Kickoff 2011 Presentation: Maureen Reilly on Research

 Click link to download the Power Point 

https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dfjjpxnt_74fffbhhd7&interval=10

Game On!; Making FIRST Loud; and more.

Game On! Get in gear for 'back to school' with exciting new FIRST® challenges The newest batch of FIRST games makes science and engineering come alive for young people of all ages, sparking their curiosity to learn and explore the fast-paced world of technology. will.i.am, frontman for The Black Eyed Peas, and FIRST founder Dean Kamen get behind the launch of the 2011/2012 FIRST® Tech Challenge season: BOWLED OVER!™ read more>> Can FIRST® LEGO® League  teams improve the quality of food by finding ways to prevent food contamination? The FLL Food Factor® Challenge kicks off during National Food Safety Education Month. read more>> With their own Junior FIRST® LEGO® League SNACK ATTACK™ Challenge, our youngest scientists take a “hands-on” approach to the topic of food safety. read more>> Meanwhile, the FIRST® Robotics Competition staff and key Volunteers spent the summer months preparing for an exciting and challenging 2012 season. Mark your calendar for Kickoff on Saturday, January 7, 2012. read more>>

Technology and Pop Partner in Television Special: Tell the World About the Importance of STEM When technology and rock and roll converge, the combination is nothing less than amazing, as is evidenced by a recent groundbreaking, one-hour ABC special that showcased the efforts of FIRST. read more>>

Two Decades of Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Join us as we commemorate two decades of the FIRST Robotics Competition with Dean Kamen, ABC News correspondent Lynn Sherr, 20-year FRC Mentors, and others. read more>>

In Sponsor News      The Association of Science-Technology Centers and jcpenney partner to grow FIRST teams. read more>>

Alliances Corner FIRST teams held exhibits in the 4-H Youth Building at the New York State Fair for the fourth consecutive year. read more>>

FLL Kickoff Poster - Sept. 24, 2011

Message to Teams: Sept. 18, 2011

Dear Teams,

Note: this is going out only to teams that have registered so far and not to my general mailing list, though I will post this on the blog. Make sure to update the coach/contact information for your team if that information changes so they are in the loop. Forward this email to anyone else who needs it.

Primary: Next Saturday Sept. 24 at NYU/Poly in downtown Brooklyn (same location as Brooklyn Tournament) from 10-3 is our annual kickoff where the Food Factor challenge will be explained and you can ask questions and see demos. I will post more details on the blog as they come in. The event will start in Pfizer Auditorium at 10 with follow-ups in the Jacobs Building. http://www.poly.edu/directions

So far we have 144 teams registered with a few weeks left. So we should be having another robust year. Registration closes at the end of September or if they run out of field set up kits. If you still want to register more teams note that you do not have to order extra field set up kits as long as you have one.

As you know from my last update I have been out of the loop for the past 2 months but I am trying to catch up. (If you sent an email or called and did not get a response try again.)

I am updating the FLL blog as info comes in with links on the side panel on the right hand side. Check that first and contsct me for more info in needed.

It is best to contact me by Email: normsco@gmail.com
But if you have specific questions call 917-992-3734 -

Here are some other reminders:

Only 6 Slots Left for Sunday Sept. 25 FLL Coach Boot Camp
Register for the FLL Rookie Coaches Boot Camp!! Sunday Sept. 25
So hurry and register for the FLL Rookie Coaches Boot Camp!!

Sunday, September 25th 10am-5pm
NYU-Poly
6 Metrotech Center
Brooklyn NY 11201
http://www.poly.edu/directions

The Boot Camp is a road that leads a novice coach to a veteran robotics engineer. You will learn how to use different LEGO parts and take advantage of NXT G programming blocks. You will then go into more advanced programming topics; that would include reverse engineering and competition style robotics.

Register here while seats are still available:  Registration is a first come-first serve basis:

You can view the published form here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGUyWVdEOHJsZTRObUVoQmlMeWE0WUE6MQ

-------------

New LEGO Technology & Robotics Center open in Fresh Meadow, Queens
Long-time NYC coach Veryl Greene

http://www.roboticrealm.blogspot.com/

Register for the FLL Rookie Coaches Boot Camp!! Sunday Sept. 25

There are only 6 slots left!!!

So hurry and register for the FLL Rookie Coaches Boot Camp!!

Sunday, September 25^th 10am-5pm

NYU-Poly

6 Metrotech Center

Brooklyn NY 11201

http://www.poly.edu/directions

The Boot Camp is a road that leads a novice coach to a veteran robotics engineer. You will learn how to use different LEGO parts and take advantage of NXT G programming blocks. You will then go into more advanced programming topics; that would include reverse engineering and competition style robotics.

Register here while seats are still available:  Registration is a first come-first serve basis:

You can view the published form here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGUyWVdEOHJsZTRObUVoQmlMeWE0WUE6MQ

The Morris FIRST Robotics Team will be demonstrating our 2011 robot at the Maker Faire

Good Morning Alumni and Friends,

Our 2011-2012 season kickoffs with a very special Saturday. The Morris FIRST Robotics Team will be demonstrating our 2011 robot at the Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park from 10am to 5:30pm.  As the World's Largest DIY (Do It Yourself) Festival, this family friendly Faire has something for everyone - a showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness and a celebration of the Maker mindset. http://makerfaire.com/newyork/2011

 

The team will also be appearing on a taped segment of Teen Kids News this Saturday at 9:30 a.m on Channel 5 in New York. Teen Kids News is seen in every state so please click the site below to get the schedule of what time and what channel the show is on in your area . http://www.teenkidsnews.com/index.php?/on-air-schedule.html

 

Teen Kids News is an award-winning television news show for kids

Teen Kids News is a national 1/2 hour weekly program that is informative, educational and entertaining! The show has been on the air since 2003, and given how many people watch it and love it, the show will be on forever!

 

Teen Kids News (TKN) highlights positive stories about kids doing amazing things and helping to make the world a better place.

 

The show has received numerous awards including the Silver Circle award from The National Academy of Arts and Sciences, Hermes Creative Award, Angel Award, George Washington Honor Medal and several Accolade, Telly, and Communicator Awards!

Teen Kids News has been written up in People Magazine, TV Guide, Daily News, listed as a "best TV show" in Parenting magazine and spoofed by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. The show was cited by the advocacy group, Children Now, as one of only eight shows on the air  that is truly tops for educational value!

 

Regards,

Gary

"i.am FIRST: Science is Rock & Roll"

 "i.am FIRST: Science is Rock & Roll"

  

Mark your calendar for Sunday, August 14, to join us in watching

"i.am FIRST: Science is Rock & Roll" - a back-to-school TV special about FIRST, airing on the ABC TV Network at 7 P.M. ET.

Check out: http://iamfirst.dipdive.com/

'i.am FIRST - Science is Rock and Roll' is a groundbreaking, one-hour special promoting education, science, and technology that features an electric hour of highlights from the 20th annual FIRST Championship. This very special celebration of technology features performances by The Black Eyed Peas and Willow Smith, as well as special appearances from a host of high-profile celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Jack Black, Bono, Miranda Cosgrove, Miley Cyrus, Josh Duhamel, Willow Smith, Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, and Steven Tyler speaking out to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. 'i.am FIRST - Science is Rock & Roll' airs SUNDAY, AUGUST 14 (7:00-8:00 p.m., ET) on The ABC Television Network.

LEGO Robotics Book out now and featuring the NYC group

Norm –

 

I want to share with you that the LEGO Robotics book I’ve been working on for the past 18 months finally was published and released at the recent ISTEConference  (late June in Philly)…

 – a section of the book presents interviews with “colleague experts” and (needless to say) the list of these reads like a roll call of New York City LEGO Robotics/FLL enthusiasts. Included are: Laura Allen, Mark Sharfshteyn, Mike  Koumoulos,  Chris Dudin, Ian Chow Miller, Evan Weinberg, Corbett Beder, Phil Firsenbaum (there are others I reached out to as far away as Hawaii, but these are the NYC folks you’d know)… some of them  found their  way to me and into the book via the announcement you put in the blog when I started the project. Again, if you can mention the release of the book I’d appreciate it. The book, by the way, is intended to provide background and first steps for teachers. It should  help many, as it gives the: "LEGO Robotics? What is it? Why do it? Could  I do it? Where do I  begin? What do I need to know? To buy?" background  info and advice... and on and  on etc. etc. etc.

Please read the publisher’s description… 

Thanks,

 

Mark

 

      http://www.iste.org/store/product.aspx?ID=1690

FIRST Robotics Teams from New York City Public Schools to Showcase Robot Creations in the Sony Plaza Atrium on July 13-14

Good Evening Alumni and Friends,

Tomorrow and Thursday the Morris Campus FIRST Robotics team will be showcasing the 2011 robot at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in NYC. Below is the press release sent out today.

Regards,

Gary

FIRST Robotics Teams from New York City Public Schools to Showcase Robot Creations in the Sony Plaza Atrium on July 13-14

NEW YORK, July 12, 2011 – Various high school students from the New York City area will showcase their award-winning robotic creations in the Sony Plaza Atrium at Madison Avenue and 56^th Street on July 13-14, 2011.  The robots were created for the national FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition that took place from March 11-13 in the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, and will be on display for the public from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET each day.

Specifically, students from Morris High School Campus, Herbert H. Lehman High School, and High School for Computers and Technology in the Bronx will present their robots to the public and encourage visitors to interact with them in hands-on learning environment. Students will also share with visitors the mechanical and design challenges they faced in building the robots.

“At the Sony Wonder Technology Lab, we take great pride in allowing visitors to explore technology in a fun and engaging way, which is why we are thrilled to be hosting local students involved in the FIRST Robotics Competition again this year,” said Karen Kelso, Executive Director of the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. “Both organizations are committed to helping people discover just how rewarding technology can be, and we are delighted to be providing the general public with an opportunity to experience these students’ uniquely designed robots first-hand.” 

The FIRST Robotics Competition is an exciting, multinational competition that pairs professionals and young people together to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. The annual competition is open to the public and appropriate for all ages.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway™, to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, FIRST designs accessible innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.

The Sony Wonder Technology Lab (SWTL) is a free, four-story, interactive technology and entertainment museum for all ages. Located in mid-town Manhattan, SWTL inspires creativity in a high-quality, engaging, and family-friendly learning environment. By inviting visitors to experience the latest technologies in a hands-on setting, SWTL nurtures curiosity while awakening visitors to their own talent and potential. Through its permanent exhibits and innovative programs, including Sci-Tech workshops, ongoing screenings and associations with well-respected local non-profit and educational institutions, SWTL aims to educate and cultivate the next generation of leaders in media, science, technology and the arts. For more information, visit www.sonywondertechlab.com.

Amphibious Robot Snake

http://youtu.be/LZJslSbsLOU