Level Up Your Mentoring Game: Applying the Mentor Mindset to Robotics

Presenter: Laura Leonard (6184)

Key Takeaway: Learn how combining high standards with high support (the Mentor Mindset) builds student autonomy, motivation, and problem-solving skills in robotics.

Mentor Mindset to Robotics Mentoring 10- to 25-year-olds in FIRST is as much about human development as it is about engineering. Grounded in developmental psychologist David Yeager’s book 10 to 25, this interactive workshop explores how adolescent brains process status, respect, and authority. We’ll break down common adult leadership pitfalls and introduce the Mentor Mindset (High Standards + High Support),which complements the FIRST Mentor Training provided through the FIRST Dashboard. Through real life robotics scenarios, you’ll practice using the "Wise Feedback" model to guide students through challenges, build autonomy, and foster resilient team culture without taking over the keyboard or tools, or completely giving up.

About the Presenter:

Laura Leonard is with Team 6184 C4, is the Executive Director of TallyRobotics, Tallahassee RPC, FIRST Senior Mentor, and has 13 years of experience mentoring in FIRST.