In 2020 and 2021, the Robotic Space Cadets participated in the FLL Replay competition. Through dedication and teamwork, the Robotic Space Cadets flourished, learning many lessons and building up their STEM foundations. Although this was their last season participating in FIRST Lego League, they are looking forward to making the jump to FIRST Tech Challenge, and using all that they have learned over these past few years in order to compete at a higher level.
As mentors, we helped the Robotic Space Cadets prepare for the competition through both technical aid and coaching. In the days leading up to their competition, members of the Robo Ravens helped improve their ability to present to judges. Working with them on word choice and how to answer questions as a group was very helpful and enabled them to better communicate their ideas to the judges. We also helped them with programming and robot design, using our knowledge of STEM to offer solutions to some of the problems they were facing. We found that guiding them to the solutions, rather than just showing them, was the best mentoring technique.
Unfortunately, the many restrictions presented by the pandemic affected how the Space Cadets approached their 2020-2021 season. Meeting in-person was a challenge, so most of their work had to be done individually. However, with the mentors from the Robo Ravens and their own commitment, they were able to still compete in all aspects of the season.
Although they did not win this past year, they were comforted in knowing that the true reward was all they had learned over the course of the season. The Robo Ravens promote, to both team members and mentees, the idea that the true purpose of FIRST programs is to learn and that through these lessons, one can eventually succeed. We are immensely proud of the progress they have made and look forward to mentoring other young teams with the same passion for robotics that the Robotic Space Cadets had.
As mentors, we helped the Robotic Space Cadets prepare for the competition through both technical aid and coaching. In the days leading up to their competition, members of the Robo Ravens helped improve their ability to present to judges. Working with them on word choice and how to answer questions as a group was very helpful and enabled them to better communicate their ideas to the judges. We also helped them with programming and robot design, using our knowledge of STEM to offer solutions to some of the problems they were facing. We found that guiding them to the solutions, rather than just showing them, was the best mentoring technique.
Unfortunately, the many restrictions presented by the pandemic affected how the Space Cadets approached their 2020-2021 season. Meeting in-person was a challenge, so most of their work had to be done individually. However, with the mentors from the Robo Ravens and their own commitment, they were able to still compete in all aspects of the season.
Although they did not win this past year, they were comforted in knowing that the true reward was all they had learned over the course of the season. The Robo Ravens promote, to both team members and mentees, the idea that the true purpose of FIRST programs is to learn and that through these lessons, one can eventually succeed. We are immensely proud of the progress they have made and look forward to mentoring other young teams with the same passion for robotics that the Robotic Space Cadets had.