O’Gorman Junior High’s First LEGO League Championship: A Journey of Innovation and Teamwork
First LEGO League is not just about building robots; it's a comprehensive test of innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. It introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through fun and exciting, hands-on learning.
First LEGO League is not just about building robots; it's a comprehensive test of innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. It introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through fun and exciting, hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem- solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together.
The OGJH club meets multiple times a week to get ready for the main event of the year: the First LEGO League Championship. Teams from all over the country gather to showcase their abilities in various categories, each contributing to the overall Championship Score. As teams delve into the competition, they are faced with challenges that push them to their limits, requiring them to excel not only in building and programming robots but also in innovation, embodying core values, and presenting innovative solutions. The OGJH team placed 2nd overall out of 28 teams at the State Lego League Competition in February of 2024!
Competition Experience: A Balanced Approach
In the First LEGO League Championship, success isn't determined by excelling in just one category but by achieving excellence across the board. With each of the four main categories—Innovation, Robot Design, Robot Game, and Core Values—contributing equally to the overall Championship Score, teams must find a balance to secure victory.
In Robot Design and Robot Game categories, teams must meticulously plan, design, build, and program their robots to tackle the challenges presented on the playing field. From identifying mission objectives to coding precise movements, every step is critical to success.
Dave Dengler, the OGJH Lego League coach, shares a success, “A major accomplishment this team had was the use of Color Sensors mounted on the Robot that allowed the Robot to move autonomously following a Black line on the playing field, making movement more accurate and efficient. The use of Color Sensors are rarely used by other teams because of the complexity of the code.” Using innovative approaches such as this set the OGJH team apart from their competition and demonstrate their engineering prowess.
Core Values are among the other variables that play into the Championship Score. They are not just words but guiding principles that shape teams' behavior and interactions throughout the competition. Emphasizing teamwork, inclusion, impact, fun, discovery, and innovation, teams must embody these values in every aspect of their work, from collaboration to competition.
Innovation: Solving Real-World Problems
The Innovation category challenges teams to address real-world problems creatively. This year's theme—exploring how hobbies and interests can be shared creatively—prompted teams to devise innovative solutions. Dave gives an example, “Our team's focus was on a SKI WITH ME Mobile Application that would provide Skiers the ability to sign-up on the application and look for a skiing partner who may be of similar age, skill, or possibly activity. The team met with Great Bear Ski Valley to get ideas and thoughts, and also sent out a survey to obtain feedback with over 150 entries. The team created a Mock-Up in PowerPoint of all the pages of the Mobile Application, and how it would interact and work.”
The teamwork and use of all the Core Values, put the OGJH team on top in 3 of the 4 categories. Dave shares, “As coaches we walked out of the judges session flabbergasted at their use of ALL the Core Values. Of course not surprised, as these Core Values are the essence of the OGJH School and what they experience every day. A true testament of what the Bishop O'Gorman School System has to offer.”
Preparing for Nationals: Perfecting Performance
As the team gears up for the National Competition in Long Beach, California, the focus shifts to perfecting and refining their solutions. For Robot Game, this entails maximizing efficiency and accuracy to complete all missions within the allotted time. Innovations, such as the SKI WITH ME app, undergo further development, with teams exploring options to make them a reality.
“We'll be looking to meet with application engineers to determine options to make it real, put it on a phone and actually be something we can use and show the judges at Nationals on a mobile device,” says Dave.
Behind the Scenes: Practices and Proud Moments
Behind every successful team are hours of dedicated practice and unwavering support. Weekly meetings and weekend sessions are filled with brainstorming, designing, and testing. Coaches guide students through challenges, but it's the students' ingenuity and hard work that drive progress.
Dave became a coach because of his son’s early interest in Legos. He says, “This is my 3rd year of watching these students’ minds evolve, grow, problem solve, while enjoying things they love to do with others. The light bulbs I've seen turn on are many!” From mastering core values to making strategic decisions during competition, each success is a testament to the team's dedication and resilience.
Stories from the Field: Moments of Triumph and Humor
Amidst the intensity of competition, moments of triumph and humor shine through. From confidently reciting core values to making last-minute strategic changes during the Robot Game, each anecdote highlights the team's spirit and camaraderie.
Conclusion: More Than Just Building Blocks
The First LEGO League is more than just building robots; it's a platform for young minds to innovate, collaborate, and inspire. As teams navigate the challenges and triumphs of competition, they not only hone their technical skills but also cultivate values that will serve them well beyond the competition arena. With each competition, they prove that with creativity, teamwork, and perseverance, anything is possible.
Team Members: Colby Dengler (7th grade) - Chris Van Bochove (7th grade) - Grayson Schuring (7th grade) - Conner Henriksen (8th grade) - Luke Bell (7th grade) - Liam Sweetman (7th grade) - Joe Kunz (8) - David Jirik (8th grade)
Coaches: Dave Dengler - Jackie Henriksen - Joleen Schuring