 |
Mentoring Future Engineers
Joseph Desposito
ED Online ID #33824
October 15, 2006
|
| Recently in Joe Desposito's Blog |
|
|
|
|
I had the opportunity recently to hear Dean Kamen give an historical perspective of FIRST, a program he founded in 1989. If you’re not familiar with FIRST, it’s the organization that sponsors events such as the FIRST Robotics Competition for high-school students and FIRST LEGO League for children 9 to 14 years of age.
The thing that struck me is the phenomenal growth this organization has achieved. The robotics competitions have grown from 28 teams in 1992 to 1,125 teams today. In the meantime, according to Kamen, the championship round has outgrown a site specifically built for it at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and has moved on to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.
FIRST aspires to transform culture by making science, math, engineering and technology as cool for kids as, say, sports are today. And from the looks of the growth of this project, FIRST is succeeding in its mission. But Kamen needs more mentors, and he thinks the readers of EEPN and other industry publications are the right people for the job.
According to the FIRST web site, the key to its success is the work of over 25,000 volunteer mentors—professional engineers, teachers and other adults working with students across the country. FIRST programs engaged over 70,000 youngsters last year. As indicated, these programs are growing rapidly in the United States, but they’re also growing in many other countries as well.
Team mentors work side-by-side with students on FIRST teams to build self confidence, knowledge and skills, while motivating them to pursue opportunities in engineering, science and technology. If you would like to find out more about this mentoring program check out the FIRST web site at www.usfirst.org
Reader Comments
Joe, I help to mentor FRC team #1511. This is my third year to be involved in this team. The impact as been substantial, the goal of FIRST is being realized in Rochester, NY. Not only at the High School Level but also at the Middle School age group. The Rochester area has established over 50 FIRST Lego League teams this year, in just the second year of hosting a local FLL tournament. More information is available at these links: FRC team # 1511 website: www.penfieldrobotics.com Finger Lakes Regional FRC website: www.firstrochester.org (March 9-10, 2007) Finger Lakes FIRST Lego League Tournament: www.seas.rochester.edu/SEAS/FLL.html (December 3, 2006) Thank you for your article promoting FIRST as an opportunity for engineers to help educate and inspire our nation's youth!
Mike O'Brien -October 31, 2006 (Article Rating:  )
As a 52-year-old electrical engineer & MBA, thanks for the nice write-up and survey on FIRST. I've been aware of FIRST since the organization and its sponsored events got started, but have only been actively involved for the past three years, when my company, Harris Corp. and its RF Communications Division in Rochester, NY sponsor a local high school in the FIRST robotics competition. Harris did sponsor one of the very early FIRST teams when the final event was sponsored at Walt Disney World. You have got to see it now....With over 15,000 students and fans at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the world championship, it's amazing and all happens on again on April 26-28, 2007....... As you stated, this is truly an amazing grassroots organization and is such a "no-brainer" way to get every high school student in the country (and even the whole world) excited and reinvigorated about science and technology. As their acronym states, FIRST isn't just about robots, but more a total pervasive "system" approach to inspiring and recognizing young talent. I can't wait for the 2007 season to begin. Thanks for the article and survey! ref: www.penfieldrobotics.com (our sponsored FRC team #1511) www.firstrochester.com (our regional presence March 9-10, 2007 under FIRST including Vex and Lego League Robotics too)
Doug Hitchcock Rochester NY -October 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
Rate this article:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
