Volunteer sign up

Sign up by logging into your FIRST account (or creating a login) on FIRSTInspires.org, locating this specific event and applying for a specific role. 

If the event link above does not work for you, please go to www.firstinspires.org, click on “Log In” or “Sign Up” to create an account on the Top Right.  Then, go to “My Dashboard” ->”Event Volunteering”. You can find this specific volunteer opportunity (direct link coming soon) by searching in the FLL Programs for “NorCal” or event name “NorCal FLL Innovation Expo ” .

Important Note: All volunteers must be adults and pass a background screening as you will be working with/interacting with youth – have questions, learn more at FIRST‘s Youth Protection Program  resources page . [Program Guide volunteer info starts on page 29].

• U.S. Screening Process Step by Step
• Frequently Asked Questions

VOLUNTEER DETAILS:  Googlesheet  about the different volunteer roles needed, time commitment and a description of each role.

Teams: registration status on Team List

Remember to let us know if your FIRST Team Roster has changed from your qualifier

1. Cost: $75 per team.  In order to reserve your spot in the event, you must pay by February 25, 7pm pacific. If your team has a financial hardship please email fll@playingatlearning.org, so we can work with you to address this.  We do not want any team to miss this opportunity for financial reasons.
2. Application: Each team will need to submit their JOTFORM application and question responses by February 27, 7pm pacific.  There are several questions that take quite a bit of time from the team, we would recommend giving yourself enough time to complete the form. (Please plan accordingly, this will be at least a few hours of work.)  The primary questions are identical to the questions that FIRST asks teams to fill out for the Global Innovation Award (see FAQ).

IMPORTANT:  specific EVALUATION RUBRIC used by FIRST for Global Innovation Award and at this event – NorCal Innovation Expo.  Strongly recommend to update/edit your project presentation from your qualifier as the evaluation criteria is different!

Detailed Schedule

MORNING  <- updated Mar2!   AFTERNOON

In the morning, each NorCal team will have 1 scheduled 10 minute Judging interview (5 minutes for teams to present and 5 minutes for Judges Q & A) and a short Pit Share time with a cohort of 16 teams.   Your pit number will be assigned once your team pays & fills out the jotform

Then, 10 to 12 teams will be selected to move on to the 2nd round.  These top teams will have another judging interview (5 minutes for teams to present and up to 10 minutes for Judge Q & A), and a public presentation (this presentation could be the same or slightly modified from what you gave to the judges) of their project solution (5 minutes to present and ~5 minutes for audience Q & A).   

Expected Schedule (subject to change)

All 32 Teams:
1st Round of Judging  8:30am – 10:30am
Pit Sharing              10:30am – 12:20pm

2nd Round Team Announcement and Schedule details  12:30 pm

Top 10 – 2nd Round Teams:
Public Presentation and 2nd Round of Judging       1:45pm – 4:55pm
Closing & Announcement Ceremony:   5:00pm – 5:20pm

Event Background:

Interested in being a Sponsor of Innovation?   

Playing At Learning:

Playing At Learning promotes and supports FIRST^® LEGO^® League (FLL) to open doors to the worlds of science and technology for Northern California youth with a strong focus on reaching those traditionally under-represented in STEM careers. We provide operational oversight and coordination of our region’s league, tournaments, and championships for the nearly 600 robotics teams competing in the 2018 season, serving nearly 6000 middle school youth. During the August-March challenge season, we introduce 4^th-8^th grade youth (ages 9-14) to real-world engineering team-based challenges through an annual robot game and project. There are 3 components to the overall challenge each year –  Robot Game, Project and Core Values.

With guidance from adult coaches and mentors, the FIRST^® LEGO^® League teams explore interactive and creative curriculum in academic, extracurricular, and competition environments, gaining the unique opportunity to:

• Design, build, and program autonomous robots using LEGO Mindstorms^® robotics technology;
• Directly apply math, science, and engineering concepts;
• Learn more about issues and research areas for today’s scientists and engineers;
• Demonstrate 21^st Century Skills in collaboration and teamwork, critical thinking, creative problem solving, as well as communication and presentation skills;
• Participate in Kickoff events, Tournaments and other celebrations.

FIRST along with partners such as XPRIZE for a Global Innovation Award and offers each FIRST LEGO League region an opportunity to nominate one or more Regional Nominees based on a team’s Innovative Solution to their Challenge Project.

NorCal Innovation Expo: Northern California presents teams with the opportunity to be nominated to represent our region for the Global Innovation Award.  Starting in the 2016 season, at each of the November Qualifying Tournament, the project judges will select an Innovation Candidate team based on the Innovation Solution criteria from the Project Rubric  (p2).  Then, in early spring, these teams will compete at the NorCal Innovation Expo to select the teams that will be our Northern California’s Regional Nominees. The Northern California Regional Nominees will then be evaluated by a panel of esteemed judges coordinated by FIRST against the other regional nominees worldwide for an opportunity to vie for the Global Innovation Award which includes patent help, cash and other awards at a special event. The Northern California region has had many Global Innovation Award Semi-Finalists which highlights the amazing entrepreneurial spirit that resides in our region.

Challenge Project:  Each year, FIRST introduces a new Challenge and theme based on a real-world problem.

The NorCalFLL Innovation Expo is celebrating our Teams’ Innovative Solutions to the Challenge Project and selecting the NorCal regional nominees to vie for the Global Innovation Award.