Differentiating FIRST Programs

FIRST^® Tech Challenge is starting some task forces this summer. Like the FIRST^® Robotics Competition task forces last year, they’ve asked community members to provide feedback to help guide the task forces. Another area they’ve asked for feedback on is related to differentiating FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition.

I think the FIRST Tech Challenge blog sets the stage for this feedback really well, so I’m just going to copy that text. We’ve created a separate form for FIRST Robotics Competition participants to share their thoughts on those questions.

Over the past two seasons, the FIRST Tech Challenge team and the FIRST Robotics Competition team have been working together to remove programmatic differences which do not add value to the program experience. These differences create confusion and friction for the many FIRST participants (parents, mentors, volunteers, and students) who are involved in both programs. This is not about making “FIRST Tech Challenge little FIRST Robotics Competition” or “FIRST Robotics Competition big FIRST Tech Challenge.” Instead, our goal is to have a more seamless experience for FIRST participants.

There are many unique values and experiences which come from participation in either program, and we want to hear from you which you value most. If you have been involved in both FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition, we would love your insights!

• What makes each program meaningful to you?
• What do you value most about each one and why?
• Are there specific student or team outcomes that you feel are unique to either program?
  

You can provide your feedback on these questions via this anonymous form by July 31, 2025. Thank you in advance!