Expose 3

FLL EXPOSE

First Lego League, also known as FLL, has many benefits for students attending the class around the country. It teaches kids of all ages lifelong lessons with teamwork, graciousness, sportsmanlike conduct, and how to be professional. Through a series of challenges such as robot competitions, essays, creative projects, and more, kids are plunged into a hands-on environment that incorporates learning and fun. The most important thing though in FLL is the teamwork aspect. Children are graded on Gracious Professionalism and how well they help, offer, and build on each other. It not only is graded and for their education, but helps long term with social skills, team spirit, communication, and leadership.

Being socially engaged is a huge part in the First Lego League. Without being engaged with the team you are placed on around you, then your grade, as well as your teammate's grade, will go down. Which makes FLL based on teamwork. This will help a kid with low self-esteem as well as social confidence and encourage him to reach out and go above and beyond in a situation. The sociability part also interplays with what gets done for assignments. There are a series of robot programs, essays, and worksheets that can only be accomplished with the help of multiple team members. At competitions, the team must show sportsmanlike conduct, Gracious Professionalism, and team spirit to win in the creative side of the event. In doing so it builds the confidence of the player as well as creating a fun and interactive environment.

Team Spirit is another huge part of these semester competitions. It drives the motives and passion of the young programmers to get involved in what is around them. It helps with attitude and behavior. Some teams might come in cheering for other teams or cheering for their own. Either way, it keeps the spirit enjoyable, interactivity focused and drives the passion of the kids. This will then lead to some taking leadership responsibilities and then increase their communication skills. Both of these play very important roles in everyday life and careers in the future.

Cynthia Miller: A grandmother of many children and first time guest to the FLL competition- “Oh I think that it is amazing! I mean truly amazing! The things that these kids are learning at these ages. Oh my goodness what I would give to have learned when I was a child. These kids have no idea. The robots and technology that they are learning to compete with and control are unbelievable. And not just that, but their social and leadership skills are incredibly strong at their young age because of this competition. I think that every school should participate in this. It is truly life changing for these kids.”