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FIRST Lego League
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What is FIRST Lego League?
"FIRST LEGO League introduces science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to children ages 4-16 through fun, exciting hands-on learning. FIRST LEGO League participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together. In FIRST LEGO League, students engage in hands-on STEM experiences, building confidence, growing their knowledge and developing habits of learning. FIRST LEGO League’s three divisions inspire youth to experiment and grow their critical thinking, coding and design skills through hands-on STEM learning and robotics."
- firstinspires.org
- firstinspires.org
About Our Program
Initial Steps:
In December of 2021, we applied for a $20,000 grant from the Vermont State Agency of Education (AOE). The application outlined a plan to use some of these funds to build up the team, but allocates most of them to developing STEAM opportunities in our district’s middle schools. The team identified FIRST Lego League (FLL) as the appropriate platform for this and set out to create as many teams as possible. The hope with this project was to create new opportunities for students to explore STEAM, and hopefully increase the overall amount of students entering CVU who want to pursue STEAM further.
After receiving the grant in January of 2022, we worked hard to begin implementing the goals that we outlined in the application. The following are some specific actions that we took:
In December of 2021, we applied for a $20,000 grant from the Vermont State Agency of Education (AOE). The application outlined a plan to use some of these funds to build up the team, but allocates most of them to developing STEAM opportunities in our district’s middle schools. The team identified FIRST Lego League (FLL) as the appropriate platform for this and set out to create as many teams as possible. The hope with this project was to create new opportunities for students to explore STEAM, and hopefully increase the overall amount of students entering CVU who want to pursue STEAM further.
After receiving the grant in January of 2022, we worked hard to begin implementing the goals that we outlined in the application. The following are some specific actions that we took:
- Hosted regular video calls with principals, learning leaders, and faculty to coordinate next steps and promote interest.
- Met regularly with the Vermont Agency of Education to report on progress and plan future actions.
- Worked with the Vermont Agency of Education to develop new learning standards for STEAM education.
- Created an FLL resource document to explain our vision and educate interested parties about FIRST. This also featured teaching resources like the new learning standards mentioned above.
- Worked with a learning leader to secure additional funding from the district for coach stipends.
- During the summer, we wrote an extensive report on our progress for the Vermont Agency of Education. This reported progress on deliverables and outlined next steps for the following school year.
- Worked with District Superintendent throughout this process.
- Circulated job description for hiring FLL coaches.
Our Work This Year:
The goal this school year was to actualize the plans that we put in place last year. We wanted to use the funds that we acquired to achieve a maximum result to reach as many students as possible. This started with hosting an FLL workshop at CVU to introduce the program to students and parents. We used these connections to build demand for middle school teams. Coaches were hired and parents also volunteered to help. We registered teams and distributed materials. Our role transitioned from organizing every team to supporting them through mentoring.
This year our entire team spent a considerable amount of time starting these FLL teams. The following is a summary of what steps we took to accomplish our goal:
The goal this school year was to actualize the plans that we put in place last year. We wanted to use the funds that we acquired to achieve a maximum result to reach as many students as possible. This started with hosting an FLL workshop at CVU to introduce the program to students and parents. We used these connections to build demand for middle school teams. Coaches were hired and parents also volunteered to help. We registered teams and distributed materials. Our role transitioned from organizing every team to supporting them through mentoring.
This year our entire team spent a considerable amount of time starting these FLL teams. The following is a summary of what steps we took to accomplish our goal:
- Re-connected with administration contacts after summer vacation.
- Planned and hosted an FLL Workshop at CVU to increase awareness and connect with parents.
- A job description for coaches was circulated.
- Encouraged parents to get involved, driving the prioritization of our project.
- Maintained a database of contacts.
- Met with experienced administrators for advice.
- Visited every team as it was started to introduce ourselves and get students excited.
- Continued to visit and mentor students weekly.
- Communicated with the state FLL community via UVM list-serve.
- Traveled to the VT State FLL Championship to support our teams, one of which didn’t have a coach at the event.
- Promoted STEAM classes for incoming freshman.
- Discussed plans for next year with coaches.
All of this hard work came together in a much more successful way than any of us expected. We created 6 new teams across 4 sending schools, serving approximately 80 students! All of these teams attended the VT State Championship and one placed in the top 15. We can’t wait to see this program continue to grow in future years on the formidable platform that we created this year.
Testimonials:
“You guys are an inspiration!” - FLL Student
“I learned that we should be able to learn from our mistakes.” - FLL Student
“Try again and again until you succeed.” - FLL Student
“We learned that if you really want it you can make it happen.” - FLL Student
“Most schools don’t have an opportunity as good as this, and I’m glad to be a part of the group that can give the students this chance” - Jared, RoboHawk
“The lesson I learned was that listening to others brings out their best ideas in unexpected ways!” - Shana Haines, FLL Coach
“They gave them inspiration to see what is possible.” - Joey Addams, FLL Coach
“It’s been really inspiring to see what these students have been able to do with the resources we’ve been able to provide them with” - Crawford, RoboHawk
“It has been incredibly rewarding to work with these students and to see the impact our work has on them. I have genuinely enjoyed witnessing the excitement and enthusiasm from both students and parents and providing a space for them to explore their passion for engineering and robotics.” - Jack, RoboHawk
“Just wait until you see us next season.” - Joey Addams, FLL Coach
“You have to restart to make a good robot.” - FLL Student
“You guys are an inspiration!” - FLL Student
“I learned that we should be able to learn from our mistakes.” - FLL Student
“Try again and again until you succeed.” - FLL Student
“We learned that if you really want it you can make it happen.” - FLL Student
“Most schools don’t have an opportunity as good as this, and I’m glad to be a part of the group that can give the students this chance” - Jared, RoboHawk
“The lesson I learned was that listening to others brings out their best ideas in unexpected ways!” - Shana Haines, FLL Coach
“They gave them inspiration to see what is possible.” - Joey Addams, FLL Coach
“It’s been really inspiring to see what these students have been able to do with the resources we’ve been able to provide them with” - Crawford, RoboHawk
“It has been incredibly rewarding to work with these students and to see the impact our work has on them. I have genuinely enjoyed witnessing the excitement and enthusiasm from both students and parents and providing a space for them to explore their passion for engineering and robotics.” - Jack, RoboHawk
“Just wait until you see us next season.” - Joey Addams, FLL Coach
“You have to restart to make a good robot.” - FLL Student
If you have any questions about FLL or our program in general, please don't hesitate to get in touch!