establish
specific committees
§
Finance
§
Publicity
§
T-shirt design
§
Team song
§
Project Summary Notebook
§
Table Display
§
Photography
§
Oral Presentation
o Help finance
team get started (Strategy for fundraising)
o Establish time-line
for each sub-project
o Establish
committee meeting times
R Hold
team meeting
o Study game
rules
o Select a
Game Rules monitor (an expert who will keep the team in compliance)
o Discuss
construction of mock playing field § NOTE: this would make a great mentor or parent support
group project!
o Discuss and
plot strategy for design and construction
o Test motor
capabilities
o Begin design
discussion
o Assign team
members to sub-groups
R Manage
fundraising efforts
Week Two
R Continue
design discussion
R Build
running platform
R
Perform preliminary design
R
Continue BEST Award progress
o Committees should give regular progress reports to the
coach and to the BEST Award team
o Establish ideas for team “give-aways” (order, buy,
beg, make)
o Be sure to write thank you notes to any sponsors….this
process should be ongoing throughout the six weeks and beyond
o Remind the Robotics team to keep written progress
reports that can be used in the notebook
o Take pictures!!
R Manage
fundraising efforts
Week Three
R Finalize
design and build!!! (Construction phase in full-swing)
R Continue
BEST Award progress
o Check status
of t-shirt design and printing
o Check
materials for table display
o Continue
documentation for notebook
o Start
coordinating with other school support (band, cheerleaders, mascot, etc)
o Schedule
community visits to promote BEST
R Manage
fundraising efforts
Week Four
R Continue
construction phase
R Continue
BEST Award progress
o Contact newspapers: write article/photos
o Order T-shirts
o Sketch out script for oral presentation
o Make sure Tech team has been taking dailynotes
o Team-building activity (morale booster)
R Make
plans for traveling to Mall Day
R Mall
Day Sign-up Deadline
Week Five
R Complete
construction
R Test
drive machine
R Continue
BEST Award progress
o Start assembling table display
o Fine tune oral presentation
o Organize give-aways
o Notebook should be almost complete
o Put up promotional flyers at the school and in the
community
o Get ready for Mall Day – support the Robotics team
R Attend
Mall Day
o Optional
event for all teams
o Suggestion: don’t reveal too much about your machine
-- limit adornment!
o NOTE: we
strongly recommend that teams come to Mall Day even if their machines are not
functional. This is a great way to check out the competition and “borrow” great
ideas (corporate espionage) to help you solve a problem or improve your team’s
design.
R Update
sign-up schedules
o Due by Tuesday of Week Six:
§
BEST Award Project Engineering Notebook
§
BEST Award Oral Presentation Schedule
Sign-up
R Finalize
construction and/or make repairs
R Continue
test-driving and driving practice
R Finalize
BEST Award components
o Assemble
project notebook after Mall Day
o Entire team
briefed about:
– the robot design
– the
team table display
o Review good
sportsmanship
o Rehearse oral presentation, paying particular
attention to time constraints
o Put finishing touches on table display
R
Sign-Up Deadline (Tuesday of Game
Week)
o BEST Award Project Engineering Notebooks
mailed/delivered
o BEST Award Oral Presentation Schedule Sign-up
o BEST Award Oral Presentation Equipment Sign-up
o Drivers List
Game Day
R Team
registration (on-site)
o BEST Award
Project Engineering Notebook pick-up
o BEST Award
Oral Presentation room assignments
R BEST
Award Table Display set-up (by a pre-determined time)
R Compliance
Check-in
R Opening
ceremony
o Official
welcome
R
BEST Award Table Display & Interview
judging
R Robotics
competition (Preliminary Round 1)
R Robotics
competition (Preliminary Round 2)
R
Robotics Competition (Championship Round)
R
Awards ceremony
o Introduce
key personnel and judges
o Competition
Awards (1st – 3rdplace teams)
o BEST Award
(1 st – 3rd place teams)
R Brief
meeting after competition for advancing teams
o Sign-ups and
deadlines at Regionals
§ Project Summary Notebook deadline (due date)
§ Team photo sign-up
§ Oral Presentation sign-up
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