Providing opportunities for high school competition teams: US FIRST Robotic Competition initiative for home schooled students

Abstract

US FIRST (US For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an organization dedicated to increasing high school students' awareness of STEM careers through project-based learning with a culture of 'Gracious Professionalism.' US FIRST organizes the FIRST Robotic Competition (FRC), which provides high school teams an opportunity to compete regionally, nationally, and internationally in the area of robotics. 'The varsity sport for the mind,' FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Although the competition is well suited to expand the level of knowledge and understanding of STEM fields, competition entry barriers can be challenging to overcome at any high school. These challenges are amplified for home-schooled students and their parents. Two major barriers include a lack of infrastructure and proper training from professionals. This paper describes the initial steps of a unique college initiative that supplies a central location, offers a college infrastructure, and provides hands-on training modules and instruction. The central location acts similarly to 'hacker spaces,' a physical location providing a common place for like-minded thinkers to collaborate on projects. The goal of the paper is to report on a novel collaboration among home, public, and privately schooled students within the context of a US FIRST team. Along with the collaboration hands-on modules are developed and taught by partnering engineers in collaboration with college faculty. The model applies the constructionist learning theory with structured preparation for the competition. In addition the paper presents issues and solutions to implementing an innovative opportunity for home, public, and privately schooled students. This initiative lays the groundwork for future endeavors with the intent to expand and sponsor multiple teams. © 2011 American Society for Engineering Education.