The Baltimore Area Alliance (BAA) a Model for FIRST Paul Harris BAA, Facilitator Mentor Team 1727 REX 2008 FIRST Robotics Conference

The Baltimore Area Alliance(BAA) a Model for FIRST

Paul HarrisBAA, Facilitator

Mentor Team 1727 REX

2008 FIRST Robotics Conference

BAA Teams

007 - Parkville High School768 - Woodlawn High School888 - Glenelg High School1719 - Park School1727 - Dulaney High School1748 - Dunbar/Patterson High School1893 - Baltimore Polytechnical Institute1980 - Aberdeen High School 2199 - Liberty High School2528 - Western High School


BAA Mission

• The Baltimore Area Alliance (BAA) is a coming together of FIRST teams in the Baltimore metropolitan area for the express purpose of promoting gracious professionalism and the success of all Baltimore area teams.

• The founders of the BAA had a vision of sharing expertise across all the teams in our region, to raise the level of competencies and skills across a wide range, thereby improving the developmental experience for all students involved in FIRST.


BAA Purpose

• While some teams excel in technical areas and others in fund raising and others in student management and decision making, it is the vision of the BAA, to facilitate a sharing of each of these perspectives with all who choose to be involved.

• Toward this end the BAA sponsors education, holds an off-season event and meets regularly.


Education Program Benefits

• Sharing of information to help all BAA teams compete at a higher level.

• Provide a common background to allow better mentoring and assistance across BAA members.

• Make limited resources available to a wider group of teams and students

• Develop students speaking and presentation abilities

• Leadership development• Team Building


Education Programs Past & FutureSystems Thinking/ManagementTime ManagementAction Plans and their useProgramming

◦ Orientation & Camera 101◦ Advanced & Best Code Contest

Drive Train Design Electrical Control and DesignMachinist Tips and Techniques 101Device Design:

◦ Arms◦ Shooters


Additional Features

• Video Tape Sessions– Produce these to share with BAA teams via

internet. Work out a way to share with FIRST Teams worldwide.

• Speaker Development: For those students who participate, they would have the choice of meeting with a speaking coach on how to improve their presentation skills.


Coding Contest (new concept)

• Hold an Advanced Programming Seminar:– Held after Atlanta each year– Code submitted to independent mentor

programmers for judging– Segments of code presented by teams for

consideration for award.– Best innovation in programming award to be

given to team/individual at the end of the meeting

– All code to be shared with all teams


Additional Education Topics

• Easy C programming• The art and science of shipping and

transportation• Basic crate building• Cart building • Everything involved with setting up, using

and maintaining safe pit areas during competitions

• Lessons Learned/After Action Reports and how to benefit from them.


Shared Fund Raising

• Outback Steak Night– Done twice to date– At the start of build season– Donated dinners 500-600– Each team given equal number of tickets to sell

at $20 per ticket. – All proceeds back to the team that sells the

tickets– Silent auction held in conjunction– Team demo tables and robot demo area.


Outback Night 2008 Video


Off Season Event


Battle O’ Baltimore


Battle O’ Baltimore 2007


Fall Education Program

• Sponsored by the Community College of Baltimore (Thank you Dennis Faber)

• All presenters donated time• Many were done by students• Saturday afternoon• 4 Tracks• Video Taping (Carver High School project)


November 17, 2007 Education


Parts Machining Access

• CCBC and BAA team up to give schools access to machining of parts.

• Send in electronic request with all specifications for part in Autodesk Inventor.

• Ron Karpinski screened all requests and routed them to CCBC machine staff.


The Future

• Its very bright• Continued sharing of resources• Off season event: BOB 2008• Fall Education: November 2008• Joint Fund Raising: January 2009• Post competition awards: May 2008


Thanks

• Jenny Beatty• Brian Bruneau• Mike Dennis• Mark Eastman• Ron Karpinski• Robin & Fred Needel• Glenn Reed• Dean Sheridan


Documents

The Baltimore Area Alliance (BAA) a Model for FIRST Paul Harris BAA, Facilitator Mentor Team 1727 REX 2008 FIRST Robotics Conference