FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a multinational non-profit organization, that aspires to transform culture, making science, math, engineering, and technology as cool for kids as sports are today. FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter.
FIRST® runs several programs for students ranging from elementary to high school. One of these is the FIRST® Robotics Competition, or FRC. FIRST Robotics Competition provides students with the unique opportunity to learn about and gain experience in the areas of science, technology, engineering and Math. Each year, FIRST® releases a brand new challenge in January. Teams then work together to design, program and build an industrial-sized robot that can accomplish specific tasks. At competitions, teams compete as part of a three team alliance. However, FRC is much more than just robots. Teams learn about values such as Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition®. Students are encouraged to join to learn both technical and non-technical skills. Several non-technical awards can also be won through written essays such as the FIRST® Impact Award, Dean’s List and Woodie Flowers.
The FIRST® Tech Challenge is similar to FRC, but uses a smaller, more affordable robotics kit to allow the program to reach even more students. Robots are more of a classroom scale but still enables students to design, engineer, and program. Instead of a three team alliance, FTC is 2-on-2 and the field is much smaller.
FIRST® LEGO League introduces hands-on STEM learning and activities to children as young as 4 years old. Students work with LEGO® technology to explore STEM concepts, engineer, code and solve real-world problems. FIRST® LEGO League is broken into three programs: FLL Discover for PreK and 1st grade, FLL Explore for 2nd to 4th grade, and FLL Challenge for 4th to 8th grade. Here in Shelton, students from the Gaelhawks FRC Team 230 actively mentor three FLL Challenge teams for Shelton students beginning in grade 5. The season kicks off in August when the season’s theme and challenge is announced. It is then that the students work together to engineer and code a robot to perform specific missions as well as research and solve a real-world problem. While this is a competition, a lot of emphasis is placed on Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition® and students are taught the FIRSTV Core Values.
Even adults can get involved by mentoring teams or volunteering at events.
To learn more about about FIRST, click here.
