By Marianne Solomon | Executive Director
Since development in 2011, ROCS has been utilized by approximately ten Affiliate Programs – but the system does not allow for successful collaborative virtual competition. Now, thanks to the generous donations of people who believe in Future Problem Solving, we have moved forward with the creation of Registration Online Component System (ROCS) 2.0 and the effort to create an online virtual system to successfully connect students around the world has begun! We have now entered the second out of nine milestones that will lead us to the day when all FPS Affiliate Programs can facilitate registrations and students can connect online through ROCS 2.0 to create their final product via virtual brainstorming and the six-step FPS process. While simpler programs currently exist, ROCS 2.0 will be customized for a multitude of FPS specific operations. Not only will student interactions increase, but authentic feedback from certified evaluators from around the globe will be easily provided.
This year at International Conference 2015 the first distance competition took place with an adult team from Australia. This team would not have been able to participate, although they had won the right to compete through the Australian FPS Program. Much planning was required as the adults lived in varying areas and had either jobs and/or education responsibilities. Once they came together in a monitored condition, they completed their booklet and then scanned the pages to send via email. When received, the work was next scanned into ROCS for evaluation and feedback. Why all the trouble and steps? Because ROCS has never performed properly and allowed for the type of service we need to keep our participants problem solving around the world! With ROCS 2.0 we will move past the old age of haphazard virtual competition and submission. ROCS 2.0 is now being designed thanks to your contributions so that participants around the world can communicate – learning from each other, forming friendships and relationships, and engaging in academically challenging challenges that provide the skills and knowledge needed in the 21st Century. The Australia team’s story can be viewed at this link.
Texas FPS has been using ROCS since its inception, and the Affiliate Director has reported that ROCS has been instrumental in day-to-day operations. With educational cuts in budget, ROCS has saved the expense of mailing out program materials and evaluations - but submission of the work from the teams and individuals has been spotty at best. The teams find it chancy to submit a booklet on line – the work may disappear in the middle of the competition or they may lose connection depending on how many participants are using the system at that particular time. The students’ work must be captured in a hard-copy of the booklet, scanned, and attached to an email for submission into ROCS. Students cannot participate from various sites and monitoring is a must. With ROCS 2.0, so much more will be possible!
In Minnesota FPS, evaluations occur via ROCS and evaluators can work from their homes, workplace, or college residence hall. In order for successful completion of evaluation and transmissions of the results, FPSPI has maintained a calendar of events to be handled via ROCS so that the current system will not be overloaded. This has been an overwhelming responsibility for the International Office staff and this will soon be eliminated because of your donations and support!
In order to finance this project we must continue to raise funds. If we utilize current program holdings which are provided mainly from our annual competition/conference and are needed to run an effective program for 40+ Affiliate Programs around the world, student global interaction will be compromised. GlobalGiving has an upcoming event on Wednesday, September 16 in which they will contribute 30% of total contributions received for our project. We are in high hopes that foundations and supporters will realize the value on virtual interaction for students of the 21st Century and remember FPS on that day. Thank you in advance for any support you can offer – either personally or through the connection with a foundation that appreciates and need the skills provided to students via FPS. We value your assistance in letting others know the skills students garner from FPS and that their help is needed.
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