Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program

1. Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program I. Introductory Workshop for ORTOP’s FLL Program 2008 Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth

2. Ken Cone ken_cone@ous.edu 503-821-1134 Jim Ryan james.r.ryan@intel.com 971-215-6087 Dale Jordan Dale_A_Jordan@msn.com Roger Swanson swanson@hevanet.com 503-297-1824 Instructor Contacts

3. ORTOP Project Administrator Cathy Swider Cathy_Swider@ous.edu (503) 821-1136

4. Today’s Goal • Provide an understanding of the ORTOP and FLL programs • Show the value these programs bring to our youth • Demonstrate the fun and excitement by building and programming a LEGO robot • Explain the opportunities for your involvement

5. Agenda • Introductions • Our motivations • The ORTOP and FLL Programs • Build a Lego robot and try it out • More on FLL Teams • Simple programming of your robot • Along the way: A complete Power Puzzle field set-up kit, a Lego NXT Robot Demo, and a video of a previous tournament

6. The Problem • Fast growing demand for engineers, technicians, and other technologists • Slow growing supply of young people interested in technology, especially among women and minorities

7. A Response from ETIC • ETIC – Engineering and Technology Industry Council • Bruce Schafer is the Executive Director • Established in 1997 by the Oregon Legislature • Mission – Make post-secondary engineering and technology education a strategic resource that fuels the Oregon economy and creates opportunity for all Oregonians • ETIC's current goal – double the annual number of engineering and computer science graduates between 1999 and 2013.

8. The Root Causes • Technology perceived as hard -- only for “geniuses” • Media portrays Technologists as “nerds” • Poor communication skills • Overly serious/isolated • Young people know very little about technical careers • Few/No engineering courses in K-12 • Few/No role models available • The reality is hard for them to visualize

9. The Reality • Teamwork rather than isolation is mandatory for success • We work on important, real-world problems to produce: • Consumer products • Biomedical solutions • Buildings & bridges • “Climate Connections” is the theme for 2008 • Great potential for salaries/benefits

10. The Opportunity with FIRST Programs from FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) • JFLL (Junior FIRST Lego League) 6-9 year-olds – initial ORTOP pilot in 2006 • FLL (FIRST LEGO League) 9-14 year olds – started by ORTOP in 2001 • FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) for high school students – initial ORTOP pilot in 2006 • FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) for high school students – not an ORTOP program but active in Oregon "To create a world where science and technology are celebrated.. where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes"

11. FIRST Philosophy ”[We] share the philosophy that children learn best by doing hands-on, minds-on activities which challenge their intellect and creativity. The FLL program accomplishes this task in a healthy environment and shows kids that they can succeed where they may have never thought they could." Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder

12. The Opportunity -- FLL • FIRST LEGO League (FLL) • Targets 9-14 year olds • Uses relatively inexpensive Lego robotics kits • Defines a mini engineering project based on real-world problems • Features hands-on experience and multi-disciplinary teamwork • Show these youth that science and technology can be fun

13. ORTOP (Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program) • Runs the FLL (as well as JFLL and FTC) program in Oregon and southwest Washington • Connected to the Chancellor’s Office of the Oregon University System • Heavily volunteer based Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth

14. Additional ORTOP Outreach • Reach out to girls and minorities • Look for partners that can help: Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, 4H, etc. • Special outreach to schools and community organizations with the demographics that fit our focus • Scholarship program so cost does not limit participation • Every team that registers gets to participate in a tournament • Success for a team is working together through the season and showcasing their results in a tournament SUCCESS = PARTICIPATION

15. Build a Robot Let’s take a break from all this talking and get out the LEGO kits to have some fun building an NXT robot!

16. Before We Start • The NXT • Outputs(A,B,C) • Inputs (1,2,3,4) • Buttons (Enter, Back, Left, Right) • USB port • Motors • Sensors • Touch sensor, light sensor, ultrasonic sensor

17. Build the Sample Robot • Follow pages 8-22 in the booklet in your kit • Add a light sensor on pages 32-34 • Add a touch sensor on pages 40-44 • If you have time, go back in the booklet and input directly into the NXT the programs on pages 23, 35, and 45.

18. What Is an FLL Team? • 4-10 youngsters each • Ages 9-14 • Led by coach and mentor • Coach – adult with overall responsibility for the team • Mentor – technical expertise • Sources of teams • Schools • Community groups • Neighborhoods

19. The FLL Team Experience • Miniature engineering project team stressing • Creativity and teamwork • Engineering principles: requirements, alternatives, rapid prototyping, testing, … • Hands-on problem solving • Context is a real-world situation • Illustrates multiple roles: Designers, Builders, Programmers, Sales and Marketing • Insights into possible careers • The youngsters do the work – FLL Coaches’ Honor Code and Team Promise

20. FLL Team Costs • Start-up Costs • FLL NXT Robot Set: $365 • Materials for table: $50-$100 • Yearly Costs • FLL Team Registration Fee: $200 • State Registration Fee: $50 • Field Setup Kit: $65 • Misc. including batteries, shipping: $50-$100 • First-year total: $780-$880 • Subsequent years total: $365-$415

21. The Team Timeline • Teams form in April – September • Registration with FLL is May – September • ORTOP workshops June – September • The Challenge is released September 5 • Teams develop their solutions for ~3 mo. • The real learning in the program • Robot design, programming, and presentation • Culminating event is the Tournament • Qualifying tournaments in early December • Championship tournaments in January

22. Tournament Structure • Less focus on competition and more on showcasing the team’s learning and results • Qualifying Tournaments • Around 15-20 teams each • Organized by Qualifying Tournament volunteers with support from ORTOP • 20 in 2007: Vancouver, Bend, Roseburg, Salem, LaGrande, Corvallis, K-Falls, PDX Metro area 11 • Championship Tournaments • 111 teams at two Championship Tournaments at Liberty High School in Hillsboro in 2007

23. Tournaments Exhibit Students’ Achievements • Three opportunities to demonstrate robot on the Challenge playing field • Interaction with Technical Judging Panel • Presentation to Project Judging Panel • General presentation area specified by FLL to enhance learning about the year’s theme • Requires research by the team • Develops presentation skills (the opportunity for the developing sales and marketing youngsters) • Teamwork

24. Champion’s Award Robot Performance Robot Design Innovative Design Robot Dependability Programming Research Project Research Quality Innovative Solution Creative Presentation Teamwork Young Team Rookie Team Medallions for all teams Tournament Awards

25. Plans for 2008 • Theme: Climate Connections • ~400 teams with more than 2800 youngsters • 20-22 Qualifying Tournaments averaging 20 teams • Expect same locations as last year • Would like at least one new location in North Portland • 2 Championship Tournaments of about 60 teams each • Continued focus on outreach to girls & minorities • More sponsors

26. Volunteer Opportunities • Coaches • Mentors • ORTOP Planning Committee • Qualifying Tournament Planning • Tournament Staffing • Financial Support

27. NXT Programming Let’s get back to our robots and learn how to make them do something!

28. Our Mailing Lists • ortopvol • All volunteers – you can opt out • One way from ORTOP to our volunteers • We add you when you volunteer • ortopcoaches • You are added when you register your team with FLL • Communication from ORTOP to registered coaches – very important channel

29. Next Steps • Sign-up for another workshop • II. Coaching/Mentoring Techniques Workshop • III. Robotics Techniques Workshop • 2Learn2Learn Teamwork Workshop • http://www.ortop.org/res.htm#REG • Handout ESCO – “Robotics Mentorships as a Developmental Career Opportunity”

30. Contact Us Web site: http://www.ortop.org Email: questions@ortop.org Phone: 503-821-1136