October 2024 FLL Coach Conference Call
Meeting notes generated by AI:
- Team Meeting Guide Overview: Mel provided an overview of the team meeting guide, emphasizing its usefulness for both new and experienced coaches. The guide is designed for 12 sessions and includes the design engineering process and core values.
- Guide Structure: Mel explained that the team meeting guide is structured for 12 sessions, each lasting two hours. It covers everything needed for the season, although advanced teams may spend more time.
- Design Engineering Process: Mel highlighted the design engineering process, which includes five sections: identify, design, create, iterate, and communicate. This process is fundamental and will be referenced throughout the guide.
- Core Values: Mel pointed out the core values included in the guide: teamwork, inclusion, impact, fun, discovery, and innovation. These values are integral to the team’s approach and activities.
- Session Tips: Mel mentioned that the guide provides session tips and a detailed layout for each of the 12 sessions. Coaches can use it as a reference to ensure they cover all necessary topics.
- Flexibility: Mel emphasized that while the guide is a useful tool, it is not mandatory to follow it strictly. Coaches can adapt it to fit their team’s needs and schedule.
- Core Values and Impact: Mel highlighted the core values of teamwork, inclusion, impact, fun, discovery, and innovation. They emphasized the importance of understanding the impact on the world and exploring these values with the team.
- Core Values: Mel listed the core values: teamwork, inclusion, impact, fun, discovery, and innovation. These values are fundamental to the team’s approach and activities.
- Understanding Impact: Mel explained that impact is not just about affecting the kids but also about how the team can impact the world around them. This broader understanding of impact should be explored with the team.
- Exploring Values: Mel encouraged coaches to explore these core values with their teams, ensuring that the values are integrated into their activities and projects.
- Judging Process and Rubrics: Mel explained the judging process and the importance of the rubrics. They emphasized the need for teams to understand the criteria and the dual scoring for core values and other areas.
- Judging Session: Mel described the judging session, which lasts 30 minutes and includes time for an innovation presentation, robot design discussion, and core values assessment.
- Rubrics Overview: Mel explained that there are now only two rubrics, with core values integrated into both the innovation project and robot design rubrics. Each rubric has specific criteria that teams need to meet.
- Criteria Details: Mel detailed the criteria for the rubrics, including the need for clear problem definition, effective project planning, and evidence of research and iteration. Teams must articulate their process to the judges.
- Dual Scoring: Mel highlighted that certain criteria count towards both the core values and the specific area being judged, making it crucial for teams to understand and meet these criteria.
- Robot Game Rule Book: Mel reviewed the robot game rule book, pointing out the importance of understanding the rules and the different missions. They also mentioned the significance of the design engineering process.
- Rule Book Overview: Mel reviewed the robot game rule book, emphasizing the importance of understanding the rules and the different missions. They noted that while there are some variations, the core rules remain consistent.
- Mission Details: Mel discussed the different missions outlined in the rule book, including specific conditions for scoring and the importance of understanding these details for successful competition.
- Design Engineering Process: Mel reiterated the significance of the design engineering process, which is a recurring theme in the rule book and essential for the team’s approach to the robot game.
- Autonomous Requirements: Mel pointed out that all robot actions must be autonomous, and teams should be aware of the specific rules regarding the use of equipment and programming.
- Challenge Updates and Submersible Mission: Scott and Mel discussed the submersible mission and the challenge updates. They emphasized the importance of understanding the setup and positioning of the model for practice and competition.
- Submersible Mission: Scott and Mel discussed the submersible mission, which involves a model that spans between two tables. The goal is to have the team’s yellow flag down and the submersible closer to the opposing field for scoring points.
- Challenge Updates: Mel reviewed the challenge updates, noting that the setup and positioning of the submersible model can vary based on the thickness of the table walls. Teams should be prepared for these variations in practice and competition.
- Setup Flexibility: Mel explained that the flexibility in the setup position supports the permitted variance in border wall thicknesses, which can result in variable distances between the tables at a tournament setup.
- Preparation Tips: Mel advised teams to practice with different setups to be prepared for the variations they might encounter during competitions. This will help them adapt quickly and perform better.
- Tips for First-Year Coaches: Mel and Scott provided tips for first-year coaches, emphasizing the importance of understanding the process, having fun, and not focusing solely on winning. They also discussed the significance of involving all team members in the development process.
- Understanding Process: Mel and Scott emphasized the importance of first-year coaches understanding the overall process, including the design engineering process and core values. This understanding is crucial for guiding the team effectively.
- Having Fun: Both Mel and Scott stressed the importance of ensuring that the team has fun throughout the season. They advised against focusing solely on winning, as the primary goal is to learn and enjoy the experience.
- Involving Team Members: Mel highlighted the significance of involving all team members in the development process. This not only helps in meeting the judging criteria but also ensures that everyone learns and contributes.
- Practical Tips: Scott shared practical tips, such as focusing on understanding the steps of the process and not worrying about completing every mission. He also mentioned the importance of documenting the team’s journey and learning from each experience.
- Consistency and Fun in Robot Game: Trevor shared the importance of consistency in the robot game and ensuring that the team has fun. They mentioned the use of jigs and stops to improve consistency and the need to avoid burnout.
Follow-up tasks:
- Robot Design: Review and consider alternative robot designs from resources like Primelessons.org to improve attachment efficiency.
- Innovation Project: Begin the research and feedback process for the innovation project to ensure ample time for adjustments and improvements.
- Judging Criteria: Ensure the team understands and prepares for the judging criteria, focusing on the process and documentation for both the robot design and innovation project. (Dwayne)
- Robot Game Preparation: Practice and refine the process of changing robot attachments quickly to minimize time spent during the robot game.
- Core Values: Encourage all team members to participate in various aspects of the project to meet the core values criteria.