NYCFIRST Update 4: Kickoff Saturday, Sept. 26 Starts at 10 AM

Saturday will be out annual kickoff where a few tables will be set up and Smart Moves missions will be reviewed.

Note the change in the times. We will start at 10am and end around 1pm.

Polytechnic Institute of New York University - NYU POLY
6 Metrotech Center
Brooklyn, NY 11201

• Get Directions

For the Rookies’ workshop the following people will be speaking on the following
topics:

Eric Greene – Team Organization & Management
Veryl Greene – Robot Design & the Robot Inspection
Richard Akalski - Game Preparation Strategies
Josh Blum – Strategies for Teaching Basic Game-related NXT Programming

In Memorium: Glenn Wright

The death of Glenn Wright is one of the sad reports that come about all too often for kids in the inner city. Note comments of FLL Planning committee member Kristian Breton and former FLL coach Danny Peralta. Make sure to check out the Times 2006 story on his teammate that had a happpy ending at that time.

Dear Teams:

It is with profound sadness that I share this news with you: Glenn Wright, a former member and mentor of team 1880 the East Harlem Warriors lost his life this past weekend. Kris Breton, who know Glenn well shared the details below . These articles appeared today in various Media about the unfortunate and sensless incident leading to his untimely and tragic death: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/nyregion/15wright.html. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/09/15/2009-09-15_slain_helping_his_grandma_mistaken_identity_at_root_of_students_killing_on_les_c.html

Glenn was 21 years old. A kind, well-liked, responsible young man, raised in a family of very limited economic means, Glenn was a loving child and brother and a caring team member who bloomed in the midst of EHTP friends and mentors. Glenn graduated in 2008, but never left his FIRST team: he helped as mentor in 2009, and was to be one of its main leaders in 2010. He will be sorely missed. I am sure his positive and sharing spirit will continue inspiring Team 1880 for years to come.

Our thoughts and prayers go to his father, siblings and close friends. East Harlem Tutorial Program is recieving donations to help the family with the funeral services. Donations or flowers and cards can be sent to EHTP/ in Glenn Wright 's memory, and mailed c/o Gerardo Garcia, Robotics Coordinator 2050 Second Ave, NY NY 10029.

Team 1880 will be holding a Vigil at East Harlem Tutorial this afternoon at 5:30, at 2050 Second Avenue near 106th St. Feel free to join us to remember and celebrate his life. His funeral will be held on Saturday at Benta's Funeral Home at 630 St. Nicholas Avenue - at W. 141st Street Harlem, New York .

Ana L Martinez

FIRST Regional Director

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Newark,NJ 07102

Polytechnic Institute of NYU

Six Metrotech Center Room JB 257A

Brooklyn, NY 11201

718 260 3383

917 361 2257 cell

September 15, 2009

Fatal Stabbing of East Harlem Resident, 21, May Have Stemmed From Mistaken Identity

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/nyregion/15wright.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

By RAY RIVERA

Friends at the small East Harlem high school he attended remembered Glenn Wright as shy, the kind of kid who sat in the back of a room and didn’t say much. But in 2006, when a neighborhood after-school program started a robotics team, Mr. Wright signed up, emerging as one of the leaders in an unlikely run to the national finals.

“In this profession, you’re not supposed to have favorites, but he was probably my favorite,” said Kristian Breton, who coached the 19-member team, which beat the city’s elite schools in a regional competition, then lost in the national competition in Atlanta.

Mr. Wright, 21, stayed active with the team after graduating from Central Park East High School, coaching and mentoring students while he attended community college. Then, on Saturday night, as he was helping his grandmother at her apartment on the Lower East Side, he was attacked by a group of men and stabbed in the neck. He died the next day.

“He was just one of these guys who was so caring,” said Jeff Ginsburg, executive director of the East Harlem Tutorial Program, where Mr. Wright continued to work with the robotics team as a staff member and volunteer. “I know it’s cliché to say it, but everyone loved him.”

The police arrested Joel Herrera, 20, of the Upper West Side on Sunday morning and charged him with murder in connection with the killing. Family members say officers have told them that the attack was a case of mistaken identity, but the police could not confirm that on Monday night.

Mr. Wright, the third youngest of nine siblings, one of whom died as an infant, visited his grandmother at the Baruch Houses every weekend, family members said. On Saturday, he was there to help her wash her windows. He was taking a break outside when a group of three or four men attacked him, relatives said. His father, who was nearby, saw the attack in progress and chased after the men. Mr. Wright, bleeding profusely from the neck, ran back into the lobby of his grandmother’s building and collapsed in his aunt’s arms, said his brother Peter Wright Jr.

He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center. Over the next several hours, as word of the attack spread on Facebook, friends and relatives poured into the hospital. Doctors delivered the news on Sunday afternoon that he was dead.

Mr. Wright left behind seven siblings, his father, a girlfriend, a love of skateboarding and photography, and a host of unfulfilled plans. On Monday, a to-do list still sat on his mirror in his bedroom in East Harlem, where he shared an apartment with three of his siblings, his brother Peter said. One notation on it read “City College,” one of the places to which he planned to apply. He was also considering Apex Technical School, where he was considering taking up carpentry, his brother said.

Mr. Wright, whose mother died a few years ago, also cared for a younger brother with Down syndrome, said Danny Peralta, another former coach of the robotics team who stayed close to Mr. Wright and hired him to work with children this summer at the Point, a nonprofit community development agency in the Bronx.

“He was one of those kids that honestly ran away from trouble and violence,” Mr. Peralta said, “and for it to catch up to him like that, it’s just the worst thing I can think of.”

The tutorial program plans to hold a vigil for him Tuesday at 5 p.m. at 2050 Second Avenue in East Harlem, followed by a short procession to Mr. Wright’s high school.

Mark Gura Looking for Contributors for LEGO Robotics Book

Dear Colleague –

My name is Mark Gura and I am currently writing a book for ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) on Student Robotics. The book’s working title is “Getting Started with LEGO Robotics” and will feature interviews and other sorts of input from educators who are closely involved with implementing LEGO Robotics practices with students or preparing colleagues to do so.

The purpose of the book is to give essential information and professional insight about how to bring LEGO Robotics into the classroom to teachers who are interested, but haven’t yet begun. As LEGO Robotics continues to distinguish itself as a highly motivating, especially relevant and effective approach to STEM education, I believe this book will perform a much needed service for many members of our profession.

I would like to invite you to use this book as an opportunity to share your experience and expertise in this important body of practice and distinguish yourself as a contributor to this growing field. Your participation may take the form of answering a short email survey; participate in a 10 – 15 minute phone interview, or to write some materials for inclusion in the book. In all cases participants will be fully and appreciatively acknowledged and credited for their contribution in the book’s text.

I strongly urge you to consider participation, as this book’s meaning will in large part be derived from presenting the experience of a broad spectrum of professionals directly involved in implementing LEGO Robotics with students. If you are interested, the first step will be for you to answer a short survey that I will email you. After you have returned the survey and I have had an opportunity to digest its contents, I will let you know about follow-up in the form of an invitation to participate in a phone interview or invitation to submit a lesson plan or other document. All who submit surveys will be fully acknowledged in the book whether or not they accept such invitations. I will keep all participants, whatever form their participation takes, fully informed of the progress of the book which is scheduled to be presented to ISTE in finished manuscript form in March 2010.

Please email me back stating your interest in participating. I look forward to hearing from you,

Mark Gura

PS – This will be my third book for ISTE. Below you will find some links to descriptions of those books and ISTE’s publishing program.

ISTE BOOK STORE: http://www.iste.org/source/Orders/isteIndex.cfm?section=books_and_courseware&CFID=11433269&CFTOKEN=46516133

Making Literacy Magic Happen
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Literacy-Magic-Happen-Technology/dp/1564841758

Visual Arts Units for All Levels http://www.iste.org/source/Orders/isteProductDetail.cfm?product_code=NETART

Mark Gura
Agent Provocateur - Writer - Podcaster - Speaker
www.markgura.blogspot.com
Check out my latest book:
http://markgura.blogspot.com/2009/08/proudly-announcing-new-book-teaching.html

Robotics and Technology News

A newsletter detailing some of he events that the Bronx schools participated in this June.

Bernie DiCristofalo

Robotics and Technology Consultant
Leadership LSO
1230 Zerega Avenue
Bronx, New York 10462

Veryl Greene Robotic Camp at the AMNH

The robotics camp at the American Museum of Natural History seems to have gone
well. On the last day we had a little mini game tournament on the Mars mat. The
parents, nannies, & younger siblings came to see the tournament - the classroom
was packed. Every team was successful at a mission or two, which made the kids &
parents very proud - I received a lot of hugs from the kids and grateful thanks
from the parents; I just wish I had the pamphlets on the FLL, because half of
them want information about getting robotics into their private schools. I did
give them a hand-out of websites to find information about robotics. It was cool
being able to use the Rose Center to learn about Mars & the rovers - it was a
nice experience for me as well.

Brief blurb on www.roboticrealm.blogspot.com


Ms. Veryl Greene
Robotics Consultant
FLL Robotics Planning Committee
www.roboticrealm.blogspot.com <http://www.roboticrealm.blogspot.com/> 

My Gift From Tokyo

In April 2008, I went to Tokyo to assist in the international open tournament they were holding. I was asked to be a referee, my first experience doing that. And this was a high pressure event, so I needed lots of help, which I got from many people, especially a college student named Tomo, who was my partner and spoke excellent English.

The organizer of the tournament, Kamoshida-san, visited NYC last summer and brought me this wonderful gift to show his appreciation. I took it with me to the partners' conf in Manchester this past May to show Noriko Morin (who was also in Tokyo with us) but found she had retired. So Nancy asked Courtney to take these pics. There's a matching pair of shorts that I don't have the nerve to wear for fear I'll be attacked by a samurai.

NYCFIRST FLL UPDATE 1: Registration for Smart Moves is Open

NYCFIRST FLL UPDATE 1: Registration for Smart Moves is Open

June 11, 2009

Keep track of the latest news at: http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/
NYC/NJ FIRST: http://nycnjfirst.org/

54 teams registered. See link on the blog for a list.

Contents
1. New FLL registration system
2. Smart Moves: Transforming Transportation
3. Software Update 2.0
4. NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development and FLL partner for a special tournament!
5. Why FLL?
6. Morris HS Robotics Team to be honored by NY Yankees

Upcoming

NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development special tournament!

June 13 at Polytechninc/NYU in Brooklyn from 8 AM-3 PM

These are the 40 teams that never had the opportunity to take part in our tournaments. Here is an opportunity for you to stop by and bring some people to show them what FLL is all about. Performance only. More details below.


FAMIS codes
NYC schools need to register first before they can pay using the FAMIS system. You need to purchase both. One is for the registration fee and the other is for the field setup kit.

Item #: 800055470
Description: FLL TEAM REGISTRATION 2009 - #990305 - MUST INCLUDE TEAM # ON ORDER Cost: $200.00 plus shipping

Item #: 800055489
Description: FLL FIELD SET UP KIT - #991217 - MUST INCLUDE TEAM # ON ORDER Cost: $65 plus shipping.

The vendor's name is PITSCO LEGO DACTA and their phone number is (800) 362-4308.

Renewing My FLL Vows

You have not been getting many updates this past year. I tried to get most of the information up on the blog. I also was using a targeted email list to the teams that went on to Javits.

In May I represented the NYC FLL Planning committee up in Manchester NH at the North American partners’ conference. Most of the states were represented, along with Ontario, Haiti and Colombia. Spending 4 days with so many people committed to FLL put me in touch with the big picture.

As usual, the FLL staff at FIRST treated us royally. Nancy Paul, who has been one of our most precious assets at FIRST, is taking on a different role, more focused on the international partners. I will miss having regular contact with her. Nancy’s skill set is enormous and her people skills are enormous, despite being a Red Sox fan. Luckily, Betsy Daniels will be taking on Nancy’s role, something she was doing before Nancy came on board. Betsy was our original contact at FIRST and has always been very supportive of what we are doing here in NYC.

I was shocked to find that Noriko Morin, who has been so essential to sorting out registration and many other issues, has decided to retire to North Carolina. She was always available to deal with any kind of problem and she will be missed be everyone involved in FLL. She will still be involved in some ways, but I will miss being able to pick up the phone and get answers before I hang up.

Being away from the NYC educational/political scene can be a good thing, especially in the FIRST environment where the focus is on creating wonderful experiences for kids - truly Children First. It is nice to see so many people who understand one of the prime missions in education. There is a great mix of educators, engineers and people from the business community. Many got involved as parents. The Novaks, a couple from Arkansas started out that way and now are handling the FLL in the state. They mentioned that Kris Bretton, one of the former members of an Arkansas high school team called "The Bomb Squad," is now helping us in NY as a mentor. Kris has been invaluable on the FLL Planning Committee. (He called me later that evening to warn me to not corrupt the Novaks with my big city ways.)

FLL is expected to have over 8000 teams in the US and Canada and 8000 more in 45 countries. That's over 16,000, so get your order in early.


1. New FLL registration system
Registration on the brand new system opened on May 4. You should find the process easier and smoother. And I have new capabilities to manage the process, including the ability to see what you ate for lunch. That gang at FIRST has many magical powers.

You will not be assigned a team number until you go through checkout. So if you try to register but don’t have a team number, you didn’t register. Go back in and finish up. Sometimes you will have to start over as the incomplete teams get flushed sometimes.

You still don’t have to pay right away if you use a PO (you don’t have to put in a PO number) or a check.

The purchaser is separated from the coach and can add a coach and assistant coach later. If you pay but have no coach I will list you temporarily as the coach. Shoot me an email when you have somebody.

This year we may use this system to have you sign up for FLL events, including the borough qualifiers and other events.

The last I checked 54 NYC teams registered. (See the blog for the list.) The list includes info as to whether you paid (True/False is the designation on my printout.) If you see a discrepancy contact me.


2. Smart Moves: Transforming Transportation

Can FIRST LEGO League teams transform the way we look at transportation? The key to the 2009 “Smart Move” Challenge is accessing people, places, goods and services in the safest, most efficient way possible. In this journey, teams will consider many modes of transportation beyond their daily routine and streamline their options by making smart moves! Kickoff is September 3, 2009!!

Scott Evans has outdone himself. What a mat! What a wonderfully designed game. What surprises, with one of the most beautifully designed structures I’ve seen. And field set up kit assembly time has been cut drastically. (BY THE WAY, DON’T FORGET TO ORDER AT LEAST ONE OF THESE WHEN YOU REGISTER!)

Scott did his much awaited annual presentation on and it was one of the best I’ve seen, with lost of personal input as to the motivation behind SMART MOVES. Scott presented some very powerful ideas behind Smart Moves. He pointed out that every time you get on the road whether walking, biking or driving, you are putting your trust in the hands of others. Technology is 50 years behind. Railroad crossings are differ little from what they were a hundred years ago.

He was peppered with questions as we went over the rules and this being so early, he will have time to make changes based on the input in time for Sept. 3.

Expect a robust and exciting season.

3. Software Update 2.0
There is an impending release of a software update to the retail MINDSTORMS package. However, this will only bring the retail package to the same 2.0 level that the Education package has, and is already included in the FLL Robot Set. They will have a few features available to them that Education will not have access to, but nothing from a programming standpoint that will impact effectiveness in the FLL competition.


4. NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development and FLL partner for a special tournament!

When: Saturday, June 13

Where: Polytechnic/NYU on Jay St in downtown Brooklyn.

NYC’s DYCD and FLL have partnered to provide 40 after school programs an opportunity to compete in a local tournament. The tournament will take place from 9:00-3:00 on June 13th at NYU-Poly. This is part of a pilot program that DYCD has undertaken with the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Coaches for the teams have attended a training to get familiar with the kit of parts and this year’s challenge, Climate Connections. Teams will be judged on all the categories normally associated with a FLL competition.

We look forward to this tournament and are excited about new students getting to participate in what we know is a beneficial program to garner interest in science, technology, and math.

Sincerely,
The NYC/NJ FLL Planning Committee


5. Why FLL?
Teachers who get involved in FLL say it is the best thing they do all year. Registration is open now. The season runs from the beginning of the school year through mid-March, with borough qualifying tournaments and a citywide at the Javits Center which will take place concurrently with the high school events (FTC and FRC).

Learn about all FIRST events: http://www.usfirst.org/).

FLL is for ages 9-14. Elementary, middle and even 9th graders in high school can take part. We had 150 teams from NYC take part in this past year's Climate Connections game.

Learn more about FIRST LEGO League: http://www.usfirst.org/community/fll/default.aspx?id=970.

Register a team (you can pay later): https://gofll.usfirst.org/.

Follow NYC robotics on my robotics blog.

Training and support are provided. Contact me if your school is interested.


6. Morris HS Robotics Team honored by NY Yankees

By Gary Israel

On Wednesday June 3rd the New York Yankees honored the Morris FIRST Robotics Team on the field at Yankee Stadium prior to the 7:05pm game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers.

As some of you know the Morris FIRST Robotics team has been honored on the field at the old Yankee Stadium in 2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007and 2008. Of course this year the team members were especially excited about going on the field at the new Yankee Stadium.

While the team was on the field a recap of this year's team accomplishments below was read over the Public Address system.

2009 Morris FIRST Robotics Team

This year the 2009 Morris FIRST Robotics team is celebrating their 10th year competing in FIRST robotics competitions around the country. Over the past 10 years the team has competed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Houston Texas, Richmond Virginia, Atlanta Georgia, Trenton New Jersey, Orlando Florida, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

This past March the team competed at the New York City FIRST Robotics Regional for the ninth consecutive year where they reached the semifinals. The event held at the Jacob Javits Center was the largest FIRST Robotics Regional Competition in world.

Two weeks later the team traveled to Philadelphia for the first time where they won the Philadelphia FIRST Robotics Competition, defeating the # 3 seed in the quarterfinals, # 2 seed in the semifinals and # 1 seed in the finals.

In April the Morris Robotics Team competed in the 2009 FIRST Robotics International Championships in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Morris team is the only New York City FIRST Robotics Team to have competed in the FIRST Robotics International Championships for the past six consecutive years.

This spring the team was highlighted in a Forbes magazine article on FIRST Robotics.

An article on the team appears in the June issue of Popular Science.

The Morris FIRST Robotics team will also be the subject of a book on FIRST Robotics written by NY Times Best Selling author Neal Bascomb.

Gary


Thanks to Gary for inviting me to the game and giving me a chance to see the stadium for the first time. But the Yankees lost. Don’t let it happen again Gary. (And no wise cracks, Nancy.)

Important links:

Lego Team Registration Page
https://gofll.usfirst.org/

The Game (SMART MOVE)


Robotics in New York City
http://normsrobotics.blogspot.com/

US First Lego Team Resources
http://www.usfirst.org/community/fll/content.aspx?id=786


Next Update: When I decide to get off the beach

Norm

You are subscribed to the NYCFIRST LEGO League listserve. Type “unsubscribe” in the subject area to be removed. Note: If you have previously asked to be removed and are still receiving these updates, attribute it to the gremlins harassing my computer. Ask again.

FIRST to present at World Science Festival!

Your team is invited to be part of the show.


FIRST has been invited to be part of the second annual World Science Festival in New York City at Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Sunday, June 14th.

Last year this event enabled us to spread the word about FIRST to hundreds and hundreds of families throughout the metropolitan region.

We still have a few slots available for FRC teams that would like to be part of this important outreach event.

If you have questions or would like more information, please click HERE.

Thank you for all you helping to bring the FIRST experience to kids across New York and New Jersey.

Sincerely,

Randy Schaeffer
Regional Director
World Science Festival Street Fair

Sunday, June 14th

Washington Square Park in Manhattan
(near NYU campus)
Set-up -- 7:00am to 8:30am
Demonstrations-- 10:00am to 6:00pm

For information about the World Science Festival, please click HERE

For directions to Washington Square Park, please click HERE

Teams can bring their 2008 and/or 2009 machines
Pit tables, tents and electricity will be provided
Bring balls, tools, batteries, trophies, banners, etc.
Wear your team shirts
Space will be provided for bots to strut their stuff (not an actual game)
The more action the better.
To register, please click
HERE

Back From Manchester

Being away from the NYC ed/pol scene can be a good thing, especially in the FIRST environment where the focus is on creating wonderful experiences for kids - truly Children First. It is nice to see so many people who understand one of the prime missions in education. There is a great mix of educators, engineers and people from the business community. Many got involved as parents. A couple from Arkansas started out that way and now are handling the FLL in the state. They mentioned that Kris Bretton, one of the former members of a high school team called "The Bomb Squad," is now helping us in NY as a mentor. Kris called me later that evening to warn me to not corrupt them with my big city ways.

FLL is expected to have over 8000 teams in the US and Canada and 8000 more in 45 countries. That's over 16,000, so get your order in early. This was a North American conference and most states were represented, as was Haiti and Colombia.

We got an exclusive look at the new Smart Moves game but are embargoed from revealing details until Kickoff on Sept. 3.

Teachers who get involved in FLL say it is the best thing they do all year. Registration is open now. The season runs from the beginning of the school year through mid-March, with borough qualifying tournaments and a citywide at the Javits Center which will take place concurrently with the high school events (FTC and FRC).

Learn about all FIRST events: http://www.usfirst.org/).

FLL is for ages 9-14. Elementary, middle and even 9th graders in high school can take part. We had 150 teams from NYC take part in this past year's Climate Connections game.

Learn more about FIRST LEGO League: http://www.usfirst.org/community/fll/default.aspx?id=970.

Register a team (you can pay later): https://gofll.usfirst.org/.

Follow NYC robotics on my robotics blog.

Training and support are provided. Contact me if your school is interested.

SMART MOVE

I'm in Manchester and on a break from the presentation on the new game. All I am allowed to say is WOW!

So register on the brand new registration web site early so you can get a team number.

You will no longer be assigned a team number just by starting the process. You must go through checkout before you get the number.

So far 20 NYC teams are registered.

So get on board. Remember, we often do things in the order of team numbers. So the earlier you register the better your options are for pit tables and order of presentation on research.