Welcome to the 2020-2021 Season!

On behalf of the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation,

Welcome to the 2020-2021 VEX Robotics Competition Change Up season, presented by Northrop Grumman Foundation. The REC Foundation’s mission is to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by engaging students in hands-on, affordable, and sustainable robotics engineering programs. Our Competition experience includes hundreds of thousands of students from across the globe united in their passion for STEM. It’s our goal to use competitive robotics to see students increase technical abilities while learning contemporary 21st century workforce skills.

The REC Foundation provides information and resources to ensure that competitions run smoothly and that everyone has a rewarding experience. We encourage you to explore resources here in the Digital Welcome Kit including VRC Change Up game summary information, V5 STEM Labs (with free curriculum), V5 Educator Certifications, free software downloads, and much more.

We wish you an enjoyable and challenging robotics season and look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

Dan Mantz
Dan Mantz
CEO
Robotics Education & Competition Foundation

VEX Robotics World Championship Presenting Sponsor

The REC Foundation is proud to have the Northrop Grumman Foundation as a presenting sponsor of the 2020-2021 VEX Robotics Competition and the 2021 VEX Robotics World Championships.
Northrop Grumman Foundation Logo

VEX Robotics Competition

The VEX Robotics Competition, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, is the largest and fastest growing middle school and high school robotics program globally with more than 20,000 teams from 50 countries playing in over 1,700 competitions worldwide. Each year, an exciting engineering challenge is presented in the form of a game. Students, with guidance from their teachers and mentors, build innovative robots and compete year-round.

In addition to learning valuable engineering skills, students gain life skills such as teamwork, perseverance, communication, collaboration, project management, and critical thinking. The VEX Robotics Competition prepares students to become future innovators with 95% of participants reporting an increased interest in STEM subject areas and pursuing STEM-related careers.

Current Challenge: Change Up

VEX Robotics Competition Change Up is played on a 12’x12’ square field configured as seen above. Two (2) Alliances – one (1) “red” and one (1) “blue” – composed of two (2) Teams each, compete in matches consisting of a fifteen (15) second Autonomous Period, followed by a one minute and forty-five second (1:45) Driver Controlled Period. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing Alliance by placing Balls in Goals, and Connecting Rows.

Team Resources

New to Robotics?

By its nature, the study of competitive robotics not only encompasses all four pillars of STEM education, but also encourages important life skills like teamwork, communication, and project-based organization. The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation exists to bring this exciting experience to students all over the globe through the VEX IQ Challenge, VEX Robotics Competition, and VEX U.

New to Robotics?

Online Challenges

The REC Foundation's Online Challenges program provides a unique opportunity for students from around the world to participate in VEX Robotics Competition, VEX U, and VEX IQ Challenge-based engineering competitions. Students can show off their work, win prizes, and even win a chance to compete at VEX Worlds. The REC Foundation organizes Online Challenges in subjects such as web design, CAD design, photography and video production.

Educational Resources

VEXcode

From elementary school through college, VEXcode is a coding environment that meets students at their level. The intuitive layout of VEXcode allows students to get started quickly and easily. VEXcode is consistent across Blocks and Text, across VEX IQ and VEX V5. As students progress from elementary, middle, and high school, they never have to learn a different blocks, code, or toolbar interface. As a result, students can focus on creating with technology, not trying to navigate a new layout.

Classroom Competition Activities | 2020-2021

Many schools are struggling to implement a robotics program this season and may not have the opportunity to attend an event either remotely or in-person. We've developed a series of self-paced Classroom Competition Activities utilizing VEX Education resources like VEXcode VR and STEM Labs to keep students engaged in robotics and address the workload of mentors/team coaches as they adjust to modified classroom dynamics. These activities fulfill participation requirements for certain grants, and provide teams with a sustainable and accessible way to engage in the 2021-21 competition season.
Classroom Competition Activities

STEM Labs

VEX Robotics created STEM Labs as a supplemental educational resource. The purpose was to support educators with free, easy to follow STEM lesson plans that align with educational standards. Each STEM Lab contains hands-on lessons with guided explorations that encourage teamwork and collaboration.

Educator Certifications

VEX now offers free, online training that helps educators at all different ability levels. Experience fun and engaging lessons while supporting students as they become proficient with the VEX Robotics system. By the end of the VEX Certified Educator program, you will be fully prepared to implement VEX Robotics and become a leader in technology and innovation within your school and community.
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