Site HelpNeed help? We can do that. If you have questions about this site, we have the answers you need right here in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below. To learn more about all of the FIRST programs and find ways to get involved offline, visit the Get Involved section on the FIRST site. Can’t find what you are looking for here? Go ahead and Contact Us, we’re here to help! For a contact in your local area, visit Regional Contacts. Select Your Category  BlogsWhat is a blog?
A blog is just another word for a web log. Blogs are just webpages that are updated with entries that are posted in reverse chronological order. The great thing about blogs is that you can subscribe to the content in the entries and/or comments using the RSS feed. We are going to be using a few blogs throughout the site to update you regularly with new developments as they happen. What is RSS?
Really Simple Syndication, RSS, is a web feed format used to publish frequently updated content. RSS makes it easy to be notified when there is new content on a webpage, because RSS content can be read using either a web-based or desktop feed reader. We have set up RSS feeds for each of the blogs on this site. If you would like subscribe to the feed, you can do so using any feed reader. How do I subscribe to an RSS feed?
To subscribe to and read an RSS feed, you will need a feed reader. Google Reader and Netvibes are two commonly used feed readers. Once you have set up an account, you can click on the RSS icon in the area of our web site to which you want to subscribe. Most feed readers will walk you through the feed set-up process. Can I get an email digest?
Yes. Each blog throughout the site lets you receive an email digest of recent updates to that particular blog. Navigate to your blog of choice, input your email address in the appropriate area, and follow the instructions that prompt you through the rest of the process. How can I keep track of comments?
There is a unique RSS feed to track comments to each blog post. You can either add each unique feed to your reader, or enter your email address to be notified of new comments to a specific blog post. What is the Community Blog?
The Community Blog is your resource for all things web related when it comes to both Jr.FLL and FLL. You will find a wealth of information about new site developments, frequently asked questions about both programs, secrets from inside the FIRST organization, and any and all communication that you need to know. What is the Global Judge Advisor Blog?
The Global Judge Advisor’s Blog is the place for conversations about FLL judging. Discussion topics include awards, rubrics, procedures, training and tools. Teams, coaches, volunteers and partners can use this blog to find information, ask questions, and have meaningful conversations around FLL judging. What is the Game Question & Answer (Q&A) Blog?
The Game Q&A Blog is the official FLL question and answer area resource for your Game-specific inquiries. Look here first for the clarifications, updates, and rulings you will need to be prepared at tournaments. Make sure to use the Categories, Tags, and/or Search features to help narrow your search. Can I have my own blog?
Right now the Social Site (www.firstlegoleague.org) does not support member blogs. We are exploring this as potential feature to add to the site in the future. If you want a blog, make sure to leave a comment on our Community Blog so we know there is interest.   In addition to these FAQ regarding general forum guidelines, take advantage of the FAQ direct within the FIRST Forums. It offers specific pointers on utilizing the forums to their full extent. How do I use the forum?
The forum is a place to collaborate and learn from the knowledge that our program participants have discovered over the years. Whether you are a rookie or a veteran, the forum is the community’s resource for sharing and learning. Use the categories and sub-categories to find your area of interest or expertise, and take advantage of the tags to filter out the most relevant posts. When posting, make sure to tag your post with the keywords related to the subject matter. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of the search options to find relevant forum posts that may answer or address some of your program questions. Where do I find the "forum access code"?
You no longer need an access code to enter the forums. You can simply go to the forums to view the discussions or login to post. If you are logged in and come across a forum that you cannot enter or that you cannot post to, don't worry. Some forums are restricted for certain groups and they have special permissions to access those areas.
What if I find inappropriate content? How do I report it?
There are a number of systems set in place so that inappropriate content does not make it into our forums. However, we all know that no electronic system can be perfect. If you come across content that you feel is inappropriate in any way, you are able to flag it. Flagging the content alerts our moderators to it, allowing them to then take the appropriate action. To flag content, click on the "Inappropriate Content" icon within the post. This icon is a white triangle, outlined in red, with an exclamation point '!' in it, and can be found at the top right corner of each post.
How do I post a question?
Posting a new question or topic is easy. Within the forums go to the category (ex. FLL Challenge) and sub-forum (ex. Game Strategy) that your question relates to and click "New Thread." Give your post a title; write your question, answer, or comment; add tags appropriately; and click submit. If you like, you can preview your post before clicking to submit to see what it will look like once posted. If you preview, be sure to click submit once done previewing.
How do I post a response?
Posting a reply is just as easy as posting a question. Locate the 'Post Reply' button immediately below the original question, and follow the prompts to post your response. You can click on the 'Post Reply' button and add a new post to the end of the thread. Alternatively, you can leave a quick reply in a quick editor box listed below the posts in the thread. When using 'Quick Reply' you can choose to quote a particular post if you are replying to something someone wrote. You may need to click the quick reply button in a post to activate the quick reply box before you can type into it. If you want to quote multiple posts from within a thread in your reply, select them by clicking the multi-quote button. This button will change to indicate that you've selected it. Clicking post reply will then bring you to the full editor with all the posts quoted. What are tags?
Tags are like keywords, and when you use them correctly, you will help ensure that your posts can be found. You can use tags to highlight the really important themes of your question. The most popular and widely used tags will appear in the forum tag cloud. The bigger the tag, the more times that tag has been used to classify a forum post. You can also use tags to filter your forum search results. Selecting "Tag search" from the 'Search' menu in the top navigation bar within the forum allows you to enter specific tag words for which to search. Choosing "Advanced Search" from the menu brings you to a search page with a tag cloud at the bottom. By selecting a particular tag from the tag cloud, your results will be filtered to include only the forum posts and replies with those tags. How do I use tags?
You can use tags to highlight the really important themes of your question. If your question is related to organizing a Jr.FLL local event, you will want to use the tags “Jr.FLL,†“local event,†and “help.†Where appropriate, make sure to tag your posts with either Jr.FLL or FLL, and use both tags if the question relates to both programs.
Why can’t I post a question?
Make sure that you are logged into the forums. At this time, only registered forum members can create new posts. If you are logged in and still can’t post, try logging out and logging back in. If that still doesn’t work, let us know about your problem. Why can’t I post a reply?
Make sure that you are logged into the site. Only registered site members can respond to forum posts. If you are logged in and still can’t post, try logging out and logging back in, and if that still doesn’t work, let us know about your problem. Can I post a question to multiple categories?
While technically you can, we strongly recommend that you do not. Each category and sub-forum is a separate topic from the other, and the threads or posts within each cannot "talk" to each other. That means, if you were to post the same question in multiple places, you would need to check each location for replies. Instead, we recommend that you determine which category your question fits into best and post it there. I can’t find the right forum category, what now?
The categories that we created are meant to guide your discussions in the forums. We have chosen to create very high level categories in the hopes that we will be able to foster more discussions. We recommend that you use the search feature and search for keywords or tags related to your question. This search should result in a list of posts related to your question and will give you an indication of what forum is the "right" forum to use. Don't forget that if you don't know which category or sub-forum topic to use, you can place your post in the "Miscellaneous" folder.
I should have access to one of the private forums, but I don’t. Why?
Site members may have access to any one of a handful of private forums depending on their particular role. For example, all Team Site administrators will have access to a Team Site Admin forum category that is private to just those admins. FIRST has created these forums to allow our members with unique or more involved roles, in relation to the programs or the web site, to have a private place to share their experiences and exchange ideas. When you are logged into the forums, you will be able to view and post to all the forum categories for which you have access. If, however, you aren’t logged into the forums, you will have limited access. How are the Jr.FLL and FLL forums different from the FIRST forums?
The Jr.FLL and FLL forums are areas within the FIRST forums. In other words, the FIRST forums are a superset of the Jr.FLL and FLL forums. Read and write access to other FIRST forums outside of the FLL forums are according to FIRST forum accounts. Â What is a team?
Both the Jr.FLL and FLL programs are structured around teams that participate in the annual Challenge. Teams are composed of kids, ranging in ages depending on the program; a coach, an assistant coach, team mentors, and any additional adult volunteers. Organizations, schools, home schools, churches, civic organizations, non-profits, and local neighborhoods can form teams. How can I find teams in my area?
You can search for teams in the Teams section of this web site. Narrow your search using the available search criteria. Your search will return teams who have setup their Team Site. How can I join a team?
Most teams come together offline and have already reached team size capacity by the time they create their Team Site. If you are looking for teams accepting new members, make sure to select that option when conducting your team search so it will filter accordingly. If there are teams that meet your criteria, you will have the opportunity to message the Team Site Administrator who is most likely the coach, to find out more information about joining a particular team. Who manages FLL in my area and how can I locate the main FLL contact person in my area?
The FLL and Jr.FLL programs are run a little differently. FLL requires a lot of administrative support to manage the Championship and Regional events across the globe. FIRST relies on our FLL Operational Partners to manage the FLL program in their region. To find the appropriate contact for your region, please reference the Regional Contacts section of the FIRST web site. What can my team do during the off-season?
We have created this site for everyone to use year round. We encourage the community to share ideas and program experiences in the Team Activities and Team Resources forums so others can view and try during the off-season.
The Team Sites are seasonal, and your team will need to create one each year, but you can use your Team Site until Spring 2009. You can also use the Forums, read the blogs, and search all year long. What is a Team Site?
A Team Site is like an online group for your Jr.FLL or FLL team to use to personalize the Challenge experience. When you think of a Team Site, think - a master activities scheduler, a home for all those pictures, and a communication tool to chat privately with team members. Jr.FLL Team Sites are unique from FLL Team Sites. In addition to the standard Team Site features, Jr.FLL Team Sites include all of the Jr.FLL Model and Project information for the Challenge, which is private to program participants. Who can view Team Sites?
Team Sites are private to the members of the team. The only people who can view a Team Site are the people that the Team Site Administrator has either invited to join or approved a request to join. However, each team may opt to display a public version of the site with info about the team, including a team image, team name, team number, location, coaches, and description. What is a Team Site Administrator?
A Team Site Administrator is the individual who created the Team Site and who will be responsible for managing the members of the Team Site. FIRST recommends that the Team Site Administrator be the coach of the team. Who can start a Team Site?
Anyone can start a Team Site, but FIRST recommends that coaches start the Team Site. For Jr.FLL Team Sites, a Team Access Pass is required to start a Team Site. How can I start a Team Site?
For FLL make sure your team is registered, and then head to the Start an FLL Team Site section of the web site to get started. You will want to have your team number, team name, and team member names and email addresses handy. For Jr.FLL, starting a Team Site is part of the team registration process and occurs once the Team Access Pass is purchased. I’ve started a Team Site, now what?
If you have started a Team Site, you are now the Administrator of that Team Site which means you will need to adjust the Team Site settings to accommodate your team’s preferences. You will also be responsible for managing the site members who have access to your Team Site, and their privileges within the Team Site. You can invite your team members to join regardless of whether or not they are members of the site. You can also approve or deny requests by members of the site to join your Team Site. How many Team Sites can I start/manage?
FIRST recommends that the team coach start and administer one Team Site per team. How do I change or add new Team Site Administrators?
As an existing Team Site Administrator you can edit and manage the privileges of the site members that have access to the Team Site. If you would like to transfer or add administrative privileges to someone other than yourself, you can do so in the Team Site settings area of the Team Site. I can’t find my Team Site, now what?
You can search for your Team Site by team name, administrator name, or location. If you can’t find your team’s Team Site, check with your team coach to make sure that he/she has setup the Team Site for your team. How do I join a Team Site?
If you are a member of an existing team that has created a Team Site, you can search for a Team Site by team name, administrator name, or location. Once you find your Team Site, all you need to do is click on the Join this Team button. The administrator of the Team Site, most likely your coach, will be notified of your request and he/she will have the opportunity to either approve or deny the request. I requested to join a Team Site, now what?
Your request will be sent to the administrator of the Team Site, most likely your coach. If your request is approved, you will be notified via email with instructions for how to access your Team Site. If you don’t receive an email, either your request was denied or the administrator has not yet approved your request. You can try contacting the coach of the team directly (offline) to make sure they are aware of your request. You should only request to join a Team Site if you are a member of that team, and the coach or administrator is aware of your participation on the team. I’ve joined a Team Site, now what?
Now that you have joined a Team Site, you will have access to the team messages, photos, and files. You can also post messages to the team, upload your photos, add your links, and add your files. How do I send a message to members of my Team Site?
Each Team Site has a message center. To create a new message visit the Team Messages page of your Team Site and click on New Message. You will be prompted to enter your message, and either send to the team or a specific team member. You can also select to receive an email notification when your message receives a response. How do I upload a file or photo to my Team Site?
Each Team Site has a Files & Photos page. To upload a file or photo, visit this page of your Team Site and click on Add Photo or File. You will be prompted to upload your file or photo and add or include descriptive details including name, description, and tags. What file types can I upload to my Team Site Files & Photos page?
The site supports the following files types:
.PDF, .DOC, .XLS, .JPG, .GIF, .MP4, .MPG, .MOV, .NXT, .RXE, .RBT, .PNG, .ICO How do I leave my Team Site?
To leave your Team Site, go to the Team Settings page of the Team Site and scroll down to the bottom and select Leave this Team. Please note that if you choose to leave a Team Site you will no longer have access to any of the Team Site pages. Â How can I find events in my area?
In the Events section of the web site, you can search for events by program type, event type, and location. Narrow your search criteria using the available fields to find the event you are looking for. Can I add an event to my Team Site?
If you are an administrator of a Team Site, you can choose to add an event to your Team Site. If you add the event, the event will now show up in your Team Site in the Schedule section. Please note that you should only add events that you have registered for and that each event has different requirements for registration. Adding an event to your Team Site does not mean that your team can participate at the event. How do I create event?
To create an event, visit the Events page of the web site and select Add an Event from the left hand navigation. Certain types of events can only be created by special types of site members. Please consult the Event Descriptions for complete information about the different event types. How do I communicate with other event organizers?
You can connect with other event organizers in the Events section of the Forum. There you can search through topics, post a new topic, or respond to any of the existing topics. Â What types of information can I search for?
You can use the search bar at the top of every page to search for site content, people, teams, or events. To search just type directly in the search box and hit submit. Once you submit your search, your results will be displayed on a search results page. You can also search specifically for teams by navigating to the Teams tab. You can do the same for events by navigating to the Events tab. I can’t find the person I’m looking for, now what?
Try searching by the username, first name, and/or last name of the person you are searching for. If you still can’t want the person, they might not be registered as a site member. I’m on a team, but I can’t find my Team Space, now what?
If you are already a member of team, and you are looking for your Team Space, you can search by program type, team name, and/or location. Your team will only appear in the search results if an individual from your team has created a Team Space. If you can’t find the Team Space try searching again or contacting your coach directly. I can’t find any teams in my area accepting new members, now what?
If you can’t find a team accepting new members, and you are interested in joining a team, why not start your own? Start a Jr.FLL or FLL Team
I can’t find an event, now what?
If you are searching for a specific event, try your search again with new criteria or try again at a later date. The event organizer may not have created the event on the site yet. If you are searching for an event to attend and you can find one in your area, you might consider creating and hosting your own local events. Â How do I create an account?
If you don’t already have an account, you can create one by clicking on Join Now. You will be guided through a brief account creation process and you will be asked to create a site username. You will also be asked to verify your email address. Once you verify your email address, you can log into the site and access your account with the username and password, created during the join process. Why do I need an account for the site?
If all you want to do is look around the site, you aren’t required to join or create an account. We do, however, encourage you to join so you can access more of the resources available online. Once you create an account, you will be able to create new posts and reply to existing posts in the Forum, create local events, and so much more. I already have a FIRST account, can I use that?
Possibly. If you already have an on-line account on the Volunteer Information & Matching System(VIMS), the FRC or FTC Team Information Management System (TIMS) or the FLL Team Registration and Event Management System (TREMS), you can use your existing login credentials to log in and register for access to the Social Network. Make sure to use the same email address that you already use to log into one of those systems. You will be prompted to create a username for the site. On future visits to the site, you will use your username and password to log into the site. If you already have an on-line account on the FIRST Forums or any other FIRST system, you will need to create a new account. I didn’t receive my verification email, now what?
If you didn’t receive your verification email you should first check your email account’s spam folder. You can also select to have the verification email resent to your email address. Make sure to enter your email address properly. What is an avatar?
An avatar is just a digital image that represents you. Your site avatar will be associated with your user profile, so anytime you comment on a blog post, post a reply in the Forums, or participate in a Team Site your avatar will be used to represent you. You might want to use a photo of yourself so that other site members can recognize you, or you might decide to use an image of something you love. The choice is all yours, just make sure that you aren’t using any copyrighted images. Why are you asking for my address?
FIRST will never sell or misuse any of the personal information you provide. You can choose to the leave the home and professional address fields blank if you desire. Can I edit my account information?
Yes. You can edit most of your account information in the My Account section of the web site. If you are logged into the site, you will be able to view the My Account link in the top right hand section of every page. In the ‘My Account’ section you can manage your professional information, personal information, and site settings. You can also edit your username, password, and email address, as well as change your avatar. If your child has an account, you can also manage your child’s account in My Account. How can I keep my account information private?
You can choose to keep most of your account information private. Go the My Account section of the web site and select the check boxes next to the information that you would like to keep private. Once you select to make your information private, it will no longer be visible on your user profile or appear in search results. How can I manage my child’s account?
If your child has an account, you can manage your child’s account settings, including the site activities they can participate in, from the My Account section of the web site. If you are logged into the site, you will be able to view the My Account link in the top right hand section of every page. If your child is a registered member of the site, you will see her/his account in the left hand sidebar of the My Account page. For example, in the Child Account section you can choose to keep your child’s information private, select if he/she can access the Forum, select if private messaging is allowed, and select if he/she can receive external emails. This privacy protection includes hiding a child's actual email address by allowing children to only mail one-another using their online usernames. You can also edit your child’s username, password, email address, and avatar. Can I add other site members to a friends list?
Right now the site doesn’t have a contact or friend list feature. We are looking to add this feature to the site in the future. You can, however, connect and collaborate with your team members in the Team Site. Can people see my profile?
Yes. Every site member has a public user profile page that includes your avatar, username, location, and Team Site information. You can adjust your privacy settings in the My Account section of the site. Â Is it safe to allow my child to be a site member?
We know that the internet can be a scary place for a child, so we have taken extra steps to try and protect our site members from any online predators. We want you to know that your child’s safety is a priority. As a parent, you will have complete control over your child’s account. Your child won’t be able to create an account without your approval, and once he/she creates an account, you will have the opportunity to manage what types of activities he/she can complete on the site. We have structured the Team Sites to replicate the offline model of a team. Your child should only join a Team Site if he or she is actually a member of that team, and you have met with the coach of that team. If your child is a member of a Team Site, you will automatically be granted access to that Team Site as well. We recommend that you stay involved with the team activities, but Team Sites are private spaces and the administrator of the Team Site has complete control over who accesses this area. We also have individuals internal and external to FIRST who will be dedicated to moderating and reviewing site content that is publicly available. Our moderators will be actively involved in the Forums, and paying close attention to what our site members are saying or doing there. How can I protect my child online?
As a parent, there are a number of simple things you can do help keep your child safe. Here are some tips we recommend: - Keep your child’s account information private, and never share her/his email address or password with anyone.
- Your child’s username should not be his/her full name or reveal information about age, location, or school.
- Make sure that you don’t should share personal information about your child or another child via email or on the site.
- Monitor your child’s activity in the Forum, and show him/her the best ways for responding to posts. Make sure they understand that they should not be sharing information about their age, location, or school with other site users.
- Share photos online with safety in mind first. Share your photos in the private Team Sites, but remember not to post photo of a child that is not your own to any public online spaces.
- Educate your child and let her/him know that they can talk to you if they have any questions.
|