Professional Development and Coach Workshops for Adults Interested in Coaching Teams
Teachers: Upon request, we can provide you with documentation of the hours you participate in our workshops as professional development units.
FIRST LEGO League Challenge is a great experience for children from 4th through 8th grade. To help both prospective coaches and returning coaches gain insight and confidence in their role we offer a series of workshops. These workshops cover a combination of the facilitating role that coaches play as well as prepare coaches to serve as informal technical consultants on LEGO robotics while the team members do the hands-on work.
Scroll down for In-person Workshops and Recordings of Past Workshops.
For information on workshops for FIRST Tech Challenge coaches, click here.
Remote Professional Development Workshops
Introduction to FIRST and ORTOP
We invite you to join us for this remote workshop as we introduce you to FIRST Robotics Programs, ORTOP’s role, and the several FIRST programs ORTOP supports. This session includes information about how FIRST supports project-based learning, the roles of coaches and students, team formation, and overviews of equipment needed plus team budgets. Click on one of the following dates to register for one of these Zoom sessions.
Fundraising 101
In this remote workshop, we will show you how to register a team with FIRST, navigate your dashboard, review the Youth Protection Policy (YPP), and register with ORTOP.
Beginning Programming with SPIKE Prime – Coaching a FLL Challenge team that is beginning to learn how to program a LEGO Robot
Each new FIRST LEGO League Challenge team uses a LEGO SPIKE Prime kit to build and program a robot that solves challenges on a 4-by-8-foot playing field. In this workshop, prospective coaches will learn how code blocks are assembled on a computer screen to create programs for a LEGO robot. Most of the class will feature live demonstrations of programming and testing programs using a SPIKE Prime robot. A SPIKE Prime kit is not required to attend this remote workshop. Click on the link(s) below to register for a remote session.
Intermediate Programming with SPIKE Prime – Coaching teams members as they learn intermediate skills in programming robots
This remote workshop is aimed at coaches and prospective coaches of FLL Challenge teams who want to learn more about how students will use SPIKE Prime kits, including how sensors can be used to help a robot complete its missions. Most of the class will feature live demonstrations of programming and testing the programs using a SPIKE Prime robot . A SPIKE Prime kit is not required to attend this remote workshop.
In-person Professional Development Workshops
These sessions start with a short lecture followed by hands-on practice in programming robots, guided by worksheets and the experienced instructor. Please bring a fully charged SPIKE Prime kit and a laptop or tablet with the software, if you have them. If you don’t have these items, please send a note to registrar@ortop.org and we’ll let you know whether we can loan you what you’ll need during the session.
Beginning Programming with SPIKE Prime – Coaching a team that is beginning to learn how to program a LEGO Robot
Each new FIRST LEGO League Challenge team uses a LEGO SPIKE Prime kit to build and program a robot that solves challenges on a 4-by-8-foot playing field. In this in-person workshop, an experienced instructor will show prospective coaches how code blocks are assembled to create programs that guide the robot. Most of the class will feature live demonstrations of programming and testing programs to help coaches learn to navigate the SPIKE Prime programming app to program a robot. Use the link below to sign up.
Please bring a laptop/tablet and a fully charged built robot to this workshop. You can find instructions for building a simple robot here. If you need to borrow a tablet or robot kit, please send a message to registrar@ortop.org to make arrangements ahead of the workshop.
Intermediate Programming with SPIKE Prime – Coaching teams members as they learn intermediate skills in programming robots
This in-person workshop is for FLL Challenge coaches who are familiar with SPIKE Prime or have taken Beginning SPIKE Prime Programing and want to learn more about sensors and intermediate programming skills.
Please bring a laptop/tablet and a fully charged built robot to this workshop. You can find instructions for building a simple robot here. If you need to borrow a tablet or robot kit, please send a message to registrar@ortop.org to make arrangements ahead of the workshop.
Recordings of Past Workshops
FIRST LEGO League Challenge is a hands-on, inquiry-led, project-based robotics program that invigorates and engages students and coaches alike. Join us for a remote session on the Core Values that inform the curriculum, the pedagogy of Project-Based Learning, and the coaching strategies and logistics of running a team during a competitive season. Staff and volunteers from ORTOP will be available to answer questions.
Time: About 1-1/2 hours
Each new FIRST LEGO League Challenge team uses a LEGO SPIKE Prime kit to build and program a robot that solves challenges on a 4-foot by 8-foot playing field. Prospective coaches will learn how colorful blocks are assembled on a computer screen to create programs for a LEGO robot.
Time: About 1 1/2 hours
This remote workshop is for prospective coaches who want to learn more about how students will use SPIKE Prime kits including how sensors can be used to help a robot complete its missions.
Time: About 1 1/2 hours
Other Workshops and Resources
Check out these videos relating to FIRST LEGO League Core Values. You will also find other resources on the ORTOP Wiki.
