CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
27 April 2011
Company News
PTC Holds the Inaugural FIRST Tech Challenge in China to Inspire Student Innovation
PTC announced that PTC, in partnership with the FIRST organization, successfully launched the inaugural FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) competition in China at the Shanghai American School, Pudong Campus.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded to make science and technology engaging while stimulating applied learning and creativity. FIRST designs accessible, mentor-based programs that give students an opportunity to apply science and technology concepts learned in the classroom to ‘real world' engineering problems. Students work in teams on open-ended challenges and create their own solutions, while developing teamwork, presentation and business skills.
FTC is one of FIRST's high school level robotics competitions. This year's game, called "Get Over It!," challenges teams to develop and design a robot to compete in a sport-like competition, which includes rolling targets, obstacles, balancing and sensors. For the 2011 FTC challenge, 1500 teams with over 15,000 students worldwide will compete at local, regional, and international levels.
In China, seven teams from top Shanghai area international high schools participated in the pilot event. These student teams used open-ended problem solving, critical thinking, strategy, oral and written communication and business skills to vie for 7 awards, with D. P. R. R. from Dulwich College School winning the top award The Inspire Award. Teams were scored on their ability to both compete and collaborate, taking into account robot scores, robot design, engineering notebooks, team spirit and professionalism. The event was staffed by 40 PTC volunteers with additional help from National Instruments, Tongji University and Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture.
"We are very proud to be part of the pilot FTC program and honored to be able to host the event at Shanghai American School," said Dr. Kerry Jacobson, SAS Superintendent. "The unique designs from each of the student teams and the innovative ideas taking shape demonstrate effective collaboration on the part of each of the teams. The success of this pilot event evidences the exciting potential for FTC throughout China. We look forward to the continuation of the close working relationships gained by all of our students and to future competitions and collaborations with teams from all over China."
"We are so happy to bring FIRST competition to high school students in China." John Stuart, SVP Education & PTC Eastern Europe said that, "PTC is committed to developing and nurturing innovation in students. To this end, PTC's partnership with FIRST and bringing the FTC to China is a perfect fit. PTC is looking forward to providing its product design software (Creo Elements/Pro, Mathcad, and Windchill) as well as its training and mentoring to hundreds of future Chinese student teams. We are planning to have a team from China attend the World Championship in the U.S. next April.
About FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and more than $14 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC® ) and FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC® ) for high-school students, FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL® ) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S. and Canada) and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLLTM) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious ProfessionalismTM is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to http://www.usfirst.org.
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