LEGO Education : Uncategorized FLL

Introducing the FIRST Tech Challenge Rookie Team Incentive Program

dsmith — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:47:00 GMT

Here's the Game!
While the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program continues to grow, we know that there are still plenty of future engineers out there to introduce to this fun, educational, and stimulating FIRST program! If you are familiar with FTC, you know that it provides students with a real-world engineering experience that is extraordinarily valuable as they go on to pursue careers in science, math, and engineering.

As the economy continues to be a challenge and budgets are tight, FIRST wants to provide schools, community groups, and other organizations with the opportunity to participate in the valuable experience that is tied to the FTC program.

Therefore, FIRST is piloting a discount incentive program for new FTC teams* for the 2010-2011 Season!

Here are the Programs!
Current and Past FLL Teams
If you are a current or past FLL team, FIRST is offering you $200 toward your FTC registration fee if you register a team to compete in FTC this season. You will also receive a discounted FTC Competition Kit without MINDSTORMS® to pair with your current FIRST LEGO League kit to help facilitate this "graduation" to the FTC program (this kit is regularly sold for $549 and you will receive it for $349). This incentive will be offered to a total of 450 FLL "Graduates" on a first come, first served basis.

Current FTC Teams
If you are an FTC team in good standing (registered and paid), FIRST is offering a "Finder's Fee" for any new teams that you get to join the program this season. The new teams you recruit can register for FTC for only $75. As a recruiting team, you will receive a $200 credit toward your 2011-2012 FTC registration. This incentive will be offered to 200 recruiting teams on a first come, first served basis.

If you are a 2011 Registered FRC Team
If you are currently registered to compete in the 2011 FRC Season, you can register a new FTC team for just $75. Additionally, your FRC team will receive a $500 credit toward your 2012 FRC registration, not to exceed the cost of registration. This incentive will be offered to a total of 650 new FTC teams, on a first come, first served basis.

Here are the Rules!
In order to qualify for any of these discount options, the FTC registrations would have to be brand new teams with Rookie numbers that were registered on or after November 1, 2010 and before March 30, 2011. Teams must participate in an event by June 30, 2011.

Questions? Suggestions? Send an email to growftc@usfirst.org.

* This program is only available to North American teams.

FIRST Launches New Awards Program

dsmith — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:02:00 GMT

FIRST LEGO League is launching its first ever awards program where the prize is seeing a team's idea in lights (or at least on its way to becoming a household name)!

The FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award is designed to help make a FLL team's great idea a reality! With the help of some really great supporters of innovation, teams will have the chance to win a CASH prize they can use to file a United States patent, create a prototype, and get it on its way to becoming one of those "can't live without it" inventions!

Why a patent?
Filing for a patent will help protect a team's idea while they fine-tune their concept and develop their working model. It is also great for helping teams get the support of others in bringing their idea to the market.

What to do RIGHT NOW?
Don't wait to get started! Teams are encouraged to think about their 2010 Body Forward FLL projects and imagine what their idea could mean if they could share it with the world. Teams can protect their idea right now with a provisional application for a patent. Visit the USPTO web site for filing instructions: http://www.uspto.gov/patents/resources/types/provapp.jsp

And the winner gets...
In addition to the cash prize, the winning FLL Team will be invited to attend an awards ceremony where they will be honored and get a head start on making sure their patent is noticed.

How to enter..how to get votes
FLL will be launching the Global Innovation Award web site in mid-January. Once live, teams can enter their team submission and let everyone know where to vote for their idea. The teams with the most votes will have their ideas reviewed by an award selection panel of experts. Only FLL teams registered for the current season will be eligible.

For more information, visit www.usfirst.org!

Dean Kamen Interview with Anderson Cooper

dsmith — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:32:00 GMT

Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) talks about his vision of the future with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. Kamen discusses the important role technology does and should play in the education of youth and briefly discusses how FIRST competitions are assisting in this effort.

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/06/video-dean-kamen-makes-predictions-for-the-future/

Texas Workforce Commission Supports FIRST

dsmith — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:57:00 GMT

The Texas Workforce Commission along with Texas Governor Rick Perry, announced recently a $1 million investment from the Texas Workforce Commission to expand statewide student participation in robotics education programs.

World Championship Coming To St. Louis in 2011

dsmith — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:37:00 GMT

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) has announced that their World Championship held in April each year will be moving after this competition season!

The 2011, 2012, and 2013 Championships will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, according to recent reports from FIRST.

To learn more about the move and the FIRST organization, check out this press release. http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=15777

Most Caring Youth Coaches Wanted!

dsmith — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:57:00 GMT

USA Weekend is once again hosting its "Most Caring Youth Coach" competition. Who better to receive the honor than a FIRST robotics coach!?!

Currently in its 17th year, the annual contest honors individuals dedicated to helping young athletes achieve excellence on and off the field. Coaches who work with children through high school are eligible. Three winners will be recognized at a Hall of Fame dinner and receive $1,000 for their team or a favorite charity.

Does your FIRST coach go above and beyond to ensure your team is at its best? If so, consider nominating him/her as the Most Caring Youth Coach! Entry deadline is February 2.

Contest rules and entry information available at www.usaweekend.com. And, since not everyone knows about FIRST, be sure to include a link to the FIRST website (www.usfirst.org) with your nomination to show how it is a "sport for the mind!"