FIRST and many other organizations, including other teams, provide a variety of resources and training for both veteran and rookie FIRST teams. This page contains links to manuals, documents and other resources that will increase your knowledge of FIRST and its various components.
Newsletters
Completing Consent Forms
Consent forms are required by all participants in FIRST INSPIRES programs. Please see the steps below to complete this process.
Parent Instructions:
- Create a Parent/Guardian Account at www.firstinspires.org
- Make sure they put their name and email, not their child’s. This is a parent account, not their child’s account.
- Once they are signed in, then they need to add their child
- Click on Parent/Guardian – Youth tab
- Click on Add a Youth
- Fill out details on page
- Email is not required for youth. Do not put the parent’s email here. If child does not have their own, leave it blank.
- Note – If they are over 13, then I believe email is required. So for FTC and FRC, these instructions are going to be a little different.
- Consent form – make sure they complete this one!
- Then Apply for team
- Select FLL
- Enter the team #
- That’s all parents need to do
The coach/team administrator then will need to go into FIRST and accept the request to be on the team.
On Saturday, October 5, the 2019 Coach’s Kickoff Meeting was held at UMBC.
More resources in last years event files. Click here.
2019-20 Resource Files
- Running a Team
- Project Directions
- City Shaper Game Review
- FIRST Overview
- Preparing for a Qualifier
- What to Expect During Judging
- Sample Judging Presentation
- Accessing Schoology
FIRST INSPIRES DOCUMENTS:
- All Challenge Resources
https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/fll/challenge-and-resources
OTHER RESOURCES FROM TECHBRICK
- TechBrick’s 2019-20 FLL Resources
All kinds of helper documents, graphics, and resources.
https://techbrick.com/fll-resources/fll2019 - TechBrick’s Tournament Day Tips
Lessons Learned from 15 Years of FLL Qualifiers, Mentoring, and Running Events
https://techbrick.com/fll-resources/tournament-day-tips - Cool Mission Cards. A Great Way to Get Your Team to Find Solutions
https://techbrick.com/techbrick/Lego/Lego2008/Resources/fllmissioncards.html - Simple NXT/EV3 Calibration: Look Ma! No Tools!
https://techbrick.com/techbrick/Lego/TechBrick/TechTips/NXTCalibration/ - Fundraising Resources/Corporate ID
There are a number of great, clever ways to get people’s attention. Here are some of the ones we’ve used.
https://techbrick.com/fundraising-marketing
2018-19 Into Orbit Files
Rubrics for Maryland for 2018-19 (may differ from nationally release rubrics because Maryland is piloting new rubrics)
- Robot-Design-Rubric-2018-REFORMAT-PILOT
- Core-Values-Rubric-2018-REFORMAT-AND-UPDATED-WORDING-PILOT
- Project-Rubric-2018-REFORMAT-PILOT
2017 – 2018 Files for Qualifiers
2017-2018 Hydro Dynamics Kickoff Presentations
- New Coaches Orientation
- FLL Kickoff
- Project Best Practices
- Running a new team
- EV3 Training by Wizards.exe
Kickoff 2016-17 “Animal Allies” Workshops
FLL Team Resources
- Team Resources at FIRST INSPIRES – A collection of FIRST’s tips and information on preparing, programming, building, and participation in FLL
- Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy – LEGO Robots & Resources
- The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design, Invent, and Build – The team behind The NXT STEP blog has packaged some of their considerable skills and experience in this book, and even included instructions for eight robots you can build yourself
- TechBrick Robotics: Worksheets, scoring, sheets, and tons of tips and advice
- The NXT STEP LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Blog: The busiest NXT Blog in the world with a huge amount of great info
- NASA FIRST LEGO League Resources: 2018 Challenge Space Resources
Tutorials and Guides
- Mindstorms Official How to Program Page
https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/learn-to-program - EV3 tutorials: By students, for students
http://www.legoengineering.com/ev3-tutorials-by-students-for-students - EV3 Lessons from the Seshan Brothers
http://ev3lessons.com - NXT Programming Guide – A book that will teach teams to easily program a robot with the NXT-G visual programming language, as well as learn to implement basic, intermediate, and advanced programs.
Suppliers and Manufacturers
- Badge-A-Minit – Retailer for button equipment and supplies
- Don’s Buttons: Dr. Don’s Buttons is your online source for custom buttons, campaign items, lapel stickers, bumper stickers, button machines, button-making supplies… and MORE!!
- LEGO Education – The FLL program utilizes products from LEGO Education, Each year, FLL teams purchase their Challenge Sets from LEGO Education. Teams must start by registering at FIRST INSPIRES.
- Robot Mats: A collection of training mats for use all year to hone your team’s skills.
Fundraising
- Fundraising Ideas & Product Center – A collection of fundraising resources for non-profit organizations
- Fundraiser Help – A database of tips, tutorials, and ideas for school and non-profit fundraising
- Step By Step Fundraising – A cohesive listing of fundraising strategies, including a free monthly newsletter and e-book
- LEGO Education Grants and Funding – Helpful information about writing grants and links to grant providers
Other Resources
- ASEE – The official website for the American Society of Engineering Education
- ASME – The official website for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- IEEE – The official website for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
- NASA Robotics Alliance – An educational program designed to increase robotics expertise in the U.S.
- Science Resources – A non-profit organization that promotes quality science and engineering education
- SME – The official website for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers
- SWE – The official website for the Society of Women Engineers, advocates for women achieving their full potential in engineering careers