RM BEST Teacher / Mentor Newsletter 3
2019 OFF THE GRID Game
May 2019
We share this Front Range BEST Facebook posting, their heavy hearts, and our thoughts & prayers

It is with heavy heart that we post this. May 7, 2019 we had a tragedy with one of our FR BEST Robotics teams. STEM School in Highlands Ranch experienced the unthinkable, one lost and eight injured.

We would like to honor the one who was lost, Kendrick Castillo. He is a hero, a mentor, a friend, and a team member who helped everyone. He was a kind and gentle soul, a calming force to those around him, he worked hard at everything he did and best of all he was a genuine person. Our BEST Community is in sorrow, please give thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. Our love goes to Kendrick's family and friends.
  • 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.
Don't miss out on the 10th Rocky Mountain BEST Robotics Competition
Please take a few minutes and click the button to signup your school for the 6-week competition startingwith Kickoff on 14 September.
2019 BEST Logo
MARK YOUR CALENDARS

OFF THE GRID FALL COMPETITION
  • Kickoff - 14 September @ STRIVE Prep - RISE
  • Practice Day - 19 October @ STRIVE Prep - RISE
  • Game Day - 26 October @ Auraria Event Center MSU-Denver
  • DENVER BEST Regional Championship TBA date and venue
2019 Signed Up Schools
As of 10 May 7 PM:

  1. Abraham Lincoln High School 
  2. Aurora Frontier P-8
  3. DSST: Byers
  4. Pinnacle Charter High School
  5. Skyline High School
  6. Sacred Heart of Jesus School
Latest Web Posting Week 7 – Lets get wired
SUMMER TRAINING - additional details below

Signup now
  • Denver Teacher/Mentor Institute (TMI) Workshop - 16, 17 & 18 July @ MSU Denver
  • BEST of TEXAS Teacher Training - 15-19 JULY OR 29 JULY - 2 AUGUST - Dallas

Look for Signup information coming this summer
  • Robot Autonomy Webinar (planned between Aug & Sep, 2-hrs)
  • BEST Robotics Inc NEW in 2019 Electronics Workshop (planned between June & Aug, 1 day in Denver)
Just announced:
  • Denver BEST Simulink Summer Workshop 2-day Training - planned in July/August time period at MSU Denver
TEACHER / MENTOR Help Needed - Please Reply to learn more.

  1. Participants for the 18 July Teacher / Mentor Institute 11 AM - 1 PM Teacher Mentor Panel + Student Panel. We will provide parking passes and lunch.
  2. Volunteers to mentor a 2019 rookie teacher
  3. Teachers/Mentors/Students who are able to help teach the electronics workshop.
  4. Looking for game Sponsors: power companies, building companies, trash companies, roofers (companies that would play a role in a disaster recovery) that we could contact to get sponsors for the game. 
Don’t miss out on this year’s SUMMER training. 
Denver BEST Teacher Training
We are working with Front Range BEST to provide a 3-day Teacher / Mentor Institute 16-18 July at MSU Denver. CLICK HERE for additional details.
  • This training is intended for Teachers, coaches, and mentors of BEST Robotics teams​. Participants will design, build and compete with a mini-BEST robot.
  • In addition to workshop classroom participation, coursework includes ~ 10 hours advance preparation reading, viewing, CEU testing, and scoresheet judging
  • While geared towards new(er) BEST teachers, even veterans will gain tips and valuable experience. STUDENTS do NOT 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: Teacher may earn CEU: expect ~3 Colorado continuing education units for approximately $20 fee to MSU Denver.
HELP! We are looking for experienced BEST teachers / mentors to participate on a Teacher / Mentor panel for about 30 minutes at ~11:30 AM on 18 July. 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.
MathWorks Training
From our Friends at MathWorks...

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
  • Line following(using BEST IR sensor as an encoder)
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

JUST ANNOUNCED - Simulink Summer Workshop (planned between July & Aug, 2-days)
  • Delivered July-Aug, this 2-day, 6 hours/day workshop will teach students, teachers, and mentors proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink.
  • The workshop will include instruction using 3D virtual world, Arduino robots and BEST-centric robots (including use of new IR sensor).
Look for more information in future newsletters on Denver training plans. Participation Limited and TBD fee
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 is planned in Denver.
  • This key hands-on training 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)
Look for more information in future newsletters on Denver training plans.
HELP! 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 about how you can help.
BEST of TEXAS Teacher Training
Registration is 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
Rocky Mountain BEST
info@rmbest.org