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We’re off to a strong start for the 24/25 FTC competition season, with many Wisconsin teams already showcasing their creativity, innovative solutions, and teamwork skills.
This season, FIRST Headquarters has introduced important updates to the judging process aimed at enhancing clarity, consistency, and fairness. We encourage all teams to review the 2024-2025 FTC Game and Season Materials page for complete details on these changes.
Based on insights from Valorie and Jerry, our FTC Senior Judge Advisors for FIRST Wisconsin from our first set of FTC Qualifying Tournament Events, this blog post intends to be a quick and helpful resource for Wisconsin FTC teams.
For a more personalized experience and to answer any additional questions, SAVE THE DATE for an in-person AND online teams meeting with the FTC Senior Judge Advisors for FIRST Wisconsin.
Topic: Chat with FIRST Wisconsin FTC Judge Advisors
Date: January, 7 2025
Time: 7:30pm to 9pm
Location for In-Person: Library of Brookfield Central High School on 16900 Gebhardt Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005 & an online meeting on Microsoft Teams.
Submit questions ahead of time using this form: https://forms.office.com/r/SLd5uixC99
Click here to learn more from the FIRST Wisconsin, January 7th Calendar Event.
Special thanks to Valorie and Jerry for their blog contribution!
Renee
Hello Wisconsin FTC Teams!
Our goal today as Judge Advisors is to help every team feel confident and ready to excel in their judging interviews and award opportunities.
Please review the following insights we've highlighted as "quick and helpful resources" our Wisconsin FTC teams should be aware of.
Notable Changes From Last Season for Teams:
Notable changes introduced by FIRST Headquarters for this season are documented in <3.2> Awards Eligibility Rules:
The Control Award no longer has a separate submission form and should be included in the PORTFOLIO.
The Promote Award has been retired.
Not submitting a PORTFOLIO no longer eliminates a team from all Judged Award considerations.
Recording audio or video is not permitted during interviews.
Key Highlights for Wisconsin FTC Teams:
New Judging Feedback Forms- This season, judges complete feedback forms immediately following their Formal Interview.
These forms aren’t used in deliberations, they are only used gauge a judging panel's initial impressions of the team.
Knowing this, the forms can provide valuable insights to help teams improve their Formal Interview and PORTFOLIO.
PORTFOLIO Required for Specific Awards- To be eligible for the Inspire, Think, and Control Awards, teams must submit a PORTFOLIO.
For all other awards, teams need to Discuss, Describe, Display, or Document the relevant criteria during their judging interviews.
Judges will conduct more informal pit interviews with teams after Opening Ceremonies.
Judges will be in groups of two and will visit the pits to talk with the team.
Teams should be prepared to Discuss, Describe, Display or Document their season’s efforts.
It is encouraged to have a team member at or near their pit to facilitate judging interviews.
READ ALL OF <A101>
*Team PORTFOLIOS have limits.
No more than 15 pages of judged content
Judges use the cover page to identify the team associated with the PORTFOLIO.
Teams without a cover page may be disqualified if the team cannot be identified.
Use readable font sizes, colors, and designs.
JUDGES will not be able to use anything they cannot read.
JUDGES will not access any external links to documents, websites, or videos.
Teams may use AI or research aids for composing PORTFOLIOS, but these must be credited via footnotes or endnotes.
The PORTFOLIO should emphasize the current season. READ ALL OF <A102>
READ ALL OF <A102>
*PORTFOLIOS must be submitted on time as requested.
Review <A103> through <A114> in Section 6.1 of the game manual.
What is a PORTFOLIO?
A PORTFOLIO is a short and concise summary of the team’s engineering journey throughout their season. The PORTFOLIO should include sketches, discussions and team meetings, design evolution, processes, obstacles, goals and plans to learn new skills, and each team member’s concise thoughts throughout the journey for the season, the PORTFOLIO is like the team’s CV or resume.
One of the goals of FIRST and FIRST Tech Challenge is to recognize the engineering design process and the journey that a team makes. This journey encompasses the phases of the problem definition, concept design, system-level design, detailed design, test and verification, and production of the robot.
A PORTFOLIO is REQUIRED for some awards but is also HELPFUL to have for all awards.
A good portfolio is also a great way to record your team’s season and share it with future team members or sponsors.
Portfolio Minimum Requirement Needs for Inspire, Think, and Control Awards:
Click on each of the arrows to to learn more about the required PORTFOLIO elements for the Inspire, Think, and Control Awards.
Inspire Award <6.2.1>
Required:
Team must submit a PORTFOLIO. The PORTFOLIO must include engineering content, team information and a team plan. The PORTFOLIO must be high quality, thoughtful, thorough, and concise.
The Inspire Award celebrates the strongest qualities of all the judged awards. A team must be a strong contender for at least one award in each of the following judged award categories:
Machine, Creativity, and Innovation Awards
Team Attributes Awards
Think Award
Team must be positive and inclusive, and each team member contribute to the success of the team.
Encouraged:
Think Award <6.2.2>
Control Award <6.2.6>
FYI: Teams are allowed to opt out judging interviews. If a team opts out of a judging interview they will not be interviewed in the pits or be able to win awards at that event.
Best of luck—we can’t wait to see the incredible things you achieve!
Valorie & Jerry
Senior FTC Judge Advisors for FIRST Wisconsin
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