The Critical Need for Future Engineers, Scientists, and Technical Professionals

1. The Critical Need for Future Engineers, Scientists, and Technical Professionals BEST Middle and High School Robotics Competition A Workforce Development Program

2. Video

3. The Problem(s) • The United States is losing its leadership position in engineering, science and math • Engineering-based companies cannot find enough technically trained recruits • Colleges and Universities see declining enrollment in most engineering fields • women & minorities are extremely under-represented • Students transitioning from K-12 to college lack both the skills/desire to enter engineering programs

4. BEST Robotics – A Start • BEST Robotics, Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire middle through high school students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, hands-on, real-world engineering-based robotics competition. • Last fall, more than 12,000 students representing over 800 schools participated at 38 competition sites (hubs) in 16 states.

5. BEST Basics • There is no cost or fee for schools. • Starts in September & concludes six weeks later. • Students perform all of the work. • Mentors – engineers and other technical professionals from local companies – guide the students through the design & construction phase. • In addition to the robot competition, students write an engineering notebook, give an oral presentation and prepare a display area.

6. BEST Results As a result of participating in BEST, students… • Experience real-world science and engineering challenges, training that is transferable to all academic disciplines and career pursuits. • Understand what engineers do - engineering is “demystified.” • Experience “design-to-market” product development - experience that is transferable to all career pursuits. • It is less robotics and more problem-solving.

7. Further BEST Results • Students become technologically proficient- better prepared for tomorrow’s workforce. • Students become competent and confident in: • abstract thought • self-directed learning • teamwork • oral/written communication • project management • decision-making • problem-solving • leadership.

8. BEST Timeline • Each year the robot competition has a different theme • the theme directly relates to a real world problem • In early to mid-September the high school and middle school teams are invited to Kick-Off Day • there they hear about that year’s game, see the playing field and pick up their materials

9. BEST Timeline • One or two weeks before the competition, each team brings their robot to Mall Day • this is a public event that generates interest, press coverage and excitement

10. BEST Timeline • Finally, six weeks after Kick-Off day, is Game Day • robots compete, students present, communities get excited, prizes are awarded • winning teams are invited to compete in a Regional Competition

11. So, What Can We Do Together? • Grove City College is sponsoring the Wolverine Hub in fall, 2010 • We are raising funds and soliciting professional mentors for teams • Please consider forming a team

12. A Teacher Testimonial “We have around 50 students from the robotics team at Austin currently enrolled in college in the following fields of study: aerospace, chemical, electrical, biomedical, and mechanical engineering; computer science; applied math; physics; international business; and finance. When they entered college, they knew they had selected the correct field of study for them — not because a guidance counselor or I told them they would be a good engineer, but because they had spent four years as active members of our BEST team.” Susan Haddock, Math Teacher Austin High School Decatur, AL

13. A Teacher Testimonial “I can only tell you from the experiences that my students and I have had that BEST is one of the most phenomenal student competitions available. To be able to take materials — literally a load of “stuff” — and watch them transform it into a workable, tasking robot is something that no textbook alone could teach.” Angel Findlater, Science Teacher South Girard Middle School Phenix City, AL

14. A Teacher Testimonial “I think the most important lesson learned by all was not to give up. Our robot never worked until the Saturday morning of the competition. No matter what we did, it always failed throughout the six weeks. It was not until that Saturday morning, with time running out, that as a team we pulled it together. It was an incredible boost to team morale to have a working ‘bot for the competition. I believe this showed them to never, ever, give up.” Jeremy Raper, Science & Robotics Teacher Bob Jones High School Madison, AL

15. A Teacher Testimonial “In many ways, the BEST experience is like an education greenhouse; what happens during six weeks of competition would take an entire year in the classroom.” Dr. Mark Conner, Head The Engineering Academy at Hoover High School Hoover, AL

16. A Teacher Testimonial “Several of our students were failing school and at risk of dropping out until they joined the robotics team and found their niche. The challenges of BEST Robotics were just what they needed to inspire them to do better in their studies so they could stay on the team. They are now some of our top academic students!” John Hoffmaster, Science Teacher Billingsley High School

17. Do we have your support? • Questions • Next Steps • Contacts:Dr. Mike Bright, Hub Director, mwbright@gcc.edu Dr. Connie Nichols, School Coordinator, cnnichols@gcc.edu

18. BEST References • BEST Robotics, Inc. http://best.eng.auburn.edu/ • Grove City College http://www.gcc.edu/ • BEST Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHZxq7BFDEk