Teamwork!
Each fall, students gather in their robotics classes and clubs to start working on the annual VEX competition challenge. Students form teams and work together to design and build a robot to play against other teams in a game-based engineering challenge presented by the Robotic Education and Competition (REC) Foundation. In order for a team to be productive, it is important to assign everyone on the team a job.
Some of the various roles that students can hold are:
- Driver
- Builder
- Programmer
- Recorder
- Pit Team Manager
- Team Treasurer
Many teams attend competitions wearing team shirts and bring giveaway items to share with their fellow competitors. Pit spaces at competitions are places where teams can hang banners and posters to represent their team or club. Creating a VEX Robotic team is a great way to have fun with your friends and meet new ones!
Teacher Toolbox - Being a Team Player
After reading the section, have the students share their experience of being on a team (sports, clubs, etc.). List all the great things about being on a team. If they formed robotic teams, what would their team name be? What job would they like to do on the team? What would be the best part of being on a robotics team?
Extend Your Learning - Forming VEX Competition Teams
For more information of forming a VEX competition teams click here. Have students discuss what role they would like to have if they were forming a team. What would they name their team? What would their team colors be? Would they have a mascot? Students can also form classroom teams to complete various challenges that can be found in the VEX IQ STEM labs.