Merge pull request #608 from srobo/more-supervisor-info

Provide more information for supervisors

Author: PeterJCLaw

_data/sidebar_tree.yaml

@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ tree:
   - url: /robots_101/
     title: Robots 101
     tree:
+      - url: /robots_101/programme_structure
+        title: Programme Structure
       - url: /robots_101/post_kickstart
         title: After Kickstart
       - url: /robots_101/design

robots_101/index.md

@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ title: Robots 101
 
 Robots 101 is a series aimed at helping teams new to Student Robotics get started.
 
-There are 6 articles in this series:
+There are 7 articles in this series:
+
+- [Programme Structure]({{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/programme_structure): What happens during the course of the year
 - [Post-Kickstart]({{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/post_kickstart): You've attended our Kickstart event and are now ready to build your robot
 - [Design]({{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/design): How to approach the design of your robot
 - [Code]({{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/code): Things to consider when writing code for your robot

robots_101/programme_structure.md

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+---
+layout: page
+title: Robots 101 - Programme Structure
+---
+
+# Robots 101 - Programme Structure
+
+Student Robotics is an annual robotics competition for people aged 16-19.
+But what actually happens during the course of the competition year?
+
+## Registration
+
+Registration for the competition usually opens in early September. Teams usually
+consist of 4-8 competitors attending a school or college, though other groups
+are also free to enter. Your team must have a responsible adult who will oversee
+the team (a role we call the [team supervisor][team-supervisor]) and they must
+be the person to [sign up][sign-up].
+
+While places are free (thanks to our [sponsors][sponsors]), they are limited.
+You will be notified whether or not your team has received a place shortly
+before the start of the competition year.
+
+<!-- TODO: add something about the pre-kickstart activities once they're published -->
+
+## Kickstart
+
+Kickstart is the event which kicks off a competition year. The structure of the
+competition and the [game rules][rules] are announced and any questions you have
+will be answered.
+
+Typically this is a one day in-person event in October (usually a Saturday).
+Throughout the day there are Blueshirts (our awesome volunteers!) around in
+person, ready to answer any questions and to help you through the
+[microgames][microgames]. The microgames help you become familiar with the
+[kit][kit] which is loaned to all teams and should kickstart some ideas for your
+robot’s design.
+
+## Mentoring
+
+Shortly after Kickstart we aim to pair up teams with a volunteer mentor who can
+guide the team and help them with any technical questions. Where possible the
+mentor will join the team's meetings in person, though we also offer remote
+mentors if that is not possible.
+
+All teams also have access to our [Discord][discord] server where they can chat
+with all our volunteers (as well as other teams) at any time.
+
+## Your time
+
+Most teams work on their robot for at least two hours a week, with some teams
+spending four hours or more. How this time is scheduled varies between teams --
+some have more than one meeting a week, others have less frequent but longer
+sessions.
+
+To get the most out of the time, ensure sessions are long enough to make useful
+progress after allowing for setting up beforehand and tidying away afterwards.
+
+## Tech Days
+
+Throughout the year [Tech Days][tech-days] provide opportunities to spend a
+whole day (usually a Saturday) working on your robot, with lots of help
+available. They’re also an opportunity to see how other teams are doing or get
+more direct help with your robot.
+
+We provide a space for you to work in, with power and internet access, as well
+as volunteers able to help with the kits and hands-on guidance with your robot.
+
+## Virtual Competition
+
+The Virtual Competition is often the first change you'll have to test your
+strategies against other teams. You'll submit your robot code for running
+against other teams in the [simulator][simulator]. The matches are livestreamed
+on our [YouTube Channel][youtube] and you'll get a copy of your robot's logs
+afterwards so you can continue to improve it.
+
+## Competition
+
+The Competition event is a two day event in spring. It's the ultimate test for
+your robot in a weekend of tinkering and matches.
+
+You'll have a team pit for you to work in, with power and internet access, and
+throughout the weekend there are volunteers around to help with the kits and
+hands-on guidance with your robot. We also provide a test arena which you can
+use to check the improvements you're making to your robot.
+
+Typically there are blocks of league matches on the Saturday and on Sunday
+morning, with time to improve your robot between appearances. On Sunday
+afternoon you'll advance into the knockout stages, and can go on to win prizes.
+
+
+[team-supervisor]: {{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/team_supervisor
+[sign-up]: https://studentrobotics.org/compete/#signup
+[sponsors]: https://studentrobotics.org/sponsor/
+[rules]: {{ site.baseurl }}/rules/
+[microgames]: {{ site.baseurl }}/competitor_resources/microgames
+[kit]: {{ site.baseurl }}/kit/
+[discord]: {{ site.baseurl }}/tutorials/discord
+[tech-days]: {{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/tech_days
+[simulator]: {{ site.baseurl }}/simulator/
+[youtube]: https://www.youtube.com/@studentrobotics

robots_101/team_supervisor.md

@@ -7,17 +7,32 @@ title: Robots 101 - So you're running a team
 
 Here’s a little bit of info on what to expect from Student Robotics, and your responsibilities as a team supervisor.
 
-As a team supervisor, your role is to guide the competitors through the journey of building a robot. You’ll be there to point them in the right direction when they get stuck and resolve any issues they run into. We encourage team supervisors to limit their involvement with the robot design/building process so that the finished contraptions are 100% student-built which competitors find very rewarding.
+## Your role
+
+As a team supervisor, your role is to guide the competitors through the journey of building a robot. You’ll be there to point them in the right direction when they get stuck and resolve any issues they run into.
+You don't need to have any technical skills though -- our volunteer mentors can provide that [support](#support) either in person or remotely.
+We encourage team supervisors to limit their involvement with the [robot design]({{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/design)/building process so that the finished contraptions are 100% student-built which competitors find very rewarding.
 
 You’ll be our point of contact with the team. If you have any questions during the year, just email <{{ site.emails.teams }}>. We’ll also be sending you emails every month or so with important information such as:
 - Details of [Tech Days]({{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/tech_days) where we provide a space for teams to come together and get direct help from our dedicated volunteers
 - Software updates for our kit
-- Information about the competition event (usually in late March or April)
+- Information about the [competition event]({{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/programme_structure#competition) (usually in late March or April)
 
 We aim to host our Kickstart event and Tech Days in multiple locations to make it more convenient for you to travel. However, you will still need to arrange to travel to these places.
 This is especially important to book for the competition, as you will likely need to arrange to stay overnight near the venue.
 
-Our kit includes a battery and a few boards to get your robot started. However, your team will need additional components and materials from which to build their robot. For the chassis, your team has several options. Teams often use cardboard, MDF, Aluminium, and/or Acrylic. In terms of electronic components, teams often make use of:
+## The team
+
+Teams usually consist of 4-8 competitors aged 16-19 and are often attending a school or college.
+However, the team doesn't necessarily need to represent a school -- any group of 16-19 year-olds, with a responsible adult, can enter.
+
+Most teams work on their robot for at least two hours a week, with some teams spending four hours or more.
+How this time is scheduled varies between teams -- some have more than one meeting a week, others have less frequent but longer sessions.
+To get the most out of the time, ensure sessions are long enough to make useful progress after allowing for setting up beforehand and tidying away afterwards.
+
+## Materials
+
+Our [kit]({{ site.baseurl }}/kit/) includes a battery and a few boards to get your robot started. However, your team will need additional components and materials from which to build their robot. For the chassis, your team has several options. Teams often use cardboard, MDF, Aluminium, and/or Acrylic. In terms of electronic components, teams often make use of:
 - At least two 12V motors (our kit supports four)
 - A few servo motors
 - A few microswitches for detecting if you bump into something
@@ -33,6 +48,13 @@ Popular suppliers of these components are:
 - [Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/)
 - [eBay](https://www.ebay.co.uk/)
 
+Your team will also need access to a computer to write the [code]({{ site.baseurl }}/robots_101/code) for their robot.
+Ideally this would be one that can be brought to events so that improvements can be made to the robot at any time.
+
+Being able to install software onto the computer will also be important to make use of the [simulator]({{ site.baseurl }}/simulator/) and a suitable [code editor]({{ site.baseurl }}/tutorials/editors/).
+
+## Support
+
 To allow you and your team to ask us questions directly, as well as share what they’re working on with other teams, we provide a [Discord]({{ site.baseurl }}/tutorials/discord) server. You will receive a unique link to share with your team so that you can all join with your own Discord accounts. Each team gets a private text channel for direct support from us which can be used to discuss your robot without worrying about giving other teams your strategy. We also have a team-supervisor only channel for any questions you may have. There are also some text channels where teams can communicate with each other (and us!) for more general topics. If you’d like a voice channel for your team, email us or ask in `#team-supervisor`!
 
 If you’d like additional support throughout the year, we have dedicated mentors who can regularly join your team meetings either in-person or remotely. Your mentor will help guide your team towards good solutions for their robot, provide assistance where they might need it as well as help them understand the kit, the rules and the competition as a whole. We *strongly* encourage new teams to sign up for mentoring. If this sounds like something you’d like, look out for our email shortly after Kickstart.