Educators: Start a Team
Perhaps all forms of chaos and destruction aren’t created equal.
Ask a competitor about NRL, and the first thing you hear isn’t likely to be anything about applied math, in-game testing or machining parts. Instead, you’ll hear about heartening wins, crushing losses and "Dude, Decimator flew 10 feet when I hit him!!" And yet, underneath it all, school-age team members are getting a real-world technical education. Many, in the process, are being introduced to career options they may never have considered otherwise.
Educators love the NRL
Like a well-made robot gladiator, everything is precisely engineered for the desired effect. Despite the classroom-unfriendly melee of battle, educators love NRL Colorado for igniting sparks beyond the ones that fly in the arena: sparks of curiosity that propel competitors intocomputer-aided design to craft their robots… sparks of insight as competitors realize those boring math classes have real practical application… and sparks of realization as team members start computing coefficients of drag and centers of gravity—on their own—all in the name of maximum carnage when the bell sounds.
There are two challenges the manufacturing industry faces: one is finding people with increasingly rare technical skills. The second is overcoming popular myths to reveal the reality—that manufacturing is high-tech, exciting, financially rewarding and—surprise!—growing.
Why Start a Team?
- There is a skills and interest gap in manufacturing.
- 2.4 million manufacturing positions may go unfilled by 2028 (according to a Deloitte Study).
- 90% of parents recognize that a strong manufacturing base is critical to the US economy, but only 30% of parents would support their child’s pursuit of a career in manufacturing – we need to change that stigma!
- NRL Colorado attracts smart, capable students who love to build things and solve problems.
- Click hereto learn more about manufacturing career pathways students can have.
Benefits of Competing
Educator’s Role
The success of the NRL depends on willing Teachers and Industry Advisors/Mentors from local manufacturing companies. Only with your help are participating schools able to expose students to years of expertise and a real-world manufacturing environment.
If you decide to participate, you will:
- Have students complete a survey about manufacturing.
- Plan at least one visit to a partnered machine shop.
- Complete the Safety Inspection Sheet at least one week prior to the Competition and get Industry Advisor’s sign-off.
- Meet with a local industry advisor.
Timeline
There is flexibility in the timeline; however as a golden rule, the outcome of this program is a reflection of what you put into it. This is a great opportunity to help students gain the technical and critical thinking skills needed for manufacturing and other STEM-related careers.
Here is a timeline you can use as a guide throughout this project.
Resources for Educators & Teams
Your Number 1 Resource is your Industry Advisor. By working with our Industry Advisor, the excitement of competition is just the beginning; they’ll help turn the students into passionate and skilled future job candidates in the manufacturing industry.
Click below to view all resources.
If you are interested in starting a team, email us at NRLcolorado@rmtma.org.