Your help is needed to assist RI schools in state-wide RI Robotics Competition
Mentors are needed to bring real world experience to any one of the Tech Challenge Robotic Teams. Teachers and administrators bring the Tech Challenge programs to the schools, but they may have little or no experience in designing robots! It is the mentors – the engineers, programmers, designers, developers and innovators who bring the real world knowledge to the Tech Challenge teams. This year, 40 RI high schools and Career and Tech Centers have signed up to participate in the March 2008 competition at New England Tech. That’s up to 400 students that you and the rest of the IT industry can be influencing! 400 kids – that’s a significant chunk of the future of IT and technology in Rhode Island!! n ten years, these are the kids you will be interviewing to fill positions in your company. Won’t it be nice to know that you help put them there?
Who is a Mentor?
The mentor is any person who works with the team in his/her area of expertise for one or more team meetings. Mentors provide valuable one-on-one interaction and serve as resources in their specialties. For example:
- Engineers can teach the necessary skills for the robot design while demonstrating the engineering design process.
- Programmers can teach the team about programming principals and help the team troubleshoot the program.
What’s the role of the Mentor?
- Mentors make a commitment of at least one hour per week
- Participate in a training workshop with the teacher and students.
- Communicate regularly with the teacher and RI Robotics mentor coordinator.
- Provide concrete examples for the students on how the Robotics project relates to mathematics, engineering, science and technology.
- Provide donations for team needs, i.e., T-shirts.
- Encourage your team to visit your company on a field trip.
- Participate in the challenge as support for their team.
When is the Competition?
- The Tech Challenge kits were distributed to schools on November 14th
- The statewide competition will be held on Sunday, March 2, at New England Tech’s Automotive Building
What’s in it for me?
- Work with a school in your community
- Share your experiences and perspectives
- Form relationships with students and teachers who need your support
- Become a positive role model
- Public recognition for your company/organization
- Help give back to your community
- Make a difference in the life of a high school student
- Provide a better prepared workforce
Did you know?
Students who are mentored are:
- 46% less likely to begin using drugs,
- 27% less likely to begin using alcohol,
- 53% less likely to skip school and
- 33% less likely to engage in violence
In addition, students who are mentored have an increase in self-esteem, improved attitudes toward school, improved attendance and academic performance.
Interested? Contact JoAnn Johnson at Tech Collective by phone at 401-521-7805 x 103 or by email:
