42 Days of BEST


“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

 

 
                                                          Week Six

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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