BE A FUTURE CITIES MENTOR-Future Cities Competition
Important Milestone Dates: 5th Idaho Regional Future Cities Competition
Sim City 4 Computer Design – 12/02/09 Boise State University, Jordon Ballroom
Essay Abstract – Mid 12/16/09 January 09, 2010 ~ 8am – 3pm
Model/Presentation – 01/09/10
Competition Background:
The Future City Competition, in its 18th year nationally and 6th year in Idaho, is essentially a free educational program for seventh and eighth-grade students run entirely by volunteers throughout the state. The Future City program combines an engineering challenge with a “hands-on” application as students present their vision of a city of the future by working in teams along with their teacher and a volunteer mentor. Teams of students (three or
more per team) will perform the following tasks:
• Use SimCity4 software to create their “future city” and incorporate engineering decision making in the design.
• Research and write an essay. The essay topic varies each year the current draft topic is “Providing living space for low-income, homeless families or for families that have lost their home due to a disaster, using modular design, sustainable materials and a low-carbon emissions footprint.”
• Build a model (50”x25”x20”) of a portion of their city using recycled materials.
• Present their Future City to a panel of judges at the Idaho Competition on January 09, 2010.
Mentoring is an all-inclusive concept that groups many functions into one:
Teacher, Advisor, Coach, Confidant & Sponsor
What is a Future City Mentor?
• May be involved in all phases of the competition to provide input, technical
assistance and to tie-in real life engineering.
? However, students must do all of the actual work.
• Help make the transition from the academic to the real world of engineering.
? Your advice can be in the form of technical help as to how science is applied to the city; how to build models; and how to make technical presentations.
• Encourage the students to prepare a plan prior to beginning a design.
• Keep the students’ ideas based on reality or an extension of current theories.
• Always keep the competition rules in mind and assist the students in
understanding and following them.
? Engineering is an art requiring the judgment necessary to adapt
knowledge to practical purposes; the imagination to conceive original solutions to problems; and the ability to predict performance and cost of new devices or processes. Middle school students are often familiar with the roles of scientists, but the Future City Competition may very well be the student’s first contact with engineering.
You can critique and advise the students as to how to make their
city technically better and help them better function as a Project Team.
Who can be an Engineer Mentor?
Anyone, above the age of 18 that has a background in architecture, engineering, or any another related field can be an engineer mentor.
You do not have to be an engineer.
What Availability and Time Commitment is Required for the Mentor?
The engineer should be available to provide assistance to the team as needed as the students work on the various tasks of the competition. It is recommended that the engineer work or reside in close proximity to the school. Typically, most engineers devote approximately 20-40 hours.
How do I get involved as an Mentor?
Contact Bill Holder (WHolder@stratageotech.com), Lynn Olson (lolson@to-engineers.com) or email coordinator@futurecityidaho.org for more information and for the list of teams looking for engineer mentors. Or if there is a school closer to you that you would like to work with, we can also help you with recruitment to register new schools. Also visit www.futurecityidaho.org and www.futurecity.org .
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