Northern Colorado Judge FAQ

General FAQ for Potential First Time Judges for a LEGO Robotics Tournament

 
Hopefully this will help you decide if judging is for you! (And we hope it is, so don’t be intimidated. It really is fun, and you get a free t-shirt and lunch.) Lego robotics mania is growing in northern CO! In 2011 we have three qualifying tournaments scheduled. Here are the dates and how to sign up for each of them, if you decide to volunteer at one or more:
24 teams compete at Liberty Common School on Sat., Nov. 5. Contact Sondra at sondra@pleasingsoftware.com or sign up directly: fll.coloradofirst.org/liberty-judge.
48 teams compete at Poudre High School on Sat., Nov. 12. Contact Marylou at robotics@teamnash.org or sign up directly: fll.coloradofirst.org/poudre-judge.
24 teams compete at Preston Middle School on Sat., Nov. 19. Contact DJ at dkeally@psdschools.org or sign up at fll.coloradofirst.org/preston-judge.

What is a LEGO Robot?

LEGO Robots are very cool! They are based on the LEGO Mindstorm Technology. The robots are built around a small, onboard microprocessor. The robot’s processor runs programs that are written on a personal computer (e.g. laptop) and downloaded to the robot. Kids learn to program, and they learn mechanical principles as they build their robots. Some designs are better than others! LEGO parts, such as regular bricks and Technic parts are added to the robot to give it capabilities to perform tasks, such as picking up and moving objects. The robot is autonomous – that is, it operates based on sensors and its prewritten (by kids) programs and is not remote controlled. Kids learn sophisticated technological concepts while designing, building, and programming their robot to move around its environment, performing tasks.
 

What is a LEGO Robotics Tournament?

Every fall, the national organization, FIRST LEGO League (FLL), releases this year’s new challenge related to a theme, complete with a new 8’x4’ playing mat and pieces built from LEGO parts that must be manipulated according to very specific rules. The theme changes yearly. For example, this year’s theme is Food Factor, exploring the safety of our food supply. Teams of up to 10 kids ages 9-14 form at schools, churches, scouting groups, etc. They have only a couple months to build robots that can solve as many of the challenges on the playing mat as possible in 2.5 minutes. Each team has an 8’x4’ practice table on which to place the mat and pieces. The team also works on a research project issued as part of the year’s challenge. Then, on Tournament Day (sometime in Nov. or Dec., depending on geographical area), teams compete on competition tables to see which team’s robot design can win the most points. Families and friends cheer them on! They also present a skit based on their research project solution to spectators and judges. This year there are 8 qualifying tournaments in CO, and the best teams from each qualifier advance to the CO Championship tournament in December.
 

What is a Judge?

Maybe you! Judges are adults who work in teams of twos to judge the qualitative aspects of the competition. (Usually teen volunteers act as referees at the competition tables and determine quantitative scores.) There are three main types of judging “jobs” that volunteers can choose from:
1) Technical Judging: Judging the robots themselves (creativity, design, programming, etc.)
2) Presentation Judging: Judging skits that teams create to showcase research into real world aspects related to the theme of this year’s tournament, “Food Factor” (a look at all aspects of food safety.)
3) Teamwork Judging: A team is presented with a new problem and must work together to come up with a solution in a few minutes. Judges get to see the team at work in a spontaneous setting.

What time commitment and training does judging take?

A judge reads relevant training material online prior to the tournament. There may also be a one-time phone conference before the tournament, led by the head judge. Then, on tournament day, judges arrive around 7:00 a.m. to be trained and placed in teams of two or three, usually with a veteran on each team. The tournament lasts until late afternoon.
 

How is it to judge?

FUN! Seeing how excited the kids are as they compete and watching the pride they take in their ingenious robots and presentations is fun! Knowing that there could not be the much anticipated “Tournament Day” without YOU is rewarding. Please consider joining us for a fun-filled, rewarding day.
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