RM BEST Teacher / Mentor Newsletter 1
2019 OFF THE GRID Game
April 2019
  • Please FORWARD this newsletter to others that might be interested and have them use this link to request to be added to the 2019 Distribution List.
  • Please REPLY if you do NOT want to be on our 2019 Distribution List
10th Rocky Mountain BEST Robotics Competition
We are excited to be hosting our 10th annual BEST Robotics Fall Competition.
We hope to see you and your students at our 2019 OFF THE GRID Game Competition. NEW in the 2019 game is a new IR Sensor Kit option and also autonomous mode scoring option.

Look in future newsletters for more information on our schedule, venues, and how to sign up.
2019 BEST Logo
SUMMER TRAINING - additional details below
  • Denver Teacher/Mentor Institute (TMI) Workshop - 16, 17 & 18 July @ MSU Denver
  • Getting Started with Simulink for BEST Robotics Webinar (4 & 16 April @ 4 PM MDT) 1-2 hrs
  • MATHWORKS Robot Autonomy Webinar (planned between Aug & Sep, 2-hrs)
  • BEST Robotics Inc NEW Electronics Workshop (planned between June & Aug, 1 day in Denver)
  • BEST of TEXAS Teacher Training ( 15-19 JULY OR 29 JULY - 2 AUGUST)
10th Anniversary RM BEST
OFF THE GRID FALL COMPETITION
  • Kickoff - TBA September @ TBA Venue
  • Practice Day - TBA October @ TBA Venue
  • Game Day - TBA October @ MSU Denver
Auraria Event Center
  • DENVER BEST Regional Championship
TBA November / December
@ MSU Denver
A uraria Event Center

Please REPLY if your school is interested in learning more about hosting our September Kickoff or October Practice Day events.
OFF THE GRID Game Teaser Video
Please share this 2 minute game teaser video with your students to increase interest in competing this fall. Game details will be revealed at our September Kickoff event.

Willing to Mentor Rookie Teachers / Mentors?
We are investigating it there is sufficient interest by veteran BEST teachers / mentors to volunteer to provide their contact information to a rookie BEST teacher / mentor to answer their questions and provide advice. Please REPLY if you might be interested in volunteering as a rookie mentor in 2019.
2017 TMI Teachers and Mentors
bESTology 2.0 - the study of engineering, science and technology
First online postings NOW available and more throughout the Spring.  Enjoy learning!

Teachers:  We encourage you to incorporate bESTology into your curriculum, summer camps, enrichment activities and more.  All videos have been previewed and embedded to ensure child safety.
Students:  Knowledge is Power! bESTology will teach you the skill sets to be successful in the workplace and in life. We challenge you to become a bESTologist!

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Looking back at 2018 Competitions
Just Released is our 7 minute video highlighting the 2018 Current Events Game at Rocky Mountain BEST and Denver BEST Regional Championship competitions. Please share with your students.

Don’t miss out on this year’s SUMMER training. 
MathWorks Training
From our Friends at MathWorks...

2019 Getting Started with Simulink for BEST Robotics Webinar ( 4 & 16 April @ 4 PM MDT ) 1-2 hrs
  • MathWorks webinars demonstrating how to use MATLAB and Simulink to program the VEX Cortex micro-controller.
  • The webinar will also present resources available to BEST teams, such as the robot autonomy and Simulink summer workshops, curriculum, video tutorials, educational tools and technical support.
  • We expect a recorded session to be available for later viewing.
  • Registration: https://2019simulinkwebinar.eventbrite.com 
MATHWORKS Robot Autonomy Webinar (planned between Aug & Sep, 2-hrs)
  • This live webinar, which will be recorded and archived for re-play anytime, is in development and will be offered 2 times in Aug/Sept.
  • The webinar will be key and will focus on autonomous robot programming using VEX Cortex and the BEST IR sensor. Registration is slated to open in April - look for more information in future newsletters.
Content:
  • Autonomous programming overview
  • Temporal (time-based) Programming
  • Dead reckoning (using BEST IR sensor as an encoder)
  • Line following
Purpose:
  • Teach students about autonomous programming options
  • Teach students how to write code (or Simulink models) to use the new BEST IR sensor with VEX Cortex
BEST Robotics Inc NEW Electronics Workshop (planned between June & Aug, 1 day in Denver)
In conjunction with the OFF THE GRID game theme and IR Sensor Kit part and autonomous challenge, at least one Electronics Workshop in planned in Denver.
  •  This key hands-on training that should be available between June-August 2019. 
  • The purpose is to introduce the new IR Sensor Kit, teach electrical soldering and to assemble and test IR sensors for the Hubs’ teams. 
Electrical design content specific to the IR sensor released this year includes:
  • Introduction to Soldering (including practice time)
  • Introduction to BEST IR Sensor (how it works, how it can be used)
  • BEST IR sensor assembly (by students)
  • Testing the sensor operation (no software required)
We are looking for Teachers/Mentors/Students who are able to help teach this workshop. Please reply to this email if interested in learning more.
BEST of TEXAS Teacher Training
Registration NOW OPEN for the BEST Robotics Teacher and Mentor Workshop 15-19 JULY OR 29 JULY - 2 AUGUST , hosted by BEST of Texas Robotics.
  • This training is intended for Teachers, coaches, and mentors of BEST Robotics teams​. 
  • While geared towards new(er) BEST teachers, even veterans will gain tips and valuable experience. You must be at least 18 years of age to attend this workshop.
  • The University of Texas at Dallas has graciously offered to host this workshop on their campus in Richardson, Texas. 
  •  Tuition $1000 and housing option of $250. 32 hours of continuing education units 

For details including how to register, please visit http://www.bestoftexasrobotics.org/workshops.html
Denver BEST Teacher Training
We will be providing a 3-day Teacher / Mentor Institute 16-18 July at MSU Denver. Additional detail and registration instructions to be provided in future email.
  • This training is intended for Teachers, coaches, and mentors of BEST Robotics teams​. Participants will build and compete with a mini-BEST robot.
  • In addition to classroom participation, coursework includes ~ 10 hours pre-classroom reading, testing, scoresheet judging
  • While geared towards new(er) BEST teachers, even veterans will gain tips and valuable experience. You must be at least 18 years of age to attend this workshop.
  • The Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) has graciously offered to host this workshop on their campus in downtown Denver.
  •  Tuition: possible low nominal food cost CEU: expect ~3 hours of Colorado continuing education units.
We are looking for experienced BEST teachers/mentors to participate on a Teacher / Mentor panel for about 30 minutes during one of the days. We also will have a BEST student 30 minute panel. Please REPLY if you or one of your students might be interested in supporting these panels.
Rocky Mountain BEST
info@rmbest.org