FLL Queens 2015 Qualifer - Jan. 24th, 9-3PM

January 24th, 9:00 - 3:00 at George J Ryan MS 216 in Fresh Meadows, I will host the 4th annual Queens Borough Qualifier.  30 Schools and organizations from Queens will converge on Ryan Middle School for an all day competition focused on Science, technology and Sportsmanship. ... -----Peter Zanthus, pxanthus@gmail.com

FLL 2015 Bronx Qualifier, Feb. 7, 2015, at Horace Mann School

To All Bronx Qualifier FLL Coaches and their Assistant FLL Coaches:

The Bronx FLL (FIRST Lego League) Qualifier is Saturday, February 7th, 2015 @

Horace Mann School 

Fisher Hall Arts and Dining Center

231 W. 246th St. New York, NY 10471

8:30-3pm (doors open 8am).  

Registration is now open.  Due to space considerations the Bronx Qualifier is limited to 20 teams with preference given to Bronx-based teams.

To register follow this link to tekintellect.com.  From the tekintellect.com home page click on the FLL Qualifier link at the top of the page (or manually scroll down to the bottom of the page).  Clicking the Bronx Qualifier 2015 Register Now! button at the bottom of the page will take you to the registration form.

Looking forward to seeing you on February 7th.

The 2015 FLL Brooklyn Qualifier - Registration Opens - From Susan Hermon

Hello Coaches,

The 2015 FLL Brooklyn Qualifier 

will be held:

Sunday, January 25th, 2015 8:00 am-4:00 pm @ NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, Brooklyn Campus.

Directions: http://www.poly.edu/node/463

You must participate in a qualifier to be eligible for the citywide competition held at the Jacob Javits Center the weekend of March 13th-14th.

Registration Begins: Nov. 12, 2014 –Jan. 16, 2015
Registration is not complete until the form AND payment has been received.
Registration Fee: $60 per Team
You will be registered in the order in which your payment has been received. Deadline is Jan. 16, 2015

Checks are payable to: NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering/FIRST
Please mail check(s) or Money Order(s) with team number(s) to:
    NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering
    Attn: Susan Hermon Room JB257A
    6 MetroTech Center Brooklyn, NY 11201
    You can also make payments by credit card at the registration link below:
     http://www.poly.edu/node/4405

*The team capacity is 45 we have 50 paid registered teams, if you would like to participate at another borough qualifier please send me an email
shermon@nyu.edu.

There is only one borough that has room:
Staten Island Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 @ New Dorp High School.

I will forward your info to that borough organizer.

*Once capacity has been filled and/or you have not registered by the deadline you will automatically be assigned to the Staten Island Qualifier.*

*IF YOU HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR LET ME KNOW ASAP*

Tournament Contact: Susan Hermon: shermon@nyu.edu,(718) 260-3524 please contact me with any questions and/or concerns.

FIRST Lego League Online Workshops - Updated

From Norm Suteria:

Thank you for posting the FLL workshops. 

I've updated the text below to include the Peatix website for each class.

Please feel free to list my name and email address norm@nycfirst.org as contact information.

FIRST Lego League Online Workshops

All workshops begin at 4 p.m. and will utilize a Google Hangout. Please register via Peatix, which is free, to receive the URL.  

Introduction to Lego NXT and EV3 Software

Tuesday November 25, 2014

4 p.m.

Register: http://legoev3.peatix.com

The team will cover an introduction to the NXT and the EV3 software, the basics of building a simple two motor robot vehicle and an overview of the 2014 FLL WORLD CLASS Challenge.

Make it Move and Make it Sense!

Tuesday December 2, 2014

4 p.m.

Register: http://fllmovingsensing.peatix.com

Introduction to basic programming including motor and sensor programming, how to move the robot, different methods for steering and how to use the various sensors.

Loops, Switches and Large Programs

Tuesday December 9, 2014

4 p.m.

Register: http://fllloopsswitches.peatix.com

Advanced programming: how to use switches and loops and making large programs into smaller ones using these constructs. 

FLL Open Session: What do you want to know?

Tuesday January 6, 2014

4 p.m.

Register: http://fllopensession.peatix.com

OPEN SESSION -  This session's content will be driven by the requests of teams and will also feature a short review of the challenge and several approaches to the challenge.

Upcoming Robotics Clinics and Forums for FLL and FTC

From Susan Hermon:

Sat., Dec. 6th, 10 am-2 pm @ 100 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, 11205 (Open to all)
Sun., Dec. 7th, 10 am-2 pm @ 93-02 69th Avenue, Forest Hills, Queens 11375 (Open to Queens teams only)

Please note that due to limited space only the first 15 teams to register will get a chance to attend the clinic, the rest will be put on a wait-list.

Register at: http://bit.ly/1tJvx7V

======
From Norm Suteria and Dominick Dennisur

Please see the dates listed below with short descriptions. Each session will in total last an hour. The sessions will be comprised of the content detailed in the description for 30 to 40 mins then this will be followed by 20 to 30 mins of an open questions and answers. Teams will also have the ability to send in suggestions regarding the content that should be presented in the latter sessions.

FLL Google Hangouts/Forum

November 25:

The team will cover an introduction to the NXT and the EV3 software, the basics of building a simple two motor robot vehicle and an overview of the 2014 FLL WORLD CLASS Challenge.

December 2:

Introduction to basic programming including motor and sensor programming, how to move the robot, different methods for steering and how to use the various sensors

December 9:

Advanced programming, how to use switches and loops and making large programs into smaller ones using these constructs

January 6:

OPEN SESSION -  This session's content will be driven by the requests of teams and will also feature a short review of the challenge and several approaches to the challenge.

FTC Google Hangouts/Forum

November 19:

This will cover the basics of NXT Lego Brick, Basics of  Sensors and motor programming and also introduce the teams to the FTC problem statement and challenges. 

November  26:

This will introduce the teams to advanced concepts of RobotC  programming like encoders and joystick interface used to model the manual control of the Robot.

December 3:

This will introduce the teams to the challenges and tricks to program the autonomous behavior of the Robot and also introduce the idea of programming the Robot to Read IR beacon values which are used to model the autonomous behavior of the Robot.

December 10:

This will Focus on skill set required to complete the building and programming  of a fully functional ROBOT to participate in FTC, Interfacing and programming the Tetrix parts (Servo controller and DC motor Controller) and also simulate the code on Robot Virtual World.

Dominick Dennisur

Project Manager

Center for K12 STEM Education

NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering

NYC FLL & FTC Planning Committee

678-733-0481

Stay current:  Facebook / Google+ / @NYUPolyK12STEM / NYC FIRST

STEM WORKSHOP and PD @ SI TECH for Elementary and Middle School ELECTION DAY - NOVEMBER 4TH 2014 8am – 2:30pm

Staten Island Technical High School
 

485 CLAWSON STREET · STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK 10306 · (718) 667-3222

Joe Manzo A.P. CTE

                                                                                                                                        Mark Erlenwein Principal

                               

To reserve a seat, Contact Steve Raile ;    sraile2@schools.nyc.gov

                                                

STEM WORKSHOP and PD @ SI TECH for Elementary and Middle School

ELECTION DAY PD - NOVEMBER 4^TH  2014       8am – 2:30pm

The Day’s Events:

WELCOMING BREAKFAST (PROVIDED)

INTRODUCTIONS & NETWORKING

STEM vs. STEAM,  BUILDING A BASIC ROBOT with BEST PRACTICES and interactive Q&A

HOW TO PROGRAM AN NXT, DEMONSTRATIONS by S.I.T.H.S. STUDENTS

T.V. STUDIO AND MULTI MEDIA LAB TOUR

STEM FOR ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS BREAKOUT

STEM FOR INTERMEDIATE PROGRAMS BREAKOUT

LUNCH (ON OWN)

FLL 2015 GAME AND RULES, SCRATCH PROGRAMMING

Q&A, TIME FOR INDEPENT AND GROUP EXPLORATIONS

THE PD PRESENTERS:

S. RAILE –ENGINEERING TEACHER, FORMER FLL COACH, FRC MENTOR, ZERO ROBOTIC COACH, CTE

P. LOCKHART - P.S.57, SCIENCE AND STEM TEACHER, FLL COACH

J. BURO - CAD TEACHER, FORMER FLL COACH

F. PORTELOS - STATEN ISLAND FLL DIRECTOR

E. HENRIQUES - ENGINEERING AND CAD TEACHER

A. BARONE - CAD TEACHER, COMPUTER SCIENCE

M. WANTOWSKI - ELECTRONICS TEACHER

J. JAX - PHYSICS TEACHER, COMPUTER SCIENCE, CTE LEADER

M. VAN BUREN - T.V. AND MULTI MEDIA STUDIO

S.I.T.H.S. STUDENTS - STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS ENGINEERING TEAMS

NYCFIRST FLL Rookie Workshops at NYU/Poly

Hello and Welcome to the 2015 FLL season!!!

I know you all should be well on your way with getting your teams ready and started for what should be an interesting competition.

At last Saturdays FLL kickoff we discussed there will be 2 rookie workshops and a clinic hosted by NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering in Brooklyn.  Note each workshop is the same no need to attend both dates; however the clinic is a different profile please read the registration form.

As registration comes to a close and payments are received by US FIRST each borough organizer will contact you with updated details regarding your borough qualifier.  Note: we are just waiting for an official list.

In the meantime take advantage of the free resources that are available.  

Register here for the workshops:

http://bit.ly/1tnldj1

Best Regards,

Susan Hermon 

Program Coordinator

K12 STEM Education Center @ NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering 

Rookie Workshop

Coach only; This workshop will cover the basics of Lego Brick and also introduce the teams to the FTC & FLL problem statements. The training will be conducted with EV3 kits for FLL teams; nxt users are still welcomed to attend. Please bring your kits and laptop.

		FLL (room RH 331)
Sat, Oct. 11th, 10 am-4 pm
Sun, Oct. 19th, 10 am-4 pm

Clinic

The clinic is designed for the coach and student to learn and build together. Attendance should consist of 1 coach/2-3 students. (if you want to bring more students please let us know to make sure we can handle the capacity.) *You cannot attend without your student(s)* Robotic technicians will be on hand to assist with any questions and help trouble shoot problems; playing fields will be available to practice on. Please bring your laptop w/charger, your kit w/ your current built robot.

		FLL (room: RH 116
Sun, Nov. 23, 10 am-4 pm

 

 

NYCFIRST LEGO League Kickoff - Photos

I had a great time yesterday at NYU/Poly on Jay Street at our annual FLL kickoff. We have about 170 NYC teams registered so far for the Challenge which is called World Class, all about learning. Kids not only build a robot for the game field - below - represent different styles of learning - but also do and present an extensive research project on the subject.

Teams spend  the next 3 months prepping. Borough qualifiers take place in January. Finalists go to citywide event at Javits on the weekend of March 14. The winner of that may be eligible to go to international event in St. Louis in late April.

I've been working with NYCFIRST since practically the day I retired - actually from that first day in Sept. 2002.

The amazing Rich Wong - engineer and teacher extraordinaire

NYCFIRST Borough Qualifier Contacts

Brooklyn: Susan Hermon shermon@nyu.edu

Qualifier: Sunday Jan. 25 at Poly/NYU in Brooklyn (Date not confirmed yet.)

Queens: Peter Xanthus ptx79@aol.com

Staten Island: Francesco Portelos mrportelos@gmail.com

Bronx: Albert Davis albertdavis3@gmail.com

Manhattan: Ivan Estevez FLL.CCNY.Organizers@gmail.com

 

NYC FIRST LEGO League Kickoff Sat. Setp 27, 10AM

Saturday September 27, 2014 at 10:00 AM-1:00 PM Polytechnic Institute of NYU
6 Metrotech Center Brooklyn, NY 11201
Agenda:
10:00-10:20 AM: Welcome & Introductions (Pfizer Auditorium, 5 MetroTech Center)
10:25-10:40 AM: World Class Learning Unleashed Overview (Pfizer Auditorium)
10:45-11:45 PM: Rookie Team Workshop (How to organize your team, project overview; game strategies, robot design, & NXT software tips) (JAB - Room 474)
10:45-11:45 PM: Judging Workshop (JAB - Room 475)
11:00-1:00 PM: Game Overview (All Teams) (Rogers Hall [RH] - Room 116)

NYCFIRST - Registered and Partially Registered Teams as of Sept. 10, 2014

Note your team number - Numbers over 5 digits (in red) means you have not completed the registration process. Teams in blue are OK. Teams in red must complete the process or will be left out when registration closes - which is getting close.

Team Number	Team Name
356	Thunderbots
760	BOOGIEBOTS
907	76ers
1082	CyberBots
1318	Techno Tigers
1551	Sonic Gears
1725	Eagles
1995	Mission Masters
1996	Robo Rulers
2149	ROBO ZOO
2445	Techno Pandas
2449	PS11 TEAM ONE
2476	Ps11 team two
2495	Marine Park Robotics 1
2547	The West Side Robsters
2561	TopGearz
2562	SuperBotz
2571	SkyTekz
2642	SRCA Royal Sages
2653	Quantum Club
2762	RA Tech Titans
2793	Marine Park Robotics 2
3071	FLLASH
3263	St. Clare's Transformers 1
3264	St. Clare's Transformers 2
3265	St. Clare's Transformers 3
3412	Packer Collegiate
3427	FHRL-FLL1
3429	FHRL-FLL2
3430	FHRL FLL3
3431	FHRL-FLL4
3432	FHRL-FLL5
3433	FHRL-FLL6
3526	PS 503
3780	Innovators
3786	PS 57 R Robotics
4426	Dinobots
4427	Master Blasters
4518	Basement Cubs
4621	Don't Know
4647	Trinity Gold
4648	Trinity Blue
4839	Dalton 1
4843	Dalton 2
5355	RoboTron 1
5357	RoboTron 2
5485	Garden Griffins
5678	Trans FLL
5891	Lego Legacy 366
5892	FGPABYTES
5893	Blood, Sweat, & Gears
5895	Madibabots
5896	Smartbots
5898	n/a
5997	Chapin Bots Team 1
6000	Chapin Bots Team 2
6392	RoboTigers
6593	RSS Lions
6735	Amity
7079	LREI 7th/8th
7080	LREI 5th/6th
7399	Manhattan Youth @ ESMS
7611	Ella Baker Robotics
7620	DIVAS for Social Justice
7638	IS 276 Chargers
7651	Grace Gremlins
8008	PS397
8376	Cougarbots
8472	Blue School
8648	Brooklyn Lab Team 1
8796	Brooklyn Lab Team 2
8798	Brooklyn Lab Team 3
8799	Brooklyn Lab Team 4
8971	The hawks will eat your Lego
9026	Banneker Bots
9109	Genesis 1
9112	Genesis 2
9113	Genesis 3
9114	Genesis 4
9145	ABC-Healy Robotics Club
9577	I.S. 318 Bytes
9582	New Heights Robo-Hero's
9786	The Automators
9788	Stanns
9841	Dwi Sci
10005	The ROCbotics
10016	P.S. 213's Lego Dream Team
10053	The Little Warriors of East Harlem
10083	Flying Bison
201400592	B.R.A.T.S.
201401316	Norms Robot
201401573	Molecules
201403448	RoBosses
201403608	30th Avenue School Team One
201403611	30th Avenue School Team Two
201403612	30th Avenue School Team Three
201403613	30th Avenue School Team Four
201403824	Knights of 24
201404041	Mustangs
201404179	Cyber Camp First Lego Team
201404372	MasterMinds
201404376	Robo-Panthers
201405192	MasterMinds2
201405574	RoboWarriors
201407199	Robo Galz
201407257	Robo Fusion 192
201407789	robo hawks
201407798	STEAM Powered
201408533	WOLFBYTES
201408561	JHS 223
201408747	RobotICS
201409513	CAS Milbotics
201410269	Manhattan Youth at Quest to Learn
201410292	Manhattan Youth @ Clinton
201410384	LeaderBots
201410882	IS 223
201410947	I.S. 5 Robotics
201411712	CGPS
201411767	PS 1 Lighthouse
201411769	PS 1
201412333	TEKbotics
201412518	SOF
201412531	SOF II
201412913	Bronx Task Force
201413682	Mustangs 2
201413720	Robotronics
201413793	Bleeker All Stars

NYCFIRST Kickoff - Sat - Sept. 27

The first event of this season will be our kickoff on September 27th at the NYU Polytechnic School Of Engineering in Metrotech, Downtown Brooklyn. I will post the exact start time when I have it -  we are planning to offer a rookie workshop, a game reveal and review, as well as a research judging workshop.

FLL Registration: HOW TO DO I COMPLETE THE SCREENING?

HOW TO DO I COMPLETE THE SCREENING?
1.  Select the FLL program registration link                  FIRST LEGO League

2.  Log into the Team Information Management System (TIMS) with your user name and password.

3.  Open the attached PDF file.   These screen shots will help guide you through the process 

FREQUENTLY ASKED SCREENING QUESTIONS:

Why am I being asked to supply a Social Security Number?

Social Security Numbers are not required.  Simply check the “No SSN” box and continue.

I heard that I will have to pay for this screening, how much is it?

Payment is not required.  There is an option to donate ($2.50), but certainly not required.  Simply select “Not at this time.”

What is a Fast Pass and why do I need it?

Fast Pass is optional. If you volunteer for any other organizations on the Verified Volunteers platform you could share your background check with other organizations.  Without the Fast Pass you are limited to a single sharing of your background check.
If this of no interest simply select the “No” option.

How often will I have to be screened?

If you are registering multiple teams, teams for more than one FIRST program, or plan to volunteer at events, you will only be screened once.  Screening is valid for 3 years.

I was screened by my employer, does that meet the requirement?

If you were screened within the previous 24 months you may submit that report via email (safetyfirst@usfirst.org) or fax (603-666-3907) in lieu of the FIRST Youth Protection screening.  Once we have reviewed the report we will manually change your screening status.

TWO COACH REQUIREMENT - QUESTION

I am having a difficult time finding another Lead Coach, suggestions?

When recruiting your second Lead Coach remember to let them know that they do not have to be at every meeting.  Certainly if your team meets at school they may not ever come to a meeting but will serve as a backup contact for FIRST.
If you are recruiting a parent volunteer, remember that the extent of their involvement is negotiable.  They may attend occasionally but mainly be in charge of scheduling other parents or volunteers to help you at team meetings.
If don’t know who the parents will be yet, you can always invite someone who is willing to be the named Lead Coach temporarily.  You can always invite a replacement Lead Coach once you have had a chance to meet the parents.

Thank you for supporting FIRST Programs!

Lee

Lee Doucette

Youth Protection Program Manager

V 603-666-3906 x250

E ldoucette@usfirst.org

W www.usfirst.org

FIRST Global Community Conference in Cape Cod

Registration for FLL World Class challenge has been open for over a month, but to the NYCFIRST FLL crew here in NYC, attending the conferences is the true opening of the season. We have 6 people up here, including 2 Vista workers. There are hundreds of people from most of the states and from many areas of the world. All divisions are represented here -- FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST LEGO League and JR FLL.
Last night we had a motivational speech from Dean Kamen and we're rarin' to go.

Now, we're at a session regarding girls in STEM -- let's aim for some diversity when forming teams.

Tomorrow we get to see a preview of the challenge, but as usual, if I say something I'll have to kill you. See the teaser here.

It's the last few weeks of schools for public schools and a chance to register and get some dough out of your principal before school closes. Registration may be more complicated for a number of reasons, so check it out and don't leave it to the last minute.

Consent forms link

http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/Robotics_Programs/Consent_and_Release_Form.pdf

NYCFLL UPDATE - March 29, 2014 - Pit map attached

Dear Teams,

Well, thanks to all who have responded to my email posted at NYCFLL UPDATE: March 25, 2014.

Please make sure to read it as there is some info you will need.

Please make sure to include your team number in any response to facilitate record keeping.

We are a week away and some of you are not showing me the love by responding to my emails. Do I have to get cousin Vinny to track you down? The reward for those responding is your pit number - see below.

I am assigning pit numbers as your responses come in to make it easier for me to keep track of which teams I have to reach out to. See below for your pit and team number. If there is a blank next to your team # that means you have to touch base with me.

There will be 3 rounds. Judging doesn't start early this year so that will relieve the rush.

Only 2 children allowed in on Tech presentations.

My cell: 917-992-3734 - touch base during the day if you need to - leave a message since there is so much noise - with your name, pit number so I can find you.

If you want to be near another team email that info ASAP.

If you want to change your team name this is the last chance.

I am sending an attachment with the pit table layout.

And another team info form for you to print out and hand in upon arrival.

I will send another bulletin before next week so be on the lookout -- you won't have to respond to me on that one.

A few questions that came in:

Times: Javits doors are open early but we don't open the entry to the tournament until 8AM. When does it end? 3-4PM range - closer to 4. We have an awards ceremony that takes a bit of time. Some teams leave before due to bus obligations and the kids miss out on it. If you win and are not there you will be notified.

Medals: We give each child who shows up a medal -- usually right after lunch. No medals for coaches, parents etc. We do this by calling up pits in groups of 10 so be on the alert. Also - if they twirl medals the ribbon comes off -- be careful.

Food - they sell stuff at Javits but not cheap. Bring your own if you want but be judicious about making it obvious. A few years ago there was an issue over bringing stuff in - once at your tables it was OK - but no problems recently.

Some order pizza from the neighborhood and meet the delivery guy at the door. Others go out - check area restaurants in advance.

Parking - not much street parking at all -- there are lots and prices vary - check online - there are coupons - some lots declare this an event day and bump prices.

If you have more questions, ask.

 

I am not including the pit assignments on this blog as I have to send out a final updated list.