Partnership Guides

PARTNERSHIP GUIDE

What A Commitment To SET BEST Means

 

                                    com*mit*ment:  a promise to do something          - Webster’s Dictionary

More than just pledges and declarations of intent - commitment is characterized by Action.  And not only just ‘Busy Work’, but steady, perservering, meaningful work and energy expended to achieve specific goals, products or conditions that satisfy predetermined expectations.

SET BEST is a non-profit organization whose volunteer members work with local business, government, and academic sectors to provide area high school students with a unique learning experience, and motivate them toward studies and careers in science, engineering, and technology.

SET BEST volunteers accomplish their mission through sponsorship of a sports-like competition that features remote-controlled robotic vehicles designed and built by students, in a thrilling head-to-head competition.  Teachers and students from area high schools are teamed up with corporate sponsors and technical volunteers who guide the students through the design, construction, test, modification, and competition phases.

 

 When Does It Happen?

For a 6-week period beginning in September, students work with their mentors to learn real-world applications such as project management and engineering design, and apply what they learn to the design and fabrication of their vehicles.  The experience reaches a climax on competition day, when student competitors have the opportunity for their robotic gladiators to go head-to-head against the competition.  This local competition usually takes place in October or November.  Two or three weeks later, the top teams from SET BEST meet top teams from other Texas cities at Texas A&M University for the Texas BEST Championship and bragging rights as “State Champion.”

 

The Kickoff

For about 3 hours one weekend in September, organizers and teams members assemble at a local high school to unveil this year’s game (which for now is kept a secret).  The game design has a significant influence on how the robots are designed and built.  Figuring out how to make your robot accomplish the goals of the game is part of the learning experience.  At the Kickoff, teams will receive game rules, instructions, and identical parts kits from which to build their robots - no additional materials may be used.  Under the BEST concept, the students are to be the principle architects and builders of the robots, while technical volunteers serve as mentors and are there to guide and inspire the students through the process, as well as answer any technical questions they may have.  After the Kickoff meeting, we suggest teams allocate time to organize their 6-week project, get acquainted with other team members, and develop a plan for success.  Teacher-volunteers will play an important role in overseeing student involvement.  There are rules pertaining to student extra curricular activities and teachers are there to assist with proper adherence to the rules.  Additionally, they know best what it takes to motivate the students!

 

How You Can Help

SET BEST is an all-volunteer organization.  Our only pay is the satisfaction of helping our youth achieve their dreams.  In order to reach as many students as possible, we need your help.  Please review your schedule and give us a call to see how you can get involved - both technical and non-technical assistance is needed.  As the popular motivational saying goes:

 

“We can’t spell  s ccess without ‘u’.”

COMMITMENT SUGGESTIONS

Teachers:  (there should be a minimum of 2 teachers per team/school)
-  Be prepared to work with your team 2 - 3 evenings a week until competition day
-  Teacher(s) must be present when students are participating
-  Facilitate student permission slips
-  Help break the ice between students and volunteers
-  Ensure student involvement meets school criteria
-  Provide a design and fabrication facility (e.g., school's shop classroom)
-  Provide team guidance in areas such as recording team events, promoting the competition within the school, cheering section, tee-shirts & caps, taking photos, etc.
-  Help maintain student participation and motivation
-  Supervise any student transportation

 Technical Volunteers:  (there should be between 2 and 4 per team/school)
-  Be prepared to work with your team 2 - 3 evenings a week until competition day
-  Help students get organized - Teach them about project management techniques
-  Your responsibilities are to guide the students through the process of planning, scheduling, designing, building, prototyping, testing, modifying, etc.  The students must perform the actual functions
-  Your must ensure technical assistance is available at all meetings.  Until you feel confident that tasks are progressing smoothly, you should plan on at least 1 teacher and 2 technical volunteers for each meeting for up to 3 after-school sessions per week.  Until the teams feel confident of meeting their schedule, a Saturday session or two may be appropriate

    Students:

-  Be prepared to work with your team 2 -3 evenings per week until competition day
-  Make a commitment to learn the real-world processes you will experience
-  Ask questions of the engineers and technical volunteers
-  Commit to participate in team meetings
-  Keep your school grades up to allow you to continue as a team member

COMMITMENT SUGGESTIONS

 

 Corporate Sponsors:
-  Provide financial support and encourage technical employees to volunteer
-  Funding for remote-controlled vehicle parts kits
-  Provide banners, team tee-shirts, caps, etc.
-  Provide incentives for employee volunteers to participate

 

Parent/Guardian Volunteers:

-  Be prepared to work with your team 2 - 3 evenings a week until competition day

-  Give permission and encourage your student(s) to participate
-  Assist in areas where you have expertise (technical or non-technical); also, help may be needed (as is very much appreciated), in areas such as transportation, cheering the team, practice game field construction, team refreshments, photography, etc.

Schools:

-  Assist Capitol BEST in soliciting corporate sponsors (ideally, those closest to campus)

- Obtain/make available electro-mechanical/milling machines equipment for use by the students
-  Provide incentives for teacher(s) to participate
-  Provide a wood or metal shop for design and fabrication of the vehicles and mechanisms
-  Help assure teams comply with school and district rules and regulations
-  Present students with school certificates of recognition upon completing the competition

BEST is a partnership.  Students, schools, mentors, corporations, government organizations, and other volunteers and supporters have come together to make this competition a reality.  To assure maximum success, each team member must be committed to attend scheduled design and fabrication meetings.  The meetings require the presence of students, a teacher, and a couple of technical volunteers.  Therefore, it is important that a team schedule be developed early on in the process, and commitments made to attend.

"Plan your work, and then work your plan."  Best of luck to all teams and we'll see you at the Local & Regional Championships!