Robotics - RM BEST 2020 Teacher / Mentor Newsletter 3

RM BEST Teacher / Mentor Newsletter 3

BEST Robotics 2020 DRAFT Season Options

Final To Be Released SOON

June 2020

Please FORWARD this newsletter to others that might be interested. They may use this email address (RM.BEST.INFO.REQUEST@bestinc.org ) to request to be added to the 2020 Distribution List.
Please REPLY if you do NOT want to be on our 2020 Distribution List

Fall HUB Competition Options

BEST Robotics, Inc. has decided to save the Incision Decision Game for another year and develop a simpler 2020 game. The attributes table describes the option attributes. Note: No physical regional conference regardless of any decisions made about the hub competition .

We are sharing these EARLY DRAFTS to:

Let you know the general direction being considered as you determine your plans
Give you a chance to provide input on the competition approach to be selected

CURRENT DRAFT PLANS

Competition Options RM BEST is Considering are Posted Below

The new 2020 game will permit a competition in one of 3 options depending on the restrictions in place.

Rocky Mountain BEST hub is focusing our evaluation on two of the three options: the Classroom Competition or the Online Skills Competition option as described below.
We are NOT considering the third option, Restricted Event, which assumes a Game Day where large groups can gather and teams can meet together. We believe we will have neither available venues nor interest nor permission for this type of competition in late October.
Rocky Mountain BEST hub expects to make the decision later in June if we will offer the Classroom Competition OR the Online Skills Competition option.

HELP!! WE WANT YOUR INPUT

IF YOU PLAN TO HAVE A TEAM COMPETE IN 2020

Please complete the VERY QUICK 5 question survey to help guide us to the best 2020 competition option after considering the 2 options described below.
Please complete the survey NLT 24 June to have it considered in our decision making

Click for our QUICK Planning SURVEY

Medium COVID-19 Restrictions - Classroom Competition Option

High COVID-19 Restrictions - Online Skills Competition Option

SUMMER Training

Teacher / Mentor Institute Signup NOW Open

Denver BEST Teacher / Mentor Training

14-16 July

(Littleton venue in work & possible 2nd concurrent venue)

We continue to work to be able to provide this training in mid-July.

We are currently working with St. Mary's Catholic Church in Littleton for our training venue and are also pursuing a possible 2nd concurrent venue in Colorado Springs.

Our 3-day Teacher / Mentor Institute is planned for 14-16 July - assuming St. Mary's Catholic Church in Littleton . Please use the button below to sign up for the training - deadline is 30 June to register.

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.
Workshop at no cost to participants.
CEU Credit: We are working with Community College of Aurora to establish 3 hours of Colorado Continuing Education Units. We expect the teachers cost to be $35 and we will provide additional information on how to apply.

We are looking for experienced BEST teachers/mentors to participate on a short Teacher / Mentor panel during one of the days. We also will have a short BEST student panel. Please REPLY if you or one of your students might be interested in supporting these panels.

Click to Register for 3-Day Training

BEST Simulink Summer Workshop Online Series

The BEST Simulink Summer Workshop Online Series will introduce students to programming robots using MATLAB and Simulink.

Both teachers and students are welcome to attend, and no MATLAB or Simulink experience is necessary. Use this About this Event link for more details and to register for all 5 of the 45-minute online classes .

Learn how to program mobile robots for BEST Robotics using MATLAB and Simulink through this weekly series. Each class will add on to the previous week’s lesson, so it’s recommended to attend all 5 classes.

Get a preview here.

Topics covered:

Class 1 (July 22nd):

Introduction to programming using MATLAB
Programming basic robot movements

Class 2 (July 29th):

Introduction to robot simulations using Simulink
Programming interactive robot controls

Class 3 (August 5th):

Using a distance sensor for autonomy
Creating custom functionality

Class 4 (August 12th):

Task sequencing with flow diagrams using Stateflow
Programming of maze-solving robots

Class 5 (August 19th):

Hardware basics
Transferring Simulink models to robot hardware

Software access:

Click below to register for the FREE events

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/best-simulink-summer-workshop-online-series-tickets-108867535730

BEST Robotics Inc Electronics Workshop Change

Training Material Only to be Available

To support the BEST Robotics IR Sensor Kit part and autonomous challenges, the BEST Electronics Workshop material will be available online instead of as part of an in-person workshop s in 2019. The following Electrical design content specific to the IR sensor will be available from BEST Robotic:

Introduction to Soldering
Introduction to BEST IR Sensor

2020 Competition Registration

2020 Registered Rocky Mountain BEST Hub Team List

1302 Abraham Lincoln HS

1304 Aurora Frontier P-8

1305 Aurora Quest

1306 Bishop Machebeuf HS

1307 Broomfield HS

1309 DMLK Early College

1310 DSST: Byers

1311 Gateway HS

1312 Good Shepherd School

1315 Most Precious Blood School

1316 Mrachek MS

1318 Our Lady of Fatima School

1319 Pinnacle Charter HS

1322 Skyline HS

1324 St Therese School

1326 STRIVE Prep - RISE

1328 Valley HS

1330 Flagstaff Academy Charter School

1331 Blessed Miguel Pro Catholic Academy

If NOT registered but interested in bringing a team to our Fall Competition, please follow these instructions to register your school:

Step 1 - Login or Create Account - Lead Teacher and other teachers and mentors use this Account Video Link for Creating Account instructions(~4 Minutes).

Step 2 - Register Team Lead Teacher is expected to complete this step using this National Registry Tool Link for Rocky Mountain BEST Hub . The lead teacher clicks the link to bring up the search page and use "CO" in the search to find the 2019 schools. If the search does not find their school, the teacher clicks the "Create New School" button.

Use this Team Video Link for Registering a Team instructions (~7 minutes).

Introduces how to associate as a secondary teacher to this team.
Describes an approval to compete email sent to the teacher which includes instructions to send to parents to register their students.

If your plans change after registering, you may cancel your registration. Please reply to this email if you have questions or need help.

Overview of Improved & Expanded National Registry Tool

Link for ALL 7 National Registry instruction videos

bESTology 2.0 - the study of engineering, science and technology

New 2020 game will also have a medical theme and postings are still applicable.

First 8 Weekly Online Postings NOW Available

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 . bESTology Link

Available Weekly Postings