MSHSL Partnership with FIRST Robotics

FIRST Robotics - Basics • Team receives a kit of parts

and builds a robot to meet a specific challenge/game

• Teams are often school based, but can be company/organization based

• Team needs an advisor (to organize, etc.), but has mentors (from local businesses, retirees, etc.) to help with the technical know-how.

FIRST in Minnesota

• Has grown to more than 150 teams in six

years

• Teams compete in one of three FIRST-run

Regional Competitions in March

• Top 24-28 based on FIRST-created point

system will qualify for MSHSL State

Tournament

• Leading sponsors: Medtronic, NASA, 3M,

JCPenney, Pentair, Boston Scientific, and

more. Sponsors are key.

MSHSL Partnership with FIRST • Did NOT change

anything that FIRST already did –annual robot challenge, tournament structure, team recognition, rules, etc.

• Added a State Tournament

• Added publicity, state wide cohesiveness, and additional interest within schools.

Appeal of FIRST Culture

• Coopertition/Gracious Professionalism

• Scouting, Match Partners, Alliance

Selections, Marketing

• Dancing, cheering,

mascot parades

between matches

• Acceptance

• Academic

• Can “Go Pro.”

Season Schedule • FIRST challenge

announced via live national webcast the first Saturday of January

• March: Regionals

• Late April: Nationals in St. Louis (will not affect most teams)

• May: Minnesota State Tournament.

State Tournament Schedule

(One-Day Tournament) • Thursday/Friday - Set up (FIRST)

• Friday evening – teams drop off Robots and supplies (in their “pit” area)

• Saturday early morning – teams set up pits, get Robot inspected, scout other teams, etc.

• Saturday morning – preliminary matches (3 teams vs. 3 teams, each team got 8 matches partnered with different teams)

• Saturday noon – alliance selection for finals

• Saturday afternoon – finals

• Saturday 4:00 p.m. – awards.

MSHSL and FIRST

Responsibilities • Facility

• Ticket sales and wristbands

• Sales and creation of souvenir programs, tee shirts, additional merchandise

• Gave certificates, souvenir bag tags

• Communication with FIRST and facility

• Food/beverage for volunteers

• Awards.

• Qualification system and determination

• Set-up/equipment

• Volunteers/staff

• Communication with team advisors

• Negotiating contracts with technical providers

• Running the competition.

MSHSL Adjustments

• Adjustment from other activities

- School Affiliation … some aren’t

- Registering teams

- Just run State Tournament, not season

- More reliance/expertise from FIRST

advisors

- Communication with advisors.

Handouts • List of Regional Directors and Contact Info

• Press Release

• Letter to Principals

• Fact Sheet/List of MN Teams

• Spring Update

• FIRST material.

More Information • YouTube: Search “Science is Rock and

Roll” (Six videos from ABC’s special about FIRST Robotics)

• www.usfirst.org

• Talk with administrators in your state who have a team

• Contact FIRST Regional Director.

QUESTIONS?

Minnesota State High School League Supports STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) through FIRST Robotics Competition Brooklyn Center, Minnesota - August 25, 2011 - Recognizing the importance of science and math extracurricular activities, the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors has voted to partner with FIRST in supporting Robotics Competitions. This will make the FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics program, which has 131 teams throughout Minnesota, more mainstream in Minnesota's high schools by giving it the status and state-wide cohesiveness of other popular extracurricular activities. In a broader sense, it will help FIRST to realize its vision of a world in which young people dream of becoming our future science and technology leaders. Minnesota is well-poised to make FIRST a mainstream program as it has the fourth-largest state contingent of teams in the nation and hosts the largest of the more than 50 FIRST Robotics regional competition events. This event consistently fills Williams and Mariucci Arenas on the University of Minnesota campus with a combined total of 123 teams. In its partnership with FIRST, the MSHSL will promote the FIRST Robotics Competition among Minnesota high schools, support a state championship for which teams qualify at FIRST Robotics regional competitions in March, and provide teams the same prominence of other MSHSL activities within their schools. We encourage media representatives to cover FIRST Robotics events in Minnesota just as you cover hockey, cross country, speech, soccer and other activities. The accomplishments of the teams are often amazing, and visually captivating enough to be newsworthy and on-par with those of their athletic counterparts. As FIRST Founder Dean Kamen often states: "We are what we celebrate." The MSHSL is excited to start celebrating STEM! The FIRST Robotics Competition is a high school level program of FIRST, a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit based in Manchester, NH. FIRST was founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen in 1989 to inspire America's young people to pursue future careers in science and technology by creating the same levels of fun, recognition, and celebration that students experience from participating on major high school athletic teams. The FIRST Robotics program has 2072 teams and completed its 20th season in 2011. Minnesota's FIRST Robotics contingent has grown from 2 to 131 teams during the past five years. The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, nonprofit association of public and private schools with a history of service to Minnesota's high school youth since 1916. Today, nearly 500 schools are members of the League. These member schools provide opportunities for athletic and fine arts competition for more than 200,000 high school students statewide each year.

Contacts:

If you have questions about this MSHSL partnership, please contact David Stead or Amy Doherty at the MSHSL office. dstead@mshsl.org, 763-569-0480/adoherty@mshsl.org, 763-569-0495 If you would like to learn more about the FIRST Robotics Competition, please contact Ken Rosen, who represents the program in Minnesota. kr71@aol.com

August 2011 To Principals: We are pleased to announce that the Minnesota State High School League is sanctioning the FIRST Robotics Competition, making it the MSHSL's first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program. As a national leader supporting the inclusion of all high school students under the umbrella of leadership, teamwork, creative thinking, cooperation, and other life skills, the MSHSL will uniquely connect FIRST students, mentors, program supporters, school communities, and the values of participation through the use of expanding technology and competition. In this new partnership with FIRST, the MSHSL will promote the FIRST Robotics Competition among Minnesota high schools and support a state championship competition event for which teams qualify at FIRST Robotics regional competitions in the Twin Cities and Duluth. During the past five years, the FIRST Robotics program has grown from two to 131 teams throughout Minnesota, and has established a track record of developing a passion among high school students for science and technology. In addition, the program is popular because it has proved to be an excellent life experience for students, as they learn about teamwork, leadership and the real world challenge of pursuing a big objective with limited resources. Our partnership with FIRST Robotics Competition will help to make the program more of a mainstream activity at Minnesota high schools and strengthen the cohesiveness among the state's teams. Feel free to contact David Stead or Amy Doherty if you have questions about this MSHSL partnership. If you would like to learn more about the FIRST Robotics Competition, please contact Ken Rosen, who represents the program in Minnesota at kr71@aol.com. We have included information on the program, including a list of the 2011 Minnesota teams. Sincerely, Dave Stead Amy Doherty