NYCFIRST Update 11: Registration Still Open

Sept. 26, 2007

http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

Total: 179

A newsletter for the NYCFIRST robotics community in New York City and the surrounding area.
If you get doubles of this email let me know.


The NYC/NJ FIRST Web site is at www.nycnjfirst.org

Register for FLL at: http://register4fll.com/

Check for new info posted Norm's Robotics blog: http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

This update will be posted on the blog with related photos included.

There is a link at the sidebar on top to the Google spreadsheet with a list of registered teams. Check the coaches listed and send my updates.
I will start adding team names to the 4th column.

Sept. 29 - Saturday: Kickoff at Polytechnic U in Brooklyn

Flyer with pdf attached.

Directions: http://www.poly.edu/directions/
(Maps are posted on the blog)

(DO NOT GET CONFUSED WITH POLYPREP- NOT)

You do not have to register, but if you are bringing a lot of people let me know how many so I can keep a rough count. Kids/teams welcome. Bring a camera (video if you want to use it with your kids.)

Agenda:
9:00-9:30 AM: Welcome and Introductions
(Pfizer Auditorium)
9:30-10:00 AM: Research Assignment Presentation (Mark)
(Pfizer Auditorium)
10:00-10:10 AM: Keith Wynne will discuss Junior FIRST LEGO for Dec. 2
10:10-10:45 AM: Discussion of current tournament structure (Norm)
(Pfizer Auditorium)
11:00-12:00 PM: Power Puzzle Challenge Overview
(Rogers Hall [RH] - Room 116)
11:00-12:00 PM: Workshop for New Coaches by Vets (see below for list)
(Jacobs Academic Building [JAB] - Room 474)
A workshop for new coaches, teams and vets who want tips and techniques from other coaches.
12:15-1:15 PM: Power Puzzle Challenge Overview
(Rogers Hall [RH] - Room 116)


Veteran coaches workshop for new coaches and vets who want tips and techniques.
Room 474 from 11-12 am.

Maureen Reilly: (here are pics I took in Maureen's class at PS 261 last year)
Will talk about resources online for building ideas for the kids and organizing lessons - the flow of the season, 'Now that I have the team what do I do?"


Veryl Greene:
Will talk about the pros/cons of using the RCX or NXT and the possibilities of combining both systems.

Eric Greene:
Organizing a team

David Mabrey:
Robust robot building




Parking: You can find a spot in the street if you get there early and are willing to walk a bit. South of Atlantic Ave is easier.

There is a garage at the Marriott across the street.



Training for coaches: Note date change

October 13 at NYU – all day training in NXT (tentative).
You will need to bring your robotics kit (not the field set-up) and your software.
Space is limited.

New coaches and vet coaches switching from RCX to NXT will get priority.

Check the norms robotics blog.

Other dates will follow on Saturdays in October, some at Polytechnic U



JFLL
A Junior FLL (ages 6-9) event will be held in conjunction with the qualifying event at PACE U on Dec. 2. FIRST has opened registration until the end of Nov. Open to all schools. Contact Keith Wynne at: KWynne@schools.nyc.gov



Election day (Nov. 6) training:
Mike Siegel of Staten Island Tech who is running the SI tournament again this year will continue the tradition of training on this date, most likely in NXT. Details to follow. Priority to SI teams but Mike will take others if there's room.


Mike Koumoulos at Aviation HS, who will be coordinating the Queens qualifying event will be holding training in RCX (and possibly NXT) on Election Day at Aviation HS in Queens.

--
Have a good day

Norm

FIRST Tech Challenge - Quad Quandary

Editor Note: There will be a FTC event at the Javits Center in early April.

The official 2007 FIRST Tech (formerly VEX) Challenge Season begins NOW, with the release of our 2007 game: *Quad Quandary!*

Visit the game animation here:
http://www.usfirst.org/community/fvc/content.aspx?id=6652

View the game rules here:
http://www.usfirst.org/community/fvc/content.aspx?id=962

Register your 2007 FTC team here:
https://my.usfirst.org/ftc/tims

Plan your strategy. Design and build your ‘bot. Take the Challenge. Join the quest to solve the Quad Quandary!

The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a mid-level robotics competition for high-school students. It offers the traditional challenge of a FIRST competition but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit. For more information, visit www.usfirst.org and find out more about our program! For assistance, please call FIRST at 800-871-8326 or email ftcteams@usfirst.org.

Go Teams!

Greetings FLL Teams from FIRST

NOTE: In NYC we do not follow the standard tournament application process. Instead, teams will register directly with the borough contact. The 80 finalists will be automatically entered into the Citywide tournament on Jan. 26, 2008 at Riverbank State Park.


We're happy to report we have over 6,200 FLL teams currently registered in the U.S. and Canada for the Power Puzzle Challenge! FLL Team registration will close when all slots are filled or at 4:00 PM (EDT) on September 28, whichever comes first. Please note that FLL Materials (Robot Set and Field Setup Kit) must be ordered by this deadline, but are also subject to product availability.

Keep Your Team Profile Updated
To ensure receipt of important FLL communications, remember to review and update your team profile prior to October 12. Go to http://register4fll.com/. In the TEAM LOGIN fields, enter Team ID (team number) and password. When your profile is complete, be sure to click the "Continue" button at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions.

Tournament Application Process
A complete listing of confirmed Championship tournament sites will be posted on the FLL international website (firstlegoleague.org) by September 28. October 1 –12 (process opens at 12:00 p.m. EDT), teams apply either online or directly with the tournament organizer for most Championship tournaments. Please visit http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=2300 for additional information and instructions on how to sign up for a tournament near you.

Challenge Q&A Available
Remember to check the Challenge Q&A often for clarifications, updates, and official rulings. You can also "subscribe" to the page in order to
receive an email notification each time the Q&A page is updated. Go to http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=29620 to subscribe. All
tournament referees will be using the up-to-date Q&A. So be sure to check it often.

Go Teams!

--
FIRST LEGO League

(p) 1-800-871-8326 x 0
(f) 603-666-3907
fllteams@usfirst.org
www.usfirst.org

Will there be a tournament fee?

Yes. For the qualifying tournaments only. The fee will be $30.
There will be no fee for the citywide on Jan. 26 at Riverbank.

Note: The $250 registration fee you paid to FIRST in Manchester, NH upon registration does not go to NYCFIRST. It used to cover central FIRST's costs.

Coach Question on Research

We have entered two teams and, in the past, both collaborated on one research project. With the new guidelines, does each team have to present a separate research project?

YES!

Video that helps explain the board on you tube

My student Christopher Lamonica of I.S. 75 was searching for explanations today about the new power puzzle board. He came across a short video that does a great job of going over the each challenge and emailed it to me to share. Also, there are two more videos that are presented by a FLL Judge that answer the many questions we have. Please click on the links below to view the videos or copy the web address into your Internet browser. Lastly, I have always found Mr. Siegel's (SI TECH) professional development to be a great source for answers. Do not pass up on the opportunity to attend if you have the chance. Enjoy!!!!

Links to explanations of missions for Power Puzzle Challenge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2734EZMStOk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI7YXmsfDPc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgXOu7O70uw

Thank you,

Mr. Swanson
Lego Robotics
Intermediate School 75

MrSwansonIS75@aol.com

NYCFIRST Update 10: 175 teams registered

Sept. 20, 2007

A newsletter for the NYCFIRST robotics community in New York City and the surrounding area. If you want to be removed from this list type "remove" in the subject are and hit return. If you get doubles of this email let me know.

Compiled by Norm Scott
NYCFIRST Registration coordinator
norscot@aol.com
normsco@gmail.com
917-992-3734

The NYC/NJ FIRST Web site is at www.nycnjfirst.org

Register for FLL at: http://register4fll.com/


URGENT
Call for veteran coaches to assist us with a presentation on the research project at the Sept. 29 kickoff. We need some facilitators to provide tips and techniques for new coaches (roughly 43).

Also: Aside from reviewing the missions, are there any issues you would like covered: i.e. Robust robot building, differences between RCX/NXT, etc.
I can't guarantee it, but we will try to address these issues.


Future updates
Rather than inundating you with long updates, I will post pertinent info on the blog I set up. I will send these up periodically to remind you to check the blog.
Check the sidebar to the right for important info.
Borough tournament dates and locations are listed with contact info to register (I don't have all of them up yet.)

Norm's Robotics blog: http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

There is a link at the sidebar on top to the Google spreadsheet with a list of registered teams as of this morning.

Or you can access it directly at:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pgxRf3gM4qtx9R1ic9TfNKw


Visiting your schools:
I am hoping to feature some schools on the blog as they prepare this year. Invite me and I'll try to stop by. Let me know days/times you meet and a cell phone for me to contact you. If pics/video are ok, make sure to get consent forms from kids.


Sept. 29: Kickoff at Polytechnic U in Brooklyn
Directions: http://www.poly.edu/directions/

Parking: You can find a spot in the street if you get there early and are willing to walk a bit. South of Atlantic Ave is easier.

There is a garage at the Marriott across the street.

You do not have to register, but if you are bringing a lot of people let me know how many so I can keep a rough count. Kids/teams welcome. Bring a camera (video if you want to use it with your kids.)

Time frame: 8:45-12:30

Schedule (tentative):
9-10: All coaches. Please be on time as very important information on qualifying tournaments will be discussed and questions answered.

10-11: Coaches will be divided between new coaches and vets.
Vets will review the missions and game board.

Newbies will get essential info, programming and building tips.

11-12: New coaches will review missions while those vets that wish can get some review of programming.


Research:
Since this will be a very important component this year in order to go on to citywide and the timetable is significantly moved up, a discussion will take place on best practices. (SEE URGENT ABOVE)

The Game:
In the past, practice tournaments were used to get ready in Nov/Dec for the Jan. event. Now these dates are suddenly more real and your timetables are being squeezed. This is a transition year and we will get the kinks out, so be patient.


One of our problems in scheduling is the fact that we rely so much on the amazing high school kids who do senior robotics - FRC - and give so much of their time. But their very intense season always begins on the first Sat. of Jan. and goes on for 6 weeks. We have a brief window at the end of Feb. before their competition begins again. We will look at that window to see if some events can be scheduled.
Borough events are dependent on the following FRC teams:
Bronx: Lehman HS
Staten Island: SI Tech
Queens: Aviation HS
Brooklyn: Brooklyn Tech
Manhattan: Stuyvesant

Because this is a transition year, we are looking at additional events to give your schools more opportunities to compete. We are considering some activity at the Javits Center where the FRC and FTC (VEX) tournaments will take place the first weekend of April.

Also, some other FRC schools may be interested in hosting some events, possibly in Feb. and March and maybe beyond.

Training for coaches
October 6 at NYU – all day training in NXT (tentative).
You will need to bring your robotics kit (not the field set-up) and your software.
Space is limited.
New coaches and vet coaches switching from RCX to NXT will get priority.
Registration procedure will be announced in an upcoming newsletter.
Also, check the norms robotics blog.
Other dates will follow on Saturdays in October, some at Polytechnic U


JFLL
A Junior FLL (ages 6-9) event will be held in conjunction with the qualifying event at PACE U on Dec. 2. FIRST has opened registration until the end of Nov. Open to all schools. Contact Keith Wynne at:


Election day (Nov. 6) training:
Mike Siegel of Staten Island Tech who is running the SI tournament again this year will continue the tradition of training on this date, most likely in NXT. Details to follow. Priority to SI teams but Mike will take others if there's room.


Mike Koumoulos at Aviation HS, who will be coordinating the Queens qualifying event will be holding training in RCX only on Election Day at Aviation in Queens. Mike has taken over some of the former Region 4 duties from Stephen Shapinsky, who has moved to Las Vegas.


Feedback on the challenge board from Mary Lee of St. Clare:

Any feedback on this year's challenge board?
Here are some from me ... but this is before really getting into it.

* We just looked at videos the other day and it was a bit overwhelming. Will need all the time we can get to try to figure out all those tasks and the contingencies placed on many of them as well as the scoring. My head is spinning just watching those videos! My kids lost their minds too! LOL
* We also felt the research project guidelines were a little more confining this year than in the past. We had some pretty creative things in mind that we were hoping to pursue and now we find we are trying to shoehorn them into the mold set for us. But that's life. Have to modify and adjust all the time. I am sure the kids will figure out something.
* And we still think the RCX is better!!! The kids feel the RCX users have the advantage not NXT... again my team's feeling on the matter. But we worked on NXT training again this summer and hopefully NXT will be our friend this year. We will give the relationship another try. No divorce papers being issued yet.

--
Have a good day

Norm

FLL Queens Group Forms

FLLQueens@gmail.com has invited you to join the FLLQueens group with this message:

Hi everybody. My name is Michael Koumoullos and I am volunteering with NYC FLL this year. I will be working with Norm Scott and have taken over some of the work that Steve Shapinsky did these last three years. Stephen went out of his way to help me step in. This Google Group will offer information about the NYCFirst Qualifying tournament at Aviation High School. I am a teacher at Aviation High School. I intend to hold a professional development meeting on
Election Day, Tuesday, November 6 at Aviation High School. We can talk about the game, planning, judging and the RCX. I have never used an NXT so if any of you are good at building and programming the NXT, and are willing to give a description of the program to coaches who are new to the NXT, I would greatly appreciate it.

Here is the group's description:

This group is designed to disseminate information regarding the December 15th NYC First Qualifying Tournament held at Aviation High School. It should also act as a forum for experience and knowledge sharing.

Mike posted this to the group:

Hello everyone. Just a reminder, Research and Technical presentations will be judged at Aviation High School on December 15. Don't forget, this is not a practice tournament. It is a Qualifying tournament. There will be opening ceremonies, closing ceremonies, full judging, trophies and awards. We will do our best to simulate the environment at Riverbank State Park. Also remember, not all schools will qualify to compete at the citywide tournament. The exact number will be determined by the NYC FIRST Planning Committee. A rough estimate of the number of teams that will qualify are about 50%. The method of selecting the teams has yet to be determined, but whatever the method, the teams will be selected by the judges at each Qualifying tournament.

Please ask any questions you may have. The Chief Judge for at our event will be Gregory Koumoullos, my brother. He is also a member of this group and is available to answer questions. Please be a little patient with him because he is now getting acquainted with the judging techniques and procedures.

Good Luck, Mike Koumoullos.

FIRST LEGO League NYC Registered Teams 07/08

Updated Thurs. Sept. 13: Total - 158 teams

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pgxRf3gM4qtx9R1ic9TfNKw

Reminders:

Sept. 29: Kickoff at Polytechnic U in Brooklyn
Children are welcome
9-12:30

Schedule:
9-10: All coaches. Please be on time as very important information on qualifying tournaments will be discussed and questions answered.
10-11: Coaches will be divided between New coaches and vets.
Vets will review the missions and game board.
Newbies will get essential info, programming and building tips.
11-12: New coaches will review missions while those vets that wish can get some review of programming.

All this is still tentative.

Research:
Since this will be a very important component this year in order to go on to citywide and the timetable is significantly moved up, a discussion will take place on best practices.

The Game:
In the past, practice tournaments were used to get ready in Nov/Dec for the Jan. event. Now these dates are suddenly more real and your timetables are being squeezed. This is a transition year and we will get the kinks out, so be patient.

One of our problems in scheduling is the fact that we rely so much on the amazing high school kids who do senior robotics - FRC - and give so much of their time. But their very intense season always begins on the first Sat. of Jan. and goes on for 6 weeks. We have a brief window at the end of Feb. before their competition begins again.

Borough events are dependent on the following FRC teams:
Bronx: Lehman HS
Staten Island: SI Tech
Queens: Aviation HS
Brooklyn: Brooklyn Tech
Manhattan: Stuyvesant

Evan Weinberg, FRC coach at Lehman, MC at FLL, member of FLL planning committee, etc, etc. etc. Oh yes, and he teaches too.

Because this is a transition year, we are looking at additional events to give your schools more opportunities to compete. We are considering some activity at the Javits Center where the FRC and FTC (VEX) tournaments will take place the first weekend of April.

Also, some other FRC schools may be interested in hosting some events, possibly in Feb. and March and maybe beyond.

So hang on for a fun year.

Steve Raile (right) from Staten Island Tech and Deric Borrero, coach and founder of FLL at IS 72, SI and the brand new Assistant Principal at IS 24, SI.

NYCFIRST Update 9: Little Time Left to Register

Sept. 10, 2007

A newsletter for the NYCFIRST robotics community in New York City and the surrounding area. If you want to be removed from this list type "remove" in the subject are and hit return. If you get doubles of this email let me know.

Compiled by Norm Scott
NYCFIRST Registration coordinator
norscot@aol.com
normsco@gmail.com
917-992-3734

These updates are posted at Norm's Robotics blog: http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

The NYC/NJ FIRST Web site is at www.nycnjfirst.org


URGENT
Registration may be closed early
If you have any intention of competing this year, register ASAP. Once all field set-up kits are allocated, registration will be closed. This might happen within the next few days.

Register at: http://register4fll.com/

Payment: You do not have to pay when you register. Choose "pay by check" and work things out later. But the longer you wait pay, the longer it will take for delivery. With our compressed timetable, there is some urgency.

VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
When you register make sure to order the field set-up kit ($65) in addition to the $200 registration fee. That is an absolute requirement in order to get your team prepared.


New Tournament Structure
With registration expected to top 160 teams, only 80 teams will go to Citywide on Jan. 26.

Criteria: full tournament rules apply with a full complement of judges at each event. We need volunteers for judges in order to make these events as meaningful as possible for you and the kids. Every attempt will be made to keep the judging consistent in all events. We need people to assist at these tournaments as judges. Training will be offered to all. Some coaches in the past have judged on their off day and found it very meaningful, so please consider it. We also need other volunteers for all the Dec. events.

While not mandated, the chances to move on to Citywide are almost nil without doing the research. This is obviously one of the major differences from past years.

There will be a qualifying tournament in every borough between Dec. 2 and Dec. 15.
Registration will be open with the names of contact people in around 2 weeks.

Details will be available at the Kickoff on Sept 29 (see below) with questions answered between 9am and 10am.

Sample question:
If I paid for registration for, I thought, January, how will it work if I do not 'qualify'? Will the registration fee be returned?

No. All registration fees go to FIRST in Manchester. The borough events which are open to all, will be full-fledged tournaments.


Practice tournaments
NO practice events are planned at this time. However, if you are interested in holding a small practice event for schools in your area, contact us and we'll provide you a list of teams and any assistance we can. These events would have to take place no later than the end of November.

NYCFIRST Kickoff for the Power Puzzle
Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007
Polytechnic U, Downtown Brooklyn

Schedule (tentative)
9-10: Intro to Power Puzzle Research
Outlining the new qualifying tournament structure: answering your questions (very important for everyone to attend.
10-11: A: Intro to PP game: Veteran coaches
10-11 B: Info for new coaches

11-12 Intro to PP Game: New coaches


Training for coaches
October 6 at NYU – all day training in NXT (tentative).
You will need to bring your robotics kit (not the field set-up).
Space is limited.

New coaches and vet coaches switching from RCX to NXT will get priority.
Registration procedure will be announced in an upcoming newsletter. Also, check the norms robotics blog.
Other dates will follow on Saturdays in October, some at Polytechnic.


JFLL
A Junior FLL (ages 6-9) event will be held in conjunction with the qualifying event at PACE U on Dec. 2. FIRST has opened registration until the end of Nov. Open to all schools. Details in the next update. If you need immediate info contact Keith Wynne at: KWynne@schools.nyc.gov


Election day (Nov. 6) training
Mike Siegel of Staten Island Tech who is running the SI tournament again this year will continue the tradition of training on this date, most likely in NXT. Details to follow. Priority to SI teams but Mike will take others if there's room.

Mike Koumoulos at Aviation HS, who will be coordinating the Queens qualifying event will be holding training in RCX only on Election Day at Aviation in Queens. Mike has taken over some of the former Region 4 duties from Stephen Shapinsky, who has moved to Las Vegas.


Registered Teams
Full list of updated teams: Total 147 (as of Sept. 9)

Available at:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pgxRf3gM4qtx9R1ic9TfNKw

Sorted by boroughs and team numbers. Teams in red are the teams added since the last update.

Please check that your team is listed and the info is correct.
Update coaches' names and send me an email with contact info f you do.

Borough coordinators: update your lists of registered teams


New York City FIRST LEGO League Borough Qualifying Tournaments:

Manhattan: December 2 (Sunday), Pace U. downtown
Brooklyn: December 8, 2007, Brooklyn Tech High School
Bronx: December 8, 2007, Lehman High School
Staten Island: December 15, 2007, Staten Island Tech High School
Queens: December 15, 2007, Aviation High School

New York City FIRST LEGO League Citywide Championship:
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Riverbank State Park, Manhattan



Building instructions with 2 corrections downloadable at:
http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=70


POWER PUZZLE VIDEO LIBRARY

View a video illustrating each of the Power Puzzle missions. In addition, two educational videos introduce the topic of sustainable energy.

Educational videos were created by the Energy Institute at the University of Wisconsin – Madison for FIRST LEGO League. Videos are available in Flash (streaming only), Windows Media, and QuickTime formats.

All Quicktime and Windows Media File files are down loadable. When selecting the most appropriate file, simply right click on it and select "Save Target As". When the "Save as" window opens chose the location to save to. Once all of the files are downloaded, they can be burned to a CD for replay later.

Click or copy and paste this link to the FIRST site where you will find a link to the videos.

http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=29640



Gary Israel Reports on the Bronx Kickoff held this past Saturday

I want to share the email below that I received from Carol Gilligan, the Science Specialist for the Leadership LSO who attended the Bronx FLL Kick-off this past Saturday.

Good Morning, Gary,

It was sincerely my pleasure to attend on Saturday. I just wish I could have stayed longer to talk with more students.

I chatted with some 7th graders who had been competing in FLL for 2 years now and what struck me was their eagerness to find out what newbies there would be this year so they could introduce the program to them and help them to have "as much fun as they did". I believe they were from 192. Talk about encouraging mentorship!!

Power Puzzle is a perfect theme aligned with our middle school curriculum and the missions seem very challenging. I appreciate the incredible, rich opportunity for research in energy resources and efficiency this year's focus creates.

I know the children will benefit greatly from the collaboration and problem solving FLL Robotics presents.

Good Luck to them all!

Regards,

Carol Ann Gilligan

--
Have a good day

Norm