oregon robotics tournament and outreach program ii. coaching/mentoring techniques workshop for...
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Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program
II. Coaching/Mentoring II. Coaching/Mentoring Techniques Workshop Techniques Workshop for Mindstorms NXTfor Mindstorms NXT
20072007
Opening doors to the worlds of Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for science and technology for
Oregon’s youthOregon’s youth
Instructor Contacts
Ken ConeKen Cone
[email protected][email protected]
503-725-2918503-725-2918
Roger SwansonRoger Swanson
[email protected]@hevanet.comom
503-297-1824503-297-1824
Jim RyanJim Ryan
[email protected]@intel.comom
971-215-6087971-215-6087
Scott StankoScott Stanko
[email protected]@intel.comom
(971) 215-9677(971) 215-9677
Today’s Goals Focus on being a coach or mentor
using Mindstorm NXT robotics kits I hope you leave:
Feeling more comfortable about your role
Having some more tools in your bag of tricks
Understanding better what it takes to solve a challenge.
Having gotten your questions answered Have some fun!!
Agenda Review our Mission Forming your team Registering your team Equipping your team Managing your team NanoQuest Challenge kit Use NXT Robots from last week to
program more with the Mindstorms NXT Software
Our Mission Program not just about building robots and
competing in tournaments Teach skills
Specific technical skills General life skills
Show that technical problem solving can be fun The youngsters do the work – Coaches’ Honor
Code and Team Promise Open up the possibility of technical careers One secret opportunity
We’re We’re asking you asking you to help us!to help us!
Forming Your Team
Where Teams Come From School Based
In class: Perhaps 45 minutes a day After school: Perhaps 1.5 hours; 2 to 4 times a
week Special block: Several hours once a week
Club Based Probably after school or evening
Independent team After school, evenings, or weekends
We encourage you to find and include youngsters that normally would not have this exposure
Where to Meet Large enough space to handle the
number of youngsters on the team Space for challenge field setup –
4’x8’ Access to a computer Storage space between meetings
Challenge table Partially built robot Lego parts
Team size High initial interest may fade Sub-teams of 2-3 can work in parallel
Experiment with prototypes Learn programming techniques Work on the presentation
Eventually team should stabilize at 10 or less
5 to 7 team members is probably ideal
You Need Adults, Too! Coach – The person in charge
Organizes the team Does not need to be a techie
Mentor – The technical guru Provides technical advice Provides the technical basics
One person can play both roles But, don’t go it alone Recruit other adults to supervise sub-
teams
Coach – The Person in Charge Single point of contact for team Understands the FLL and ORTOP
programs Management expertise more important
than technical expertise Recruits the team Registers the team Arranges for equipment Schedules meetings Sets the philosophy and instills team spirit Is a good role model
Mentor – The Technical Guru Technical Advisor to assist the coach Teaches both robot design and
programming Helps set achievable goals Encourages structured problem
solving Follow typical engineering project models Experiment with one variable at a time
Graduates of FLL can work as mentors
General Advice to All Adults This is the kids’ project, not yours Be a good role model Keep a positive attitude Encourage teamwork and insist on
mutual respect Don’t over emphasize “winning” –
demonstrating a solution at a tournament is success
Have fun
FLL Team Promise We are a team. We do the work to find the solutions with
guidance from our coaches and mentors. We honor the spirit of friendly competition. What we discover is more important than what
we win. We share our experiences with others. We display gracious professionalism in
everything we do. We have fun.
Registering Your Team
Team Registration National registration through FLL:
http://register4fll.com/ May through end of September or when
max reached $200 FLL registration fee Receive Coaches Handbook, web forum
access, DVDs on FIRST and FLL, and support
Optional ordering of kits First-Come-First-Served, so REGISTER
EARLY!!
Purchases at FLL Registration Registration fee: $200 FLL Robot Set (NXT) $325 Field set-up kit: $65 Extra parts: motors and sensors
(rotation, light, and touch) They don’t ship until they are paid
ORTOP State Registration Takes place in October 2007 $50 fee for ORTOP We notify all coaches that have
registered with FLL in Oregon and SW Washington Provide list of local tournaments Ask for 3 local tournament choices in
priority order We assign teams to local tournaments Register early!!
Equipping Your Team
Minimum Resources to Start
A robotics kit A computer A place to meet and practice
Classroom Family room Garage
Additional Resources 2007 FLL “Power Puzzle” Field Setup kit
(only from FLL) Mission Model Set Field Mat
Practice table (design on FLL website) http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?
pid=11330 4’x8’ bottom Railing around the sides Overhead light
Robotics Kit Info RCX-based kits
LEGO kit used by FLL in past years Can still be used in tournament in 2007 They will be phased out eventually
NXT-based kits Brand new last year $325 if ordered during FLL registration Ship to registered teams starting in mid-May
Robotics Kit Info – NXT-Based FLL NXT -- $325
Complete kit with two tubs and sorting trays NXT software
LEGO Education NXT Base Set -- $250 Fewer parts with one tub and sorting trays No software
LEGO Retail -- $250 Fewer parts with no sorting trays Includes NXT software
See NXT Kit Details handout for details
Allowed NXT Robot Parts NXT controller (1) Motors (3) Touch sensors (2) Light sensors (2) Lamp (1) Rotation sensors (3 minus the
number of NXT motors present) Ultrasonic sensor (1)
Team Uniforms?? Many teams do something for the
tournaments Team shirts, hats, etc Theme clothing
Team sponsor advertising on a T-shirt, etc. is OK
Example Team Budget National Registration Fee: $200 State Registration Fee: $50 2007 Robotics Kit: $325 2007 Field Setup Kit: $65 Materials for table: $50-$100 Misc. including batteries, shipping: $50-
$100 Total: $740-$840
Possible Sources of team funding
Fundraising Activities
ORTOP Scholarship
Team Member Dues
Team Sponsors
Having some portion Having some portion of costs picked up by of costs picked up by team members gives team members gives a sense of a sense of commitmentcommitment
ORTOP Scholarships Funding should not be an obstacle to
a team’s participation Cover up to $760 in team costs Accepting applications now Awards made at least monthly Last date is September 16, 2007 http://www.ortop.org/
res.htm#scholar
Managing Your Team
Meeting Organization How often and how long to meet
Most teams meet 2-3 times per week After school, evenings, weekends as team
desires Some add extras as get closer to end > 1 hr (set up and take down) < 3 hrs (attention span)
At least 2 adults present during meetings – can use parents who take turns
Set ground rules -- E.g. don’t turn kids loose to walk home by themselves after dark
Refreshments / snacks
Team Kick-off Meeting Every child brings parent Set expectations with both Send kids off to build with LEGOs
Get assistant to help Build with instructions, like the
Constructopedia Something they can all do at once
Explain the real situation to the parents
Parent Involvement Explain program/FLL philosophy
Success = Participation Explain team rules Discuss participation commitment
for kids Review costs and funding sources Communicate about tournament Solicit help
Getting Started with the Kids
Set Team Goals Decide responsibilities
Can rotate, especially near beginning Usually will want to be fixed as near tournament Need backup roles due to absences
Set milestones – use project management analogy Set dates for each phase of project to keep on
track Include design, build, test, REWORK
Encourage participation in a team environment
Learning Opportunities Encourage risk taking
It’s OK to fail Key is to manage the risk
Encourage experimentation Expect failure – focus on what is
learned as a result Problem solving takes time –
Edison’s experience with light bulb filament
Facilitate Structured Problem Solving
Defining problem Brainstorming Evaluating alternatives Choosing alternative Implementing Evaluating & testing
Hard vs.. Soft Skills Hard Skills
Mechanical Design
Programming Analysis Problem Solving Experimentation Documentation
Turn these youth into little engineers
Soft Skills Timeliness Teamwork Tact and
Compromise Confidence Courtesy Perseverance Planning
Build a Foundation Introduce techniques and concepts
Build or bring demos Discuss advantages and disadvantages Let kids figure out how to apply concept to
Challenge If meetings start before Challenge is
announced, can use mini-challenges to introduce concepts
One approach: use 5-10 minutes at start of each meeting to introduce concepts
Sample Concepts Pick one or two new subjects per
session Structural strength: bracing vs. snapped
pieces Gear ratios: torque vs. speed Traction: tracks vs. wheels Friction: tires vs. skids Programming techniques: linear vs. loops
vs. subroutines
Divide and conquer Three basic robot functions:
Locomotion: how the robot moves Navigation: how it knows where to go Robotic Action: function it performs
Locomotion Motors Gears/pulleys Wheels/tracks Steering Friction
Navigation Time, but sensitive to battery charge Touch Sensors
Means of triggering Pressed vs. release
Light Sensors Light levels Darker/lighter Calibrating thresholds
Rotation sensor
Robotic Action Pushing Grabbing Lifting Dumping
With All the Focus on the Robot and the Challenge…
Don’t Forget the Judging
Technical Judging – 25% Panel of “experts” interviews teams
Robot design: Creativity and robustness Programming: Creativity and robustness
Prepare the team to: Explain their design of the robot and its
program Demonstrate at least one mission on the
challenge field Bring a printout of the program
Presentation Judging – 25%
Don’t ignore it Another good learning opportunity
Research skills and presentation skills (remember the marketing kid? )
Good engineering requires research and communication
Format 10 minutes including setup Posterboards, skits, models,
Powerpoint, . . .
Sources of ideas Constructopedias/Manuals/Guides NXT Software Tutorial on CD-ROM Books – http://www.ortop.org/res.htm#books Web links – http://www.ortop.org/res.htm#links
Lego FIRST INSciTE -- Minnesota FLL Tufts University – Inventor of
Robolab NXT is new so not all resources are NXT
specific – still usefull for general techniques
Art of Lego CMU Best Practices
Our Mailing Lists Totally voluntary, and you can opt out ortopvol
All volunteers One way from ORTOP to our volunteers We add you when you volunteer
ortopcm Coaches and mentors Communication among that group and with
ORTOP We add you when you complete a workshop
Next Steps Take Dale Yocum’s NXT Tutorial:
http://www.ortop.org/NXT_Tutorial/ Sign-up for another workshop
III. Robotics Techniques Workshop http://www.ortop.org/res.htm#REG
ESCO – “Robotics Mentorships as a Developmental Career Opportunity”
Contact Us
Web site: http://www.ortop.orgEmail: [email protected]: 503-725-2920