FIRST LEGO League Challenge Kickoff Celebration & Conference
This FREE, online event featured new and experienced mentors and teams sharing practical strategies for navigating the unique challenges associated with coaching a team this season. The goal of this event was to form connections between and to draw upon the expertise of members of the FIRST Community so that coaches and teams feel supported and prepared for this season and many more to come. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, a returning coach, new to the program, taking a break this season, taking it slow, or raring to go, you will find something for yourself! The recordings of these engaging and informative presentations are coming soon!
Monday, October 4, 2021
TIME
WORKSHOP TOPICS AND DESCRIPTION
SPEAKER NAME AND BIO
VIDEO AND SLIDESHOW
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
This workshop will discuss how to improve the reliability of your robot using both mechanical and programming techniques.
Arvind Seshan is the founder of EV3Lessons.com, PrimeLessons.org and FLLTutorials.com. He was part of the Champion’s Team from World Festival in 2018. Since 2014, he has been creating resources to help FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams all over the world. He has taught a million students around the world how to build and program LEGO robots.
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
With many teams struggling to get the Guided Mission working this season, Arvind has developed a version of the program that makes use of all of the techniques that he discussed in his “Robot Reliability in FIRST LEGO League” workshop. See these techniques put into practice to help you complete the “Helicopter Food Package” mission.
Arvind Seshan is the founder of EV3Lessons.com, PrimeLessons.org, and FLLTutorials.com. He was part of the Champion’s Team from the World Festival in 2018. Since 2014, he has been creating resources to help FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams all over the world. He has taught a million students around the world how to build and program LEGO robots.
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Learning basic programming, robotics, and STEM concepts with a virtual SPIKE Prime robot and activities in a space-themed environment.
Jesse Flot is the Co-Director of Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy (CMRA) and Catherine Porter is a Curriculum Developer at CMRA. They study how educators can use robots to teach Computer Science, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CS-STEM) and develop research-based solutions that are classroom-tested and foreground CS-STEM concepts.
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
In this workshop, attendees will learn how to program the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 and how to develop a winning robot game strategy.
The students on Team ROC have been participating in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge porgram for many years and have competed two times at international competitions. They love to share their expertise in robot programming and robot game strategy with members of the FIRST community.
Coming Soon
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
TIME
WORKSHOP TOPICS AND DESCRIPTION
SPEAKER NAME AND BIO
VIDEO AND SLIDESHOW
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Do you have a SPIKE Prime Core Set? Would you like to participate in a guidede, mini build and coding session? In this one-hour session, we will build a basic robot and program it to move. Prior to the session, please do 3 things:
1. Watch the video at the following link about how to unbox your robot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsoD6jpedxI
2. Charge the hub using the charging cable, found in the kit.
3. Install the SPIKE Prime Software on a compatible device using the information at the folloiwng link:
https://education.lego.com/en-us/downloads/spike-app/software
Then come to the session ready for fun and interaction.
Sarah Sils is a FIRST Senior Mentor supporting all FIRST teams and all FIRST programs, primarily in the GTA West area but also across the province, as needed. As a former teacher and mentor of all levels of FIRST programs, she has the knowledge, interest and passion to present. As a recent adopter of SPIKE Prime, she brings an understaning of the transition from LEGO Mindstorms EV3 to SPIKE Prime.
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Designing and programming a robot to accomplish the Challenge missions can be daunting. This workshop focuses on the STRATEGY of the robot game, and will be especially useful for rookie teams or teams looking to up their robot game. There will be lots of tips for teams and rookie coaches to help with organizing the team, and thinking about engaging the whole team in the Robot Game aspect of the FLL Challenge program.
Richard McMullin is a professional engineer and has been coaching FLL CHallenge teams since 2007. Many years, his teams have made it to the Ontario Provincial Championships, and sometimes they have even competed internationally! Richard also coaches programming for FRC team 1310. He is co-founder of a software development company, Altairix Inc, based in Toronto.
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
This workshop will provide an overview of diversity, inclusion, bias and how our differences foster innovation, creativity and better problem solving.
Candace is the former CDO (Chief Diversity Officer) for Computer Sciences Corporation and has volunteered her time at the Tournament Director of the FLL Challeng qualifying tournament in Ottawa for many years.
Coming Soon
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Coach & Mentor office hours occur weekly on Tuesdays from 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and are an opportunity for both new and returning coaches to ask and answer questions, receive and offer support, solutions and advice, share useful tips and resources, celebrate successes, connect with other FLL Challenge coaches and stay up to date with important information about tournament preparation and registration. Join us a half-hour early this week and hope to see you in future weeks, when we return to our regularly-scheduled office hours at 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays using the following link:
Annika is a mechanical engineering graduate and STEM educator who strives to inspire diverse youth to pursue studies and careers in STEM fields. During her time as a classroom and centrally assigned teacher at the TDSB, she coached award-winning FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams and supported the curricular integration of coding and robotics in classrooms throughout the school board. She is currently the Program Manager for FIRST LEGO League Challenge at FIRST Canada, where she continues to support the curricular integration of robotics and the formation of robotic teams at schools and in communities across Ontario. .
Coming Soon
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
TIME
WORKSHOP TOPICS AND DESCRIPTION
SPEAKER NAME AND BIO
VIDEO AND SLIDESHOW
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
At the outset, FLL Challenge can seem overwhelming but there is a method to that madness. Planet Robotics will present how best to plan for this fast-paced season and what are some must-have deliverables. We will also present some neat software tools that teams can use in their innovation project and robot design.
Planet Robotics is a two-time, Champions Award winning team from Rhode Island, USA. They have participated in multiple international competitions and were most recently awarded the Outreach Award at the Share & Learn Virtual Open Invitational and the 1st place Breakthrough Award at the Greece Virtual Open Invitational in 2021.
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
In this workshop, participants will learn about two-stage line following and light sensor calibration to help your robot better navigate the Challenge mat.
Daniel and Brianna are former members of internationally-renowned FLL Challenge team, 5831 CTRL-Z, and have 16 years of combined FIRST experience. They are excited to share their extensive knowledge of programming, as well as lessons learned while hosting a virtual coding camp this summer, their FIRST experience and tips and tricks for the upcoming robotics season.
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
In this workshop, FTC 15534 will address techniques, as well as fundamental ideals, behind keeping discussions balanced, constructive, and equitable. Especially in fields such as robotics, it is incredibly important to make sure that each member of the team is participating, and it is important to acknowledge how this participation can manifest in different ways, and in differing levels. We will be discussing exercises and lessons you can use with your team, and hopefully improve team communication and discussion!
FTC 15534 VERTEX is a four-year FTC team from Exeter, New Hampshire, based in Phillips Exeter Academy and comprised of diverse individuals from all over the world and country. As a school, Phillips Exeter Academy uses discussion-based Harkness learning: the techniques used in this way of learning have been incorporated into many aspects of how VERTEX functions as a team, and as such they are excited to share the lessons they have learned over the years! FTC 15534 is a two-time recipient of the New Hampshire Inspire Award, and won first in robot performance in the 2020-2021 season.
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
The presentation will focus on the initial stages of selecting an Innovation Project topic and conducting research. In addition, resource sites will be provided for teams to help develop their project over the course of the season.
Team 578 Sharon Tiger Techs Team Orange is known in their community for their outreach events, spreading STEM and robotics to area children who would otherwise not be able to experience it. This past RePLAY season, Team Orange was Northwest Pennsylvania’s Champions’ Award and Global Innovation Award recipient. In addition, the team competed in the Share & Learn Virtual Open Invitational, where the team received First Place for their Innovation Project. The team has traveled to World Festival in the past and also traveled to the semi-finals for the Global Innovation Award.
Coming Soon
Thursday, October 7, 2021
TIME
WORKSHOP TOPICS AND DESCRIPTION
SPEAKER NAME AND BIO
VIDEO AND SLIDESHOW
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
In this session, attendees will witness a demonstrate about how to use BrickLink Studio 2.0 to design and improve their FLL Challenge robot and attachments on Windows and Mac.
Max, Anni and Lucien are three Grade 7 students from Oakville that are excited to share their knowledge of Studio 2.0 with conference attendees.
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
This session will outline a successful approach to tackling the Innovation project and will include a discussion of key takeaways from participation in FLL Challenge from 12 prior seasons.
Santhiya is a 4-year FLL participant and was a member of Team 5831 Ctrl-Z from Bayview Glen until 2020. Her team earned a Gracious Professionalism Award at the 2019 FIRST Championships in Detroit and earned a Champions Award at the 2020 Ontario Innovation Celebration. Eric has been involved in FIRST for 12-years, with experience in FLL Challenge as a coach, Core Values, Innovation Project and Robot Design judge and as a Head Referee and in FRC as a Team Attributes judge.
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
A workshop in which you will be taught how to use what you learn in school within a robotics team.
Eliza Constantinescu – Team Leader
Alexandru Radu – Head of Hardware
Mircea Roata-Palade – Programming & Hardware
David Alexandru Bohan – 3D Printing & Hardware
Carolina Enache – Public Relations & Marketing
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
In this workshop, teams will learn how to develop an effective robot strategy using various tools that are applicable for teams that are meeting in-person or virtually. The rubric will be used as a guide to help develop this process.
FLL Challenge Team 577 Sharon Tiger Techs Team Black is from the small, western Pennsylvania town of Sharon. This past season, they were the Champion’s Award Runner-Up in Northwest Pennsylvania. In addition, they competed in the Share & Learn Virtual Open Invitational, where they placed Runner-Up in Core Values. During the past several years, they have been able to advance to the North American Open at LEGOLAND California, where they have placed as Champion’s Runner Up during their Into-Orbit Season. The Tiger Techs Teams value outreach and are heavily involved in their community, holding outreach events for thousands of children each year.
Coming Soon
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Time (EDT) | Description | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Welcome from FIRST Canada | Coaches and Students |
| 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Ladipo | Coaches and Students |
| 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Meet the teams | Coaches and Students |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11: 30 a.m. | Robot Game | Coaches and Students |
| 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Robot Game Q & A | Coaches and Students |
| 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Kahoot & Closing Remarks | Coaches and Students |
| 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Program Updates for Coaches | Coaches |
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Coach Networking Session | Coaches |
| 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. | Panel Discussion: Promising Practices | Coaches |
| 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Game & Closing Remarks | Coaches |