FIRST Junior Lego Robotics League experience?

[Jeff Hunsinger]

Does anyone have any experience with the FIRST junior Lego robotics league?

I have been trying to coach a team of 1st and 2nd graders and finding it to be a bit tough.

The challenge provided by FIRST seems far too vague and open ended for this age group.

They're supposed to identify a water use and make the water's journey more efficient.

I can't get them very interested in this. I thought I managed to teach the group the basics of programming, but most of the kids just seem to always pull out the delay icon and put in the largest number they can type in. They seem to think this will make the robot self destruct or cause complete chaos rather than just delaying for a few hours.

Part of my challenge is learning to manage a group of 1st and 2nd graders and get them to act as a team, but I also think FIRST should provide a more defined challenge for this age group.

I'm wondering how any other coaches have handled this. Any advice is appreciated.

I tried reviewing the forums on the FIRST web site, but they're not used very much for this age group.

Jeff

[Steve Hassenplug]

Jeff,

The jr FLL guidelines are vague to allow you (the coach) to direct the team in a way that suits you (and them).  If you can get the kids to work together on anything, you've accomplished something.

jr FLL is more of a stepping stone to FLL, than it's own thing.  The kids that do jrFll will be better prepared for the structure of FLL, than those that do not.  And you as a coach, will also be better prepared.

If you're going through this with your own child, you should know that every year they get older, your child and their friends will be better focused on the tasks.  It does get better.  :)

Good luck

Steve

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MiRobotClub" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to MiRobotClub+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to MiRob...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/MiRobotClub.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[ac...@provide.net]

On 2018-01-01 21:04, Jeff Hunsinger wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience with the FIRST junior Lego robotics
> league?
> I have been trying to coach a team of 1st and 2nd graders and finding
> it to

> be a bit tough. [...] > I can't get them very interested in this.

Personally, no. I'm a FRC (high school age) guy.
But the FIRST website
... https://www.firstinspires.org/
has separate sections for each contest, and should have lots
of Resources for you.

Also, the Chief Delphi Forums is where thousands of FIRST-ians meet up.
.. https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/
It's much more active (and older) than FIRST's official forum.
Free to join. (If not there yet, use user KMCCLARY as a reference
please..)
Not sure if they have a FLL-Jr area, but I DO know there's a FLL area.
I'd try searching there first for advice. If not found, re-post
your question(s) there.

Good luck!
- Keith Mc.

[Jeff Hunsinger]

I reviewed the First and Delphi sites when I started and found both to be geared toward high school level students and completely lacking for the most junior level.

Luckily, I found some decent resources in case anyone else ever faces this challenge:

Lego Engineering's Wedo Learning Sequence: http://www.legoengineering.com/learning-sequence-lego-wedo/

Dr E's Wedo Challenges: https://wedo.dreschallenges.com/

Jeff