Team Dynamics

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Team Dynamics

• Tried True Ideas
• for developing a FIRST Team

Presented at the 2007 Kick Off in snowy New
Hampshire
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Important Considerations

• Develop a Team Structure
• Recruit Adult Mentors
• Set Goals with Timelines
• Make FIRST year-round
• Develop a Team Identity

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Develop a Team Structure

• Independent parts working to support the whole

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FIRST Sample New Team
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FIRST Sample Veteran Team
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Team 25 Competition Season
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Team 25 Off Season
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Team 1089 Organization
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Develop an Adult Mentor Team

• Experience meets incentive

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Adult Mentors

• FIRST teams thrive on adult mentorship
• Adults are the guide on the side for the
  students
• Adults of many backgrounds have skills of value
  to a FIRST team

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Skills Students Need Guidance With

• Obvious- building the machine, use of tools,
  robot programming
• Less Obvious- Writing letters, making shipping
  arrangements, creating rosters, managing people,
  working in teams, maintaining records, cooking,
  approaching the public, dealing with adults

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Sources of Adult Mentors

• 1 source- the parents of the students on the
  team
• Community leaders and business owners
• PTSO, Chamber of Commerce, Bd. Of Ed.
• Unions and Trade organizations

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Why Should They?

• It is important that the adult mentors find
  satisfaction in working with the team as much as
  the students do. Therefore it is vital that they
  are a part of the team equally.

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How Do You Keep Them?

• Develop a separate mentor based booster
  organization
• RPM- Robot Parent Mentors

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Support from the Booster Group

• Food service
• Transportation
• A CHEERING SECTION
• Technical help
• Community Fund raising initiatives
• Lobby for the School Board or Local Government

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Find NEMO

• NEMO- Non-Engineering Mentor Association
• To join NEMO, register for a free account on
  Chief Delphi (www.chiefdelphi.com). Send a
  Private Message to KathieK or RoboMom indicating
  your name, Chief Delphi screenname, your team
  number and your role on the team.

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Set Goals with Timelines

• 6-Weeks Goes Fast-
• Know the Direction Youre Going

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Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6
Brainstorming Field Construction Parts fabrication Manipulation Systems Assembly and Debug Build Crate
Determine strategy for play Field Construction Parts fabrication Parts fabrication Chassis Assembly Practice Driving Manipulation Systems Assembly and Debug Practice with Robot- Programming
And General Design Assemble and Check Controller Parts fabrication Chassis Assembly Practice Driving Manipulation Systems Assembly and Debug Practice with Robot Programming
Begin drawing out design Parts fabrication Assemble Control Board Drive Train Practice Driving Manipulation Systems Final Wiring Assembly and Debug Practice with Robot Programming
Begin ordering parts Parts fabrication Assemble Control Board Drive Train Manipulation Systems Final Wiring Assembly and Debug Practice with Robot Programming
Game piece building Parts fabrication Drive Train Final Wiring Prep to Ship Practice with Robot
Consensus on a design Parts ordered and being built Drive Train Assembled Major Systems Assembled Robot Completed Pack up and Ship
Goal of the Week
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Goal Setting

• Everyone makes a list of priorities
• Group brain storming
• Come to a consensus
• Set reasonable timeline for each task
• Assign responsibilities
• Develop checkpoints
• Acknowledge good performance
• After completion, review

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Tracking Projects
TEAM MERCURY ACTION PLAN 2005 - 2006 TEAM MERCURY ACTION PLAN 2005 - 2006
Goal Promote Team Recognition within the FIRST Community Attend 2 Fall Competitions Goal Promote Team Recognition within the FIRST Community Attend 2 Fall Competitions Goal Promote Team Recognition within the FIRST Community Attend 2 Fall Competitions Goal Promote Team Recognition within the FIRST Community Attend 2 Fall Competitions
Action Item Description Committee/Person Responsible Due Date Status
1. Register for Duel on the Delaware Mr. Gregory    
2. Obtain permission from school to attend Mr. Gregory    
3. Arrange transportation Mr. Gregory    
4. Distribute collect permission slips, prepare attendance roster Administration Committee    
5. Inspect robot, make repairs, prepare for competition Robot Tech Design CommitteeProgramming Committee    
6. Organize Spirit crew Spirit Committee    
7. Organize Scouting at competition Scouting Leader     
8. Take pictures at competition Media Committee    
9. Prepare press release after competition Administration Committee,Corresponding Secretary    
10. Evaluation Whole Team    

• Action Items
• Break jobs into small steps
• Assign each step
• Track status toward goal

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Make FIRST a Year Round Activity

• The Fun Never Stops!

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The Fun of Off Seasons

• A chance to train new members
• Multiply the value of the robot
• Increase community involvement
• More training for student leaders

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Year Round Activities
Month Activity
January Build Season
February Build Season
March Regional Competitions
April Championship
May PARC
June Monty Madness
July Summer Lego Camp
August IRI
September Club Fest
October Duel on the Delaware
November Brunswick Eruption, Ramp Riot
December Holidays Kick-Off
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Appearances

• Use your robot as a tool to recruit new FIRST
  teams

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Community Events

• Robots should make appearances at community fairs
  and school expos

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Develop a Team Identity
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Your Community

• Get Involved with community organizations
• Send Press Releases about every activity

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Sponsor

• Make a connection with your sponsor
• Look for ways to promote the relationship with
  your sponsor(s)

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Within FIRST Community

• Participate in events run by other teams
• Encourage members to be Team ambassadors

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Be Unique