For students in grades 7-12
Skill Building
FIRST Tech Challenge teams are comprised of 2-15 members in grades 7-12. Team members collaborate to design, build, program and operate their own robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in a “compete/cooperate” alliance format.
Students develop STEM skills, learn engineering competencies, and appreciate the value of diligence, innovation, and collaboration.
Robot Building
Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.
Teams must raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach for which they can win awards.
In Alberta, the season concludes with the Alberta Championships. Teams can qualify to compete at the FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas.
Alberta FIRST Tech Challenge
Prior to the pandemic, Alberta hosted a yearly FIRST Tech Challenge Championship for 32 teams from grades 7 to 12. In the 2018 and 2019 seasons, an effort was made to grow the Calgary branch of FIRST Tech Challenge leading to the entry of 40 teams and 300 students.
FIRST Tech Challenge is a major area for growth for youth robotics in Alberta. It addresses a need that many schools have for STEM engagement in key areas such as coding and technical skills that are not otherwise met in normal programming. Further, competitions are easy for schools to understand as they operate like a sports league.
As often said, “None of your basketball team’s players are likely to reach the NBA, but every robotics team member can become a professional in their field”
FIRST Tech Challenge has been called “The hardest fun you’ll ever have”!
For more information, visit FIRST Inspires