The Critical Need for Future Engineers, Scientists,
and Technical Professionals
BEST Middle and High School
Robotics Competition
A Workforce Development Program
Video
The Problem(s)
• The United States is losing its leadership position in
engineering, science and math
• Engineering-based companies cannot find enough
technically trained recruits
• Colleges and Universities see declining enrollment in
most engineering fields
• women & minorities are extremely under-represented
• Students transitioning from K-12 to college lack
both the skills/desire to enter engineering programs
BEST Robotics – A Start
• BEST Robotics, Inc. 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.
• Last fall, more than 12,000 students representing over
800 schools participated at 38 competition sites (hubs)
in 16 states.
BEST Basics
• There is no cost or fee for schools.
• Starts in September & concludes six weeks later.
• Students perform all of the work.
• Mentors – engineers and other technical professionals
from local companies – guide the students through the
design & construction phase.
• In addition to the robot competition, students write an
engineering notebook, give an oral presentation and
prepare a display area.
BEST Results
As a result of participating in BEST, students…
• Experience real-world science and engineering
challenges, training that is transferable to all academic
disciplines and career pursuits.
• Understand what engineers do - engineering is
“demystified.”
• Experience “design-to-market” product
development - experience that is
transferable to all career pursuits.
• It is less robotics and more problemsolving.
Further BEST Results
• Students become technologically proficient - better
prepared for tomorrow’s workforce.
• Students become competent and confident in:
abstract thought
self-directed learning
teamwork
oral/written communication
project management
decision-making
problem-solving
leadership.
BEST Timeline
• Each year the robot competition has a different theme
• the theme directly relates to a real world problem
• In early to mid-September the high school and middle
school teams are invited to Kick-Off Day
• there they hear about that year’s game, see the playing
field and pick up their materials
BEST Timeline
• One or two weeks before the competition, each team
brings their robot to Mall Day
• this is a public event that generates interest, press
coverage and excitement
BEST Timeline
• Finally, six weeks after Kick-Off day, is Game Day
• robots compete, students present, communities get
excited, prizes are awarded
• winning teams are invited to compete in a Regional
Competition
So, What Can We Do
Together?
• Grove City College is sponsoring the Wolverine Hub in
fall, 2010
• We are raising funds and soliciting professional
mentors for teams
• Please consider forming a team
A Teacher Testimonial
“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
A Teacher Testimonial
“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
A Teacher Testimonial
“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
A Teacher Testimonial
“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
A Teacher Testimonial
“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
Do we have your support?
• Questions
• Next Steps
• Contacts:
Dr. Mike Bright, Hub Director, [email protected]
Dr. Connie Nichols, School Coordinator, [email protected]
BEST References
• BEST Robotics, Inc. http://best.eng.auburn.edu/
• Grove City College http://www.gcc.edu/
• BEST Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHZxq7BFDEk