BEST Middle/High School Robotics Competition
A Workforce Development Competition
The Wolverine Hub (sponsored by Grove City College), will hold its first BEST robotics competition in fall, 2010.
What is BEST?
BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire middle through high school students to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology through participation in a sports-like, hands-on, real-world engineering-based robotics competition.
BEST was founded in 1993 by two engineers from Texas Instruments who thought a robot competition would be a good way to teach young people about engineering. In fall, 2009, 12,000 students representing 800 schools participated at 38 competition sites (hubs) in 16 states.
Explain the competition.
In the spring, BEST announces the theme for that year's robot competition. The theme involves solving real world problems in a specified industry. In early September (Sept. 11 this year), Kick-Off day brings all the teams to the hub site for the unveiling of the game field layout and details of the competition. Each team also receives a couple tubs of materials for building their robot. Although teachers and mentors provide help and guidance, students do all the work.
Four weeks later (Oct. 9), at Mall Day, the teams come together to test their robots on the actual field layout. This occurs in a local mall to provide publicity and generate interest in what the schools are doing.
Two weeks later (so a total six week commitment) Game Day occurs (October 22, 23). Each team competes multiple times in the robot competition. Each team also submits an engineering notebook, does an oral presentation and shows off its project with a display booth. Multiple prizes are awarded. The top prize combines results from the robot competition, the engineering notebook, the oral presentation, the display booth and general team spirit.
Winning teams are invited to participate in a regional competition. For us, that would mean a trip to Arkansas or Alabama.
What does it cost a middle or high school?
There are no financial costs to participate in BEST. The hub provides all the materials to build the robot. The school's team may choose to do a little fundraising to buy T-shirts and cover travel costs. If a team wins and chooses to go to the regional competition, they would need to fund the travel costs.
The BEST competition covers six weeks. Teams typically meet a couple days a week to prepare their robot and presentations. The time commitment is up to the school and their team.
Teachers who sponsor/lead the team receive training before the competition cycle starts. Also, each team gets several mentors from industry (and possibly a local college/university) to work with the team.
Then who pays for this?
The hub is responsible for raising funds from industry, foundations, government, etc. BEST estimates typical start-up costs at about $2000 per team (typically 12-16 teams per hub) and then around $1200 per team every year after that. Corporate sponsors are recognized in hub promotional materials and during the Game Day competition.
It costs the hub $2000 per year to BEST to participate.
What are the hub responsibilities?
The hub needs an ongoing committee to organize and plan the events. Typically this is a dozen to fifteen people. The hub needs to raise money, solicit teams to participate, coordinate corporate mentors for each team and run the three event days. Several dozen adults and many student helpers are required on Game Day.
The hub holds two events on campus (Kick-Off Day and Game Day) which require an arena and all related event responsibilities such as parking. The hub also coordinates Mall Day with a local mall or similar venue.
What are the results?
Middle and high school students learn a variety of skills that are relevant to industry's needs for technically literate employees. Examples include:
· ability to apply math and physics concepts to real world problems
· an understanding of engineering, science and technology
· exposure to working professionals
· abstract thinking and self-directed learning
· teamwork
· project management
· oral and written communication
· leadership
Companies have a chance to work directly with local students who are potential employees down the road. Corporate mentors talk to students about the benefits of their company, industry and profession.
The hub has many middle and high school students visit their campus for an inspiring and exciting event. The hub receives a lot of positive attention from local and regional media. Professors, staff and students get to invest in the lives of future students. The school becomes a partner with local middle and high schools.
What about FIRST Robotics?
FIRST Robotics is an excellent high school robotics program. The folks at BEST are careful to compliment FIRST, but emphasize that BEST is different. A primary difference is that BEST is free to the school and limits the time commitment of the school's team.
Want to know more?
The BEST web site is http://best.eng.auburn.edu/ . The Wolverine Hub is or on Facebook, "BEST Robotics at Grove City College." Mike Bright ( or 724-450-4095) is the hub director. The Grove City College web site is www.gcc.edu .
Testimonials (from previous BEST participants)
“We have around 50 students from the robotics team at Austin currently enrolled in college in the following fields of study: aerospace, chemical, electrical, biomedical, and mechanical engineering; computer science; applied math; physics; international business; and finance.
When they entered college, they knew they had selected the correct field of study for them — not because a guidance counselor or I told them they would be a good engineer, but because they had spent four years as active members of our BEST team.”
Susan Haddock, Math Teacher
Austin High School
Decatur, AL
“I can only tell you from the experiences that my students and I have had that BEST is one of the most phenomenal student competitions available. To be able to take materials — literally a load of “stuff” — and watch them transform it into a workable, tasking robot is something that no textbook alone could teach.”
Angel Findlater, Science Teacher
South Girard Middle School
Phenix City, AL
“I think the most important lesson learned by all was not to give up. Our robot never worked until the Saturday morning of the competition. No matter what we did, it always failed throughout the six weeks. It was not until that Saturday morning, with time running out, that as a team we pulled it together. It was an incredible boost to team morale to have a working ‘bot for the competition. I believe this showed them to never, ever, give up.”
Jeremy Raper, Science & Robotics Teacher
Bob Jones High School
Madison, AL
“In many ways, the BEST experience is like an education greenhouse; what happens during six weeks of competition would take an entire year in the classroom.”
Dr. Mark Conner, Head
The Engineering Academy at Hoover High School
Hoover, AL
“Several of our students were failing school and at risk of dropping out until they joined the robotics team and found their niche. The challenges of BEST Robotics were just what they needed to inspire them to do better in their studies so they could stay on the team. They are now some of our top academic students!”
John Hoffmaster, Science Teacher
Billingsley High School
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