Transcript Slide 1

(501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization)
Igniting young minds.
Teaching life skills.
Nurturing passions for science and technology.
Practicing “Gracious Professionalism™.”
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
 It’s a competitive sport.
 It’s a life experience.
 It’s opportunity.
 It’s community.
 It’s amazing.
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FIRST learning…
… never stops building upon itself, starting at age six and
continuing through middle and high-school levels up to age
eighteen. Young people can join at any level. Participants
master skills and concepts to aid in learning science and
technology through robotics.
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
✔ Introduction to science and technology
✔ Design and build challenge-related model
using LEGO components
✔ Create a Show-Me poster and practice
presentation skills
✔ Explore challenges facing today’s scientists
✔ Discover real-world math and science
✔ Begin developing employment and life skills
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
✔ Real-world science and technology challenges
✔ Strategize, design, build, program and test LEGO
MINDSTORMS®-based robots
✔ Research challenges facing today’s scientists
✔ Develop employment and life skills
✔ Discover exciting career possibilities
✔ Become involved in their local and global community
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
✔ Head-to-head competition using sports model
✔ Teams design, build, program robots on
engineering principles
✔ Students learn, use sophisticated hardware
& software
✔ Mentored by professional engineers
✔ Awards for competition, community outreach,
design
✔ Qualify for >$7 million in scholarships
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
✔ Varsity Sport for the Mind™
✔ Strict rules, limited resources, time limits
✔ Students mentored by professional engineers
✔ Teams learn, use sophisticated hardware and
software
✔ Build and compete with robots of their own
design
✔ Qualify for >$12 million in scholarships
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen
Devoted to helping young people discover
and develop a passion for science,
engineering, technology, and math.
2010/11
250,000+ students
90,000+ mentors and volunteers
More than 50 countries
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Who is it for?
 For students (ages 6-18):
the hardest fun you’ll ever have.
 For mentors, coaches, volunteers:
the most rewarding adventure
you’ll ever undertake.
 For sponsors:
the most enlightened investment
you could ever make.
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
What is FLL®?
“I want to build things nobody else has
even thought of yet.”
Charles Peterson, FLL Team Member (10 years old)
FIRST ® LEGO® League
 Helps children, ages 9 to 14 (9 to 16 outside the US
and Canada), discover the fun in science and
technology while building self-confidence, knowledge
and life skills
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
What is FLL?
An international program created
through a partnership between
FIRST and The LEGO Group
 INSPIRES children, ages 9 to 16* (Grades 4-8),
to participate in science and technology
 ENGAGES children in playful and meaningful
learning
 PROVIDES a fun, creative, hands-on learning
experience
 CHALLENGES children to solve real-world
problems using robotics
 TEACHES children to experiment and overcome
obstacles
 BUILDS self-esteem and confidence
*9-14 in the U.S. and Canada
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
What is FLL?
How It Works
PROBLEM SOLVING AND CREATIVITY
 Present children with a real-world problem
 New scientific theme each year
TEAMS OF CHILDREN AND MENTORS
 Work as a team
 Learn with adults and mentors
DO IT ALL IN 8 WEEKS
 Building, programming, testing, investigating solutions
 May choose to participate in an Official Tournament or local event
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
What is FLL?
FLL Teams
 APPLY math and science concepts to research,
design, build and program autonomous robots
 USE LEGO MINDSTORMS® technologies
 GAIN hands-on experience solving real-world
problems
• Robot Game
• Research Project
 LEARN from and interact with adult mentors
 WORK as a group to overcome obstacles and
meet challenges
 ENGAGE with their community
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
What is Jr.FLL™?
Junior FIRST® LEGO® League
 INTRODUCES 6 TO 9 YEAR-OLDS to the fun of
science and technology
 MINI CHALLENGE based on annual FLL
research project
 EXPLORE, investigate, design and build model
made with LEGO bricks & moving parts
 CREATE “Show Me” poster depicting team’s
experience
 LEARN from and interact with adult mentors
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
2010 Challenge
Engineering meets medicine
Through the 2010 Body Forward® Challenge, FLL teams will
explore the cutting-edge world of Biomedical Engineering to
discover innovative ways to repair injuries, overcome genetic
predispositions, and maximize the body's potential, with the
intended purpose of leading happier and healthier lives.
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FLL impact: growth
2010 Season Projections
Team Growth
17,100 teams
 171,000 middle-school students
 More than 50 countries
111 Championship Tournaments,
540 Qualifying Tournaments
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Jr.FLL impact: growth
2010 Season Projections
 1,800 teams
Team Growth
 10,800 6 to 9 year-olds
 U.S., Canada, Belgium, Israel,
Netherlands, U.K.
2008 2009
40+ Jr.FLL Expos
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FLL impact
Coach Perspective
In a 2004 evaluation of FLL, Brandeis University found:

94% of coaches reported an increase in students’ understanding
of how science and technology can be used to solve problems.
Among participants:
93%
Want to learn more about computers and robotics
88%
Want to learn more about science and technology
Increased interest in science/technology-related jobs
0%
20%
40%
60%
77%
80%
100%
Source: FLL Program Study by Center for Youth and
Communities, Brandeis University, May 2004
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FLL impact
Student Perspective
In the 2004 evaluation of FLL, Brandeis University also found:
Increased knowledge of:
93%
Use of school subjects in solving real-world problems
Importance of science and technology in everyday life
95%
Use of science and technology in real-world problem-solving
97%
90%
Science and technology careers
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Source: FLL Program Study by Center for Youth and
Communities, Brandeis University, May 2004
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FLL impact
Student Perspective
98% reported had fun working on
their FLL team
93% rated their experience ‘good’
or ‘excellent’ (31% good, 63%
excellent)
82% plan to participate again
(11% will be too old; 5% report no
time)
Source: FLL Program Study by Center for Youth and
Communities, Brandeis University, May 2004
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Get involved: FLL teams
Organizations
 Any group can create a team: schools, community
groups, churches, neighborhoods
 Up to 10 children, ages 9 to 16*, and at least
one adult coach
Cost
 $800 for new teams; $500 for returning teams
Season
 May – September …………….On-line registration (subject to availability)
 Early September ………………Challenge is revealed
 October – November ….. …….Build & research
 November – January …………Tournament season
 April ……………………………..World Festival
*9 to 14 in the US and Canada
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Get involved: Jr.FLL teams
Organizations
 Any group can create a team: schools, community
groups, churches, neighborhoods
 Up to 6 children, ages 6 to 9, and at least one adult
coach
Cost
 $150
Season
 August – June ……...………....On-line registration
 Early September ….…………..Challenge is revealed
 October – November …………Build & research
 November – June ……………..Expo season
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Get involved: sponsors
FIRST Sponsorship
FIRST Sponsorship:
 Builds technological literacy in youth
 Strengthens company reputation
in the community
 Provides renewed inspiration to
company engineers and employees
 Engages employees in volunteerism opportunities
 Provides employee team building and training opportunities
 Inspires future careers in STEM area
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Get involved: sponsors
FIRST Sponsorship
Become a Sponsor:
 Provide financial support to teams
 Involve employees as mentors, coaches
and/or volunteers
 Provide equipment, facilities and/or training
 Help host a tournament for your community
“FLL enables us to be a player in the community. The kids
enjoy it and our employees get a kick out of it as
volunteers. The feeling is that we’re all in this together.”
Tom Pirelli, Chairman, ArialPhone Corporation
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Get involved: volunteers
FIRST Sponsorship
Become a Volunteer:
 Help children discover the fun in science and
technology
 Have a positive impact on the lives of children
 Help celebrate science and technology
 Network with like-minded professionals
 Be inspired and energized through your
participation
 Have fun
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Get involved: volunteers
FIRST Sponsorship
Volunteer Opportunities:
 Coach or Mentor a team
 Coordinate a team
 Help with fundraising
 Recruit new teams
 Volunteer at an FLL or Jr.FLL event
 e.g. Judge or Reviewer/Referee
“There’s something about changing a young person’s life
and giving them direction that keeps me going.”
General Motors FIRST Volunteer
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Get involved: mentors
FIRST Sponsorship
Become a Coach or Mentor:
 Empower children with a sense of
accomplishment
 Provide valuable one-on-one interaction
 Be respected and admired by team
members
 Be inspired and energized through your
participation
“I love working with these kids! I’m amazed and inspired
by what they can accomplish, and their enthusiasm and
energy is contagious.”
Kristen Kelso, FLL Coach and Judge, former FIRST Robotics Competition participant
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Get involved: schools
FIRST Sponsorship
Opportunities:
 Spread the word about FLL and Jr.FLL
 Encourage parents to form teams
 Provide space for teams to work
 Be a tournament site
 Help mentor/coach a team
 Bring FLL or Jr.FLL into the classroom
“I have been teaching for 31 years and this is one of the
best programs I have ever seen!”
David Mills, Technology Education Teacher
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Get involved: universities
FIRST Sponsorship
Opportunities:
 Host an FLL tournament or Jr.FLL expo
for the community
 Recruit students to mentor/coach teams
 Recruit volunteers
 Contact local elementary and junior high
schools
 Get the word out to alumni
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
More information
 On the web
 www.usfirst.org
 www.firstlegoleague.org
 www.juniorfirstlegoleague.org
 Call 1-800-871-8326
W W W. USFIRST . O R G
800-871-8326
FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY