Robotics-at-ISTE2010


 * Link to notes from the first Robotics planning conference call on December 9, 2009

List of people currently involved** Alan Epstein < aepstein@watertown.k12.ma.us > Robotics Team Advisor at Watertown HS (MA) and organizer of robotics demonstration at NECC 2009 Paul Jasinowski < Paul_Jasinowski@dpsk12.org > Denver HS FRC and FTL Adult Team Leader Joe Kmoch < joe@jkmoch.com > past president of SIGCT Dawn Lutz < dlutz@usfirst.org > < dlutz@coloradofirst.org > Colorado US First Regional Director Naomi Mancuso < > associated with FIRST (ref by Epstein) Anita McAnear < amcanear@iste.org > program chairperson for ISTE 2010 Marian Murphy < mmurphy@usfirst.org > FIRST National Communications Officer Karen Ortiz < kortiz@tiecolorado.org > Technology in Education Colorado Board, ISTE 2010 Regional Program Chair Steve Rainwater < Steve_Rainwater@uttyler.edu > president of SIGCT Audrey Watters < awatters@iste.org > Manager SIG Programs Bruce Linton < blinton@usfirst.org > national office of USFIRST

More detail information from several of the individuals above
 * [|Alan Epstein]: a number of ideas including an interactive Lounge/Playground, roving robot, FIRST Exhibit Hall presence, offered to coordinate a program similar to what he did last year in DC; also his [|session proposal]
 * [|Paul Jasinowski]: has access to at least 3 FRC robots, and at least 2 FTC robots; could make contact for FLL team; Scott Springer (Denver District leader of CTE) as possible speaker; also could help with setting up an area for adults to construct/modify and run robots; students may be a problem (maybe only half days)?
 * [|Joe Kmoch]: a similar set of ideas related to the SIGCT Breakfast, Lounge/Playground, SIGCT-related poster session area
 * Dawn Lutz: her committee and teams would be interested in participating; needs more information
 * Karen Ortiz: contacted Paul Jasinowski plus offered to find both a local speaker and additional schools with robotics programs
 * Nancy Schaff < nschaff@fourhcouncil.edu >, Tara Wheeler < twheeler@fourhcouncil.edu > and Renee Jefferson < rjefferson@fourhcouncil.edu > are with National 4-H Council and their robotics programming programs across the country. On Wednesday, February 3, a conference call with Nancy, Tara, Renee, Steve and Joe explored some possibilities for their involvement, particularly in the student demonstration area. Their programs are modeled on those of USFIRST and involve several approaches to involving students. Bradley Barker < bbarker@unlnotes.unl.edu > from the University of Nebraska is the author of the 4-H Robotics Curriculum.


 * Others from email to SIGCT membership:**
 * Kate Conley < kconley@iste.org > editor of Learning and Leading with Technology; wants to be posted on how the robotics student demonstration area develops for conference newspaper
 * Mike Gorman < mgorman@sacs.k12.in.us > is interested in assisting; works with 21st century skills and STEM applications in Fort Wayne, IN; wiki = http://21centuryedtech.wikispaces.com/ blog = []
 * Sharon Grimes < sgrimes@bcps.org > interested in helping on Breakfast planning and student robotics demo
 * Rebecca Low < rlow1@hotmail.com > SIGCT member from Dubai requesting help to set up a similar demonstration at ISTE Dubai
 * Christopher Michaud < nebomusic@gmail.com > applied for a Lego Education workshop, interested in planning/helping with SIGCT Robotics event; [|see email text]
 * Cyndee Perkins < cperkins@iced.net > Computer Explorers has helped developed FLL teams in Denver area; < [] > [|see email text]
 * Michael Valence < michael@fun.ac.jp > too far to come this year, but suggested we feel free to refer to his groups Second Life + robot programming research website at < [] >
 * Michelle Vaughn < mvaughn@houstonchristianhs.org > offered her son and his "highly competitive" robotics team along with the teachers and sponsors to help plan this. (not sure if they're in the Denver area).
 * James Wooster < woosterjc@yahoo.com > and Maritza Crespo < Maritza_Crespo@clcpr.com > are interesting in helping out and knowing more about the proposed SIGCT robotics activities
 * [|Leigh Ann Sudol] was involved with the National Robotics Challenge when she was a high school teacher. This involves competitions for elementary through post-secondary students. This has centered in the Ohio area. <@http://www.nationalroboticschallenge.org/>
 * Ruthe Farmer from NCWIT asked about holding a reception on Monday oriented around girls and computing, perhaps highlighting the girls involved with the robotics teams including those with FIRST (this has been added as possibile activity at the bottom of the list of possible events below).


 * Compendium of ideas for SIGCT Theme of Robotics**


 * FIRST Exhibit in main exhibit hall**
 * Having a corporate-size display in the exhibit hall sponsored by FIRST (or one of its sponsors) would be an additional marketing venue to attract attention.
 * Marian Murphy may be the contact (per Alan Epstein)


 * Roving display with large (FRC) robot(s)**
 * in or near registration area, or any other well traveled area
 * a tethered robot around the main hall
 * would need drivers, safety spotters, ambassadors working the crowd, handing out literature, notices of demonstrations, pointers to the playground
 * the team and robot could double as a Playground display
 * need a schedule of appearances


 * SIGCT Breakfast Forum, Monday, June 28, 2010**, 7:30am - 10:00am
 * primary speaker on robotics, preferably not associated with a particular vendor or program
 * How about Woodie Flowers (co-founder of FIRST)?
 * Possible guest speaker? Ray Almgren, VP of Developer and Academic Relations of National Instruments...bio: [|__http://www.ni.com/company/almgren.htm__]
 * possibly several students who would answer some questions about their involvement
 * show video made by students about the 6-week build season of a robotics team


 * SIGCT Playground/Lounge area** (40' x 50' area or larger)
 * Students from Denver area demonstrating robotics, for example, FIRST competitions (FRC, FTL, FLL, Jr FLL)
 * Paul Jasinowski and his school has expressed an interest in FRC and FTL
 * Colorado School of Mines for FLL (per P. Jasinowski)

Other robot demonstrations (do we want to only focus on FIRST?) could include
 * BeBots (Karen North may be able to help identify someone)
 * Terrapin
 * IPRE robot
 * iRobot Create
 * Lego Mindstorms
 * Robonii
 * Vex Robotics Design System
 * National Robotics Challenge < http://www.nationalroboticschallenge.org/ >
 * Robofest.net (largely in Michigan, but Lone Tree, CO is a competition site)
 * RidgeSort.com - IntelliBrain-Bot
 * Robot - botmag.com - has some interesting information

The playground could also include lego pieces, motors and sensors, etc, that conference participants could use to build their OWN robots, under the guidance of students. FIRST may need to be involved to provide some of this.

A display could include pictures, a handout about each team represented, FIRST promotional flyer(s), large screen and videos about build season and other robotics activities


 * Poster session** - usually from 1pm-3pm on Monday; could occur on Tuesday and Wednesday, depending on the number of teams of various types (FRC, FTL, FLL, JrFLL) that are engaged
 * possibly scheduled time such as the usual poster time block
 * presentation, with video,
 * discussion of robotics, STEM, FIRST, teams.
 * There are excellent resources for doing this once or more than once.
 * A few presenters and students would be required for each one.
 * Include an area for any submitted posters with robotics orientation, and possibly other SIGCT-related theme posters


 * NEW:** NCWIT has indicated a strong interest in holding a reception on girls and computng on Monday late afternoon or early evening. The reception could recognize the girls from the FIRST teams and highlight their accomplishments. This is a suggestion from Ruthe Farmer from NCWIT.


 * Questions about the ISTE 2010 program**
 * Has FIRST been contacted about exhibiting?
 * Is there a list of sessions, workshops and posters proposed involving robotics?
 * Can a large area be set aside for a robotics demonstration and display area (perhaps similar to the size recently allocated to 2nd life demos)? (Not sure if this demo area would be just Monday, 2 days or all 3 days - will likely depend on school and student availability)