Brought to you by Regional Director Steve Cremer FIRST Senior Mentor Dana P Henry With valuable input from Rosie Robotics Engineer Robert Despang

 The role of the engineer is one of HUGE importance  Teaching engineering is not the only way to inspire  Safety first, second, and foremost.  Always professional behavior.  Remember your GP  Want to be there for the team, not for self  Students will sense if you do not want to be there.

 Stay positive –  Positive attitudes are contagious.  Compliment students when appropriate.  Praise in public, criticize in private.  Be prepared.  If you have an outside assignment, make sure you get it done.

 Bring in the occasional guest speaker.  Arrange for field trips.  Constantly train your team as individuals along with as a team. Be the role model and a good learner yourself.

 Celebrate success.  When the team does good, publically recognize it.  Birthday parties are great! And other important occasions in team members lives

 Things mentors should never do  Never “do it” for them. Teach the students and let them do the work. If necessary, you do it once to demonstrate.  If you have a bad day, leave it outside of the classroom. Bad attitudes are contagious.

 Never leave students alone without mentors.  Address poor behavior immediately.  Address problems privately.  Establish a code of behavior. Have students sign the team’s code of behavior.

Be aware of drama. Personal relationships will form. Be careful when these relationships fail. Be careful when they succeed. Why? (hormones are rampant) Be aware of the student that feels left out. Give everyone a reason for being there. A role to play. Be aware of the loner and the leader Put students in teams (small). Make them feel valuable as part of a team. Support the value of every task. Small things can sink the team.

Things to be aware of: Be aware of drama. Personal Mentors can become distracted at competitions. Focus on the students and monitor behavior in public. OBSERVE! Remember, the team represents the school and the sponsors. Behave like the whole world is watching, ‘cause it is!. Be aware of the level of technical material. Too much will overwhelm them. Too little will bore them.

Encourage students to become involved with teaching new students. Students feed off being recognized for their accomplishments. Bring in show and tell items. Students love to see technical materials. Be aware of the level of technical material. Too much will overwhelm them. Too little will bore them Create a community of learners and teachers with every team member doing both roles.

 Teach new and cool things. Conduct chalk talks (15 mins or so) each night.  Students need responsibility. Assign/vote leadership roles for the students.  Always remember, this is the student’s team, not the mentor’s

 Regional Director Steve Cremer   until 10 pm  FIRST Senior Mentor Dana Henry    Add’l resources  Mentor and Coach Resources Mentor and Coach Resources  Agawam Robotics Agawam Robotics 