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The BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology)
competition motivates middle and high school students by challenging them to
build a remotely controlled robot that accomplishes defined tasks within a
competitive setting. Using only the materials provided by Georgia BEST,
students have six weeks to design, develop, and test a robot that can
outperform their competitors. During this time, the students experience the
same problems, challenges, and breakthroughs that an engineering team
encounters when it takes a product to market. In both cases, there are team
dynamics, time constraints, material constraints, and pressure from other
teams who are trying to solve the same problem. Placed in a real situation,
with real problems, the students provide real (and surprisingly ingenious)
solutions. The weeks of hard work culminate in a thrilling daylong
competition where one team achieves "BEST" performance. The
inspiring event combines the excitement of a high school football game with
the strategy of a chess match and the intellectual challenge of a science
fair. The heart of BEST is the experience of solving a seemingly
overwhelming task using simple engineering methods and old-fashioned
teamwork. Thanks to this experience, students who participate in BEST are
better prepared to meet the challenges of the Technology Age. Visit the BEST website at www.georgiabest.org
for additional information.
SME also encourages participation in the longer running FIRST
Robotics competition. The FIRST
Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to
solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of
parts" and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and
enter them in competitions designed by Dean Kamen, Dr. Woodie Flowers, and a
committee of engineers and other professionals. Watch http://www.usfirst.org/
for unfolding details of 2008 competition opportunities. This organization continues to create new
programs to support its purpose, to “inspire in young people, their schools
and communities an appreciation of science and technology, and of how
mastering these can enrich the lives of all.” For
the latest news from SME for the next generations of manufacturing engineers: See also
the Resource
Center for Educators! And the A fun place to get started thinking about
manufacturing careers! |
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