TechieTeach

I just realized how long it has been since I have posted on this blog.  I post almost weekly on my class blog, but with coaching my FLL robotics team, I’ve just been SO overwhelmed!

My FLL team (team 338, Shredder) is actually what I wanted to write about.  I have been so proud of them this season.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with FLL, let me back up a second.  FLL is the abbreviation for FIRST Lego League.  In FLL, we build and program Lego Mindstorms robots to complete a variety of tasks.  Every year there is a topic.  The topic for this year was climate.  Along with the robot game, the teams also have to research the topic and prepare a creative research presentation.  It is an amazing way to introduce students to engineering and computer programming concepts, teamwork, and research skills.

OK, so back to my team.  Last year was my first year as a coach, and I was proud that we received the Rising Star trophy, despite all of the team’s struggles.  The kids learned a LOT from the process, and got off to a great start this year.  They were amazing, worked together well, showed the gracious professionalism required by FLL, and showed expert problem solving skills (could it have helped that4/6 of them were girls?).

Of course everything was great until our last practice when a few students tweaked some programs unnecessarily, and broke some of what had been built.  I just about had a nervous break down.  Now, don’t get me wrong, mentally I know that this should be all on the kids’ heads, but I had put so much hope in them and just felt crushed.  We organized an emergency practice for the next day, and two girls even came in on their break.  All was fixed!  WOO HOO!  We go to competition Saturday and, although I know it’s not all about the competition, but celebrating what the kids have learned and accomplished, I hope the kids get a trophy in an area.  I guess we’ll see!