Official Launch of the 2009 FIRST Competition January 4, 2009
Posted by jimintriglia in Career Development, Computer Science, Education, Learning through Fun, News & FYI, Personal Interest, Robotics, Volunteer Opportunities.add a comment
FIRST launched the 2009 worldwide competition season yesterday revealing the competition challenge game “Lunacy” to nearly 1700 teams comprising over 42,000 high school students worldwide. Each team now has six weeks to design and build their robot from a common kit of parts provided by FIRST. Team robots will compete in a series of events that culminate with the FIRST Championship event held in Atlanta, Georgia.
This is my first year serving as a mentor for Team Blitz, our award-winning FIRST robotics team. Last year, I accompanied Team Blitz members to the regional competition and watched both FIRST and Team Blitz in action. I was impressed by what I saw on so many levels that I decided to join Team Blitz for this year’s competition.
Founder Dean Kamen addressed Colorado teams assembled in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science IMAX theater. In his address to the teams, he spoke about the importance of technology as a solution to poverty that affects two-thirds of the world’s population. He challenged team members to use the FIRST to build relationships and learn from team mentors, many who are experts in the fields of engineering, project management and business.
Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST Na
tional Advisor and Pappalardo MIT Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, reminded team members to practice gracious professionalism during the next six weeks and throughout their careers as innovators.
The Colorado chapter of FIRST needs volunteers to help with the organization and management of this years statewide competition. This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside some of the most remarkable and talented professionals that make Colorado their home. It is also an opportunity to contribute your time, energy and talent to developing the next generation of innovators, business managers and entrepreneurs. Be a FIRST volunteer and help shape the future of the next generation of leaders.
FIRST Competition Kickoff Day: January 3 December 30, 2008
Posted by jimintriglia in Computer Science, Education, Personal Interest, Robotics, Volunteer Opportunities.add a comment
Local FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics teams nationwide will be participating the the season kickoff event scheduled for this Saturday morning, January 3rd.
The event will be webcast by NASA (a FIRST sponsor) and broadcast to select locations where participating middle and high school students will meet with their team leaders to discuss winning strategies and begin to brainstorm robotic design ideas. Volunteer mentors will be on-hand to advise student team leaders and members on everything from project management to robotics engineering.
Conifer’s award winning team, Team Blitz, will be meeting at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Other Colorado FIRST teams are expected to attend the kickoff event at museum.
If you are interested in serving as a FIRST volunteer or local team volunteer mentor, there is still time to get involved, at the national or Colorado local robotics team level.
Randy Pausch’s Legacy: A Lesson for Teachers December 21, 2008
Posted by jimintriglia in Computer Science, Education, Personal Interest.Tags: academic education, Computer Science, teaching
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CMU Professor Randy Pausch
There are times when a life event leaves an indelible mark on a person. One of these events for me was the passing of professor Randy Pausch, the famed “Last Lecture” professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon.
Randy’s life story and passing (he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006) was chronicled on his CMU webpage. His gift to his three young children and indeed, to the world, was his “Last Lecture” given at Carnegie Mellon entitled Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.
During his lecture, Randy spoke of the way that he taught the subject of computer science, founding the Alice Project, which taught students the fundamentals of computer programming by creating animated characters that existed in a virtual world.
Like many career professionals, I have served from time to time as adjunct faculty teaching computer science to students. I have always valued the effectiveness of learning by doing, and applied professor Pausch’s approach throughout the years of creating interesting and fun projects that enable students to learn by doing.
So, with professor Pausch’s passing, educators lost a valuable member of the academic community who understood how to motivate students and make learning both interesting and fun. The good news is that he left a lasting legacy for all to learn by and continue his work, through the Alice Project and his “Last Lecture” series that are freely available via the Web.
Several excellent examples of professor Pausch’s approach to teaching computer science exist today. For example, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) inspires young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based robotics design and build competitions. Local community clubs provide opportunities for students interested in robotics; professionals can participate as mentors to aspiring engineering students.
Another example would be aircraft modeling clubs sponsored by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). The AMA serves as the foundation for the hobby and sport of remote control aircraft design and piloting. Through local clubs that are affiliated with the AMA, kids of all ages learn the principles of flight, aircraft design and piloting while engaged in club activities. Students learn principals of aeronautical, mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as piloting, through educational activities that are fun and can engage the whole family.
Whether you are an educator or not, you can take away something useful from professor Randy Pausch’s lecture Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams and Time Management.
