Top 7 things you need for FIRST^® Champ

“Remember, if you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail.”
– H. K. Williams

Will you be traveling soon to the FIRST Championship in either Houston (April 17-20) or Detroit (April 24-27)? You might be a spectator watching from afar or a fan sitting in the stands supporting your favorite robotics team. But even more exciting, you might be on one of the competing FIRST Tech Challenge teams that has made it all this way. If so, congratulations! That’s something to celebrate.

Topics: BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, Competitions, ROBOTICS, Collaborations, FIRST Tech Challenge, Technology, Social and emotional learning, TETRIX Robotics

For much of the country, it feels like winter is still in the forecast. That can be discouraging and even disappointing for some. It even seems like the groundhog got it wrong this year. However, we know as calendar days tick by, spring and summer are right around the corner. And with more sunshine and better conditions in sight, that means outdoor activities and camps are on the horizon.

Topics: BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Camps, STEM, Coding, Activities, TETRIX Robotics, Hands-on Learning

Sunday’s big game is almost here! People have made their team picks of who will win the most prestigious trophy in professional football. Even if you’re not a football fan, this is the perfect time to look at some math and science connections that your students can relate to the big game on the gridiron.

Topics: IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Culture, STEM, Resources, Activities, Physics, innovate

They say this time of year is for professional football and college basketball. Depending on your favorite team, this might be the case. However, as one of Pitsco’s educational consultants, I beg to differ. This is the time of year for gears, motors, beams, channels, and wheels!

FIRST^® Tech Challenge season is in full swing, and many teams are deeply entrenched in the engineering design process, making modifications and slight adjustments to their already robust robots. If you remember from my travels to Minnesota, this year’s competition takes teams to the Moon in an out-of-this-world competition.

Topics: Competitions, ROBOTICS, Technology, Future Ready, TETRIX Robotics

“The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you had to give.” – Howard Cosell

Fun. Exhilaration. Adrenaline. Victory. Defeat. These are a few words that describe competition. Whether you’re aware of it or not, competition is happening around you every day, and it’s human nature to want to compete in some form or fashion – not only in sports, music, and work, but in everyday life.

Topics: IN THE CLASSROOM, Competitions, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, STEM, TSA, Dragsters, Engineering, 21st Century Skills, Hands-on Learning