Basics of BEST Robotics · Project- and problem-based learning (PBL) Real-world engineering design...

BEST Robotics BasicsJANNE ACKERMAN

COLLIN COUNTY (COCO) BEST & BEST OF TEXAS ROBOTICS

What is BEST Robotics?

►BOOSTING►ENGINEERING►SCIENCE &► TECHNOLOGY

2© 2017 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved

2015

BEST Vision and Mission

►Excite our nations’ students about engineering, science and technology

►Inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like science- and engineering-based robotics program


BEST Robotics and Our Workforce

►BEST is a national 6-week engineeringprogram held each fall

►BEST is designed to keep middle school and high school students interested in pursuing STEM careers

►Through participation in our project-based STEM program, students learn to analyze and solve problems utilizing the Engineering Design Process, which helps them develop technological literacy skills.

►Industry seeks these skills in its workforce.


BEST Robotics Principles

►Directed at middle/junior high and high school students► Grades 6-12

►Schools participate at low cost► No entry fee for school or students► Standard kit (robot parts) provided free to each participating school

►Student-designed, student-built and student-competed robots► Students have the experience► Mentors are typically industry engineers from area companies ► Coaches (teachers and mentors) guide the teams in planning and

construction of their robot but are not allowed to build and or compete


Other BEST Facts

►BEST Robotics, Inc. (BRI) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization [ 501(c)(3) ]

►Any school may participate regardless of socioeconomic status, size, or location

►Public, private, charter, and home schools or organizations are welcome to participate

►Annually, over 3500 volunteers help run the local programs and regional championships by serving as event personnel, judges, and team mentors


Characteristics of Competition

►Enhances teaching/teacher effectiveness►Reinforces classroom learning►Creates real-world academic challenge►Increases student’s interest in and understanding of

engineering and science►Provides competition/fun►Promotes school spirit and sense of community


BEST Robotics Program

►The local BEST program in your neighborhood is called a “HUB”►Season starts with “kickoff” in September and culminates with a

“game day” in October a mere 6 weeks later►Hub competition is the qualifying event

for championships


BEST Robotics Program

► Top scoring teams from each hub advance to a regional championship and UIL

►Regional Championships (normally early December)► Texas BEST & UIL State Championship (Frisco, TX) – hosted jointly by University of

Texas at Dallas (UTD) and BEST of Texas Robotics (non profit company)► The South’s BEST (Auburn, AL) – hosted by Auburn University► Frontier Trails BEST (Fort Smith, AR) – hosted by University of Arkansas, Fort Smith► Northern Plains BEST (Fargo, ND) – hosted by North Dakota State University► Wild West BEST (Denver, CO) – hosted by Metropolitan State University [NEW for

2017]

►At this time, there is no national championship


BEST Robotics Program (Summary)


BEST Robotics UIL Extension Comments6 – 12 9 – 12 Targeted grade levelsFree Free Standard kit (robot parts) provided by hub to each schoolFree Fee** School registration / entry fee (**other restrictions apply)

School teams compete in local program (hub)Teams have 6 weeks from kickoff to complete tasksStudent-designed, student-built and student-competed robotsStudents have the experienceMentors are typically industry engineers from area companies Coaches and mentors guide the teams in planning and construction of their robot, but are not allowed to build

Regional UIL State (Texas) Top teams from each hub advance to championship

Two Competitions

►Game [required]► Project engineering notebook► Robot performance

►BEST Award [optional**] – A multi-faceted competition comprised of five key components► Project engineering notebook► Robot performance► Marketing presentation► Exhibit display and student interviews► Spirit and sportsmanship

► Teams consider winning the BEST Award to be the top honor

11© 2017 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved**Required for UIL

Robotics Game

►Based on annual real-world theme►2017 game: “Crossfire”

►Four (4) teams at a time compete in a series of 3-minute, round robin matches


What Is bESTology?

►Annual 12-16 week educational resource released each January (off season)

►Connects BEST game theme with real-world application►Posts each week on Sunday evening to use weekly in the

classroom►Includes brainstorming, writing, BEST relevance and community

connection activities►Videos and resources are all embedded

and previewed for child safety►Bloom’s Taxonomy and Workforce

Skills are listed for each weekly activity


►Components for each weekly activity include:► Introduction►Resources►Brainstorming►Writing►BEST Connection►Community Connection►Bloom’s Taxonomy►Workforce Skills

Educational Resource: bESTology

14Copyright©2017BESTRobotics,Inc.

It’s All About The Students


Real World Challenges Need STEM Solutions


Real World Experience

►The students experience the same problems, challenges, and breakthroughs that an engineering team encounters when it takes a product to market.

►In both cases there are team dynamics, time constraints, material constraints, and pressure from other teams that are trying to solve the same problem.


BEST Impact

►Student achievement and inspiration in engineering, math, science, and technology

►Business and education collaboration►Maximizing the pipeline for future engineers, scientists, and

technologists►Reaches women (34%) and minority students (38%),

especially in rural (43%) and urban (26%) schools*

18© 2017 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved*2016 data

BEST and STEM Education

►Co-curricular and cross-disciplinary program►Project- and problem-based learning (PBL)►Real-world engineering design challenge►Practical application of math and science►Use of the engineering design process (EDP)►Technological literacy►Skill development


BEST and Student Development

►Through participation in BEST, students can develop:► Intellectual capacity, innovative abilities, and creativity►Organizational and project management skills► Teamwork and leadership skills►Decision-making, critical-thinking,

and problem-solving skills► Technological skills►Self-confidence and self-competence


As a result of participating in BEST, students…►Understand the practical use of math concepts and applied physics►Solve real-world science and engineering problems, training that is

transferable to all academic disciplines and career pursuits►Gain an increased interest in

engineering, math, and science►Understand what engineers do — the

engineering profession is “demystified”►Experience “design-to-market”

product development►Receive recognition and acclaim

typically reserved for their peers in sports


Robot KitsRETURNABLES AND CONSUMABLES


Robot Kits

►All teams get identical kits► Creates a level playing field

► Simulates real world constraints of limited resources

►Consumable kits► Raw materials from which students will build

their robots

► Plywood, aluminum rods, rubber bands, bicycle inner tube, PVC, elbows and tees, glue, screws, hinges, angle brackets, etc.

►Returnable kits► Electronics, microprocessor, batteries, servos,

motors, motor controllers, joystick, etc.

23Copyright©2017BESTRobotics,Inc.

Identical Kits, Unique Robots


Keeping students interested in STEM –BEST makes it happen!


Our National Partner Our Founding Partner

Our National Sponsors

2017 Event Dates of Interest


► Local Hub Game Days► CoCo BEST 10/21 Prosper High School, Prosper

► Cowtown BEST 10/21 Nolan Catholic High School, Ft. Worth

► Capitol BEST 10/21 Westwood High School, Round Rock

► Dallas BEST 11/4 Brookhaven College, Carrollton

► Other Texas hubs are available; see www.bestinc.org for details

► Texas UIL Robotics – BEST Division and Regional Texas BEST Game Days► 12/7-9 Dr. Pepper Arena, Frisco

► Frontier Trails BEST► 12/1-2 Ft. Smith Convention Center, Ft. Smith, AR

► South’s BEST► 12/1-2 Beard Eaves Memorial Coliseum, Auburn, AL

► All Game Day events are open to the public

The BEST Reason

►“Thank You, BEST!”►“The BEST Reason”

►BEST Robotics, Inc.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwFPpgsLI8s&feature=youtu.be

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