RM BEST 2012

Teacher /Mentor Tips

Lois WaltonLois.walton@comcast.net

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Helpful Resources Helpful Information at the BRI (BEST

Robotics, Inc) website Coaches Survival Guide

http://best.eng.auburn.edu-- Participants > File Manager > Public Files > Survival Guide 

Helpful information at the Rocky Mountain BEST website

http://www.rockymountainbest.org

Look under Team / Mentor Resources

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Organizing A BEST Team Carefully read the rules and the technical data. Review the construction materials allowed. Designate a key person and assistant for each of the

following areas: Game Rules Robot tasks and strategy Joystick and CORTEX Microcontroller Batteries and Chargers Mechanical/Structural systems Materials Documentation BEST award components

Double duty may be necessary. Read the rules and technical data again.

Organizing a BEST Team Determine which members of the

Teacher / Mentor team can help with which skills

Who understands the Engineering Process Who can help students create Engineering

Notebook Who has shop skills Who can help with presentation skills for

marketing presentation for BEST award … etc.

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Build & Follow A Schedule

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Follow the Engineering Process

Define the Problem Read the Rules Determine All Requirements Research Similar Designs Inventory Resources Available

Brainstorm Strategy and Design Possibilities Evaluate the Strategies & Design Approaches Analyze Several Alternative Solutions Select Strategy & Preliminary Design

Configuration Accomplish Detail Design

Build Prototypes if Necessary Build & Test Modify if Necessary & Retest Document Process & Decisions (Don’t wait until

end!) Deliver Product

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Engineering Process The Engineering Process is an

important part of the BEST program Be sure students understand and follow it! Be sure the Notebook does a good job of

documenting that they followed the process!

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Brainstorming Approaches

Can be used for the Robot as a whole For parts of the Robot

Grabber Power Train

For attributes Constraints Goals Requirements Functions

For Strategy For Notebook For BEST Award components –

presentation and booth

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Brainstorming Approaches

Must live within the design space Review brainstorming rules before

beginning See page 43 of Survival Guide

Let the Creativity Flow Don’t let the team marry the first idea Beware of

“you / we can’t…” “you / we have to…”

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Decision Matrix One method to choose between ideas

that came from brainstorming

See page 44 of Survival Guide for process Narrow down to ~5 best ideas Come up with Factors that will help you

make the decision Create the Matrix and fill in the values

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Gallery Method Can be used in small or large groups

to develop design alternatives

Each member sketches a design idea

All sketches are posted

Every member can comment on any idea

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6-3-5 MethodOne way to begin generating Design Alternatives

6 team members 3 ideas each (described in words or

pictures) 5 team members review each design

idea

No discussions during the process Can be modified to N – 3 – (N-1)

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Function-Means Tree shows means for achieving primary functions…and

the fallout.

IGNITE LEAFY MATERIALS

Electrically Heated WireApply heat to leafy materials

Generate electric

current

Wall-outlet-based system

Battery-based system

Control electrical current

Convert chemical energy to electrical current

Store electricity

Convert electricity to heat

Miniature heat pump

Resistive wire

Protect

users from post-usage

burns

Focused Sunlight Laser Flame

Store fuel

Control flame

Ignite fuel

Spark

Electrical resistance

Protect electric current from flame

Generate electric current

Supply fuel for

flameB

utane

Gasoline

Function

Means

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Drawings of Components

Refer to page 46 of survival guide Create drawings and record in

Engineering Notebooks For components For robot For strategy if helpful

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BEST Award Refer to page 54 of survival guide for

some ideas Refer to Score sheets to get idea of

what Judges will be reviewing http://best.eng.auburn.edu-- Participants > File

Manager > Public Files > Awards and Judging 2012  Use same brainstorming, etc to work

on these components as you used for robot

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Safety Keep your team safe – teach them

safety rules and make sure they follow them!

Learn some ideas from Survival guide page beginning page 50

Have them pass a safety test in order to get a card allowing them to work with the tools (idea from one of you(!) at TMI)

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Teacher / Mentor Roles

Students will gain the most if THEY do the work!

Teachers and Mentors should provide guidance only

Demonstrate Skills Teach the Engineering Process Help them with group decision making

process Teachers / Mentors should not

Make any of the parts Design any of the parts Try to sell your ideas to students

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Tips from 2011 Coaches

Open Discussion Tips from Teachers from 2011 Teams What do you think will help new teachers /

mentors How did you organize? What worked / What didn’t?

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Teacher / Mentor Tips

Use each of your student’s skills / creative abilities!

HAVE FUN!

GOOD LUCK!

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Teacher /Mentor Tips

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Lois Waltonlois.walton@comcast.net

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Final Words

Read the RulesAnd

Technical Data again!