Volunteers Needed for Thompson FIRST LEGO League Robotics Competition

Berthoud, CO (PRWEB) July 10, 2007 -- Thompson School District is hosting its first state qualifying FIRST LEGO League (FLL) tournament November 10th at Berthoud High School, the district's Math and Science focus school. Up to 32 teams from Thompson and surrounding school districts will compete for the chance to continue to the state tournament. Each team has up to 10 kids between the ages of 9 and 14. Participants build and program LEGO Mindstorms robots to complete a number of "missions" and complete a research project. The program is organized under the First Robotics umbrella. Students compete at a Local, Regional, State, National and finally an International level. There are three different aspects of the competition: Robot challenge, Project challenge, and Gracious Professionalism.

"Encouraging math, science, engineering, and teamwork is what we are all about," says Liz Rayment Thompson First Lego League tournament organizer. "The FLL tournaments are a way to spark creativity and have kids experience the fun of applying these subjects to real problems. It is a great way to encourage a child in academics and have a lot of fun. We need community, business, and high school volunteers at all levels ranging from a one-day commitment to 8-week coach mentors to multi-month coordinator roles. It's a fun way to improve education for a team or a district, work on management skills, network, and add to your resume. As for businesses, we would like to get engineering, math, science, and technology related company logos in front of the students by placing them in the program and on the walls."

More information can be found online at http://www.action-works.org

In the Robot challenge, combatants have a course of around 10 or so different challenges to attempt to complete with their robots they have built and programmed over 6-8 weeks of preparation. The robot runs in "Autonomous" mode or completely pre-programmed. There is no remote control on the devices. The software that is used to program the robots is a simpler version of the LabView software package from National Instruments, used in many local and national industrial companies. Along with the team members, each team has a mentor or coach that does nothing more than facilitates the team. The students must do all programming and building.

In the Project challenge, students complete a project based on the yearly theme. This year's theme is the "Power Puzzle, Energy Resources - Meeting the Global Demand." How do our personal energy choices to heat our homes, fuel our cars, charge our cell phones, power our computers, or even download music to our iPods impact the environment, economy, and life around the globe? Which resources should we use and why? Explore how energy production and consumption choices affect the planet and our quality of life today, tomorrow, and for future generations. Can FIRST LEGO League teams find the ultimate solution to this global Power Puzzle? The project must be done by entirely by the students.

A final component is called "Gracious Professionalism". Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.

About the First Lego League

FLL is the result of a partnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) and the LEGO Group.. Guided by adult mentors and their own imaginations, FLL students solve real-world engineering challenges, develop important life skills, and learn to make positive contributions to society. Website: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/

About Thompson School District

The Thompson School District encompasses schools in Loveland, Berthoud, Masonville, Drake, the southern-most part of Fort Collins, the southeast part of Larimer County, and parts of Weld and Boulder counties. Over 14,000 students are educated in eighteen elementaries, five middle schools, and five high schools. Website: http://www.thompson.k12.co.us/

About Action Works

Founded in 1994, Action Works is an educational 501(c)(3) corporation that encourages math and science projects that engage youth.

Interviews and photos available:

Liz Rayment liz.rayment at coloradofirst .org

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