VEXcode VR Virtual Skills Challenge - Middle School
The VEXcode Virtual Skills Online Challenge offers teams an accessible way to compete without needing a physical robot, making it ideal for those with limited resources or remote locations. It helps teams develop programming and problem-solving skills in a virtual environment, simulating real competition experiences.
The goal of the Virtual Skills Online Challenge is to promote programming and problem-solving skills, encourage strategic thinking, and foster collaboration between students, VEX Education, and the REC Foundation. It provides an accessible entry point for all age groups, emphasizing teamwork, communication, and technical excellence through code submission and remote interviews. By rewarding innovation and excellence, the challenge inspires students to engage in STEM and pursue future robotics competitions, while reinforcing the importance of digital literacy and documentation.
Visit this link for a printable summary of this challenge.
Elementary School | Middle School | High School | College / University | No Grade Level Restrictions |
VEX V5 Robotics Competition | VEX IQ Robotics Competition |
Prizes
One (1) Winner: VEXcode VR Premium License; if the winning entry is from a VEX V5 Robotics or VEX IQ Robotics Competition team that has competed in their program with a physical robot during their competition season, they will also receive an automatic qualification to the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship
Four (4) Finalists: VEXcode VR Premium License
Finalists and winners will be selected at each of the following grade levels, for a total of three (3) prize packages:
-
Elementary School
-
Middle School
-
High School
Eligibility
This page is for Middle School entries only - if you are any other program or grade level, please refer to the Online Challenge listings to find the correct page for your program and grade level.
-
Only one entry per team is permitted. However, each team in a multi-team school or club program may submit one entry. For example, teams 123A and 123B could each submit an entry, but team 123A could not submit two entries. Entries must vary in content and presentation to be considered separate entries.
-
Entries submitted in previous years’ Online Challenges are not eligible for submission this year.
By uploading a submission to an REC Foundation Online Challenge, you agree to follow the Submission Guidelines and certify that you understand the Intellectual Property Rights held by you and the REC Foundation regarding your submission. Please review the Submission Guidelines and Intellectual Property Rights information at this link before uploading your submission.
Requirements
To be eligible for this challenge, teams must meet the following requirements:
-
Leaderboard Submission:
Teams must submit a PDF version of their code along with their score. -
Score Validation:
VEX Robotics will review and verify the accuracy of each team's submission for Elementary School (ES), Middle School (MS), and High School (HS) divisions. -
Team Selection for Interviews:
Based on leaderboard rankings, VEX Robotics will select 10-15 teams from each program level (ES, MS, HS) to participate in remote interviews. -
Remote Interviews:
Selected teams will engage in remote interviews. Teams should be prepared to discuss their strategy, programming approach, and teamwork. -
Final Selection:
Winners will be determined by a combination of their leaderboard performance and the quality of their interview.
The following outlines the minimum requirements and upload instructions for each Online Challenge. Please note that only the primary contact for your team is authorized to upload your submission.
A PDF submission must meet these minimum requirements in order to be judged.
-
Entry is created and produced solely by student team members.
-
Format: One PDF file (up to 20MB) that includes all content, including images. A submission created in any other format must be converted or printed to a PDF file for upload. Submissions in other formats will not be reviewed.
-
Title Page: Each entry must include a title page that includes:
-
Title of submission
-
Names of students who participated (using first names only is acceptable)
-
Team number
-
Location of school/organization
-
Intellectual Property Rights
Your submissions help the REC Foundation further our mission. You will retain all rights to any material you submit, including ownership if applicable. The REC Foundation will endeavor to credit all submissions with the appropriate team number when used in part or in whole.
By submitting entry for an REC Foundation Online Challenge, you grant the REC Foundation and its related entities such as existing and/or potential sponsors and partners a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive right in perpetuity to use any part of the submission for any purpose, including but not limited to:
-
Display of all or part of the submission on REC Foundation websites.
-
Allowing third parties, including but not limited to REC Foundation partners, sponsors, and individuals, to share all or part of the submission on social media.
-
Use of all or part of the submission on the Internet and in social media in support of the REC Foundation mission.
-
Use of all or part of the submission in the REC Foundation’s and related entities’ internal and external communications and marketing materials including but not limited to web sites and web publications, fact sheets, fundraising publications, advertising, multimedia, displays, presentation and membership services, annual report, and newsletters.
-
Providing all or part of the submission to other individuals and organizations for REC Foundation- and related entities’-related use in news stories, social media, newsletters, reports, slide shows, displays, web pages, videos, and the like.
Upload Instructions
Note: Beginning with the 2023-24 season, challenge entries must be uploaded by the primary contact for a registered team. This individual should ensure that the submission meets all requirements and criteria before uploading.
-
Click the green Submit an Entry button on the right side of the screen.
-
Fill out the submission form and add an optional description of the entry to the Short Description field.
-
Ensure you are entering the correct team number and letter, with no spaces.
-
Click Save.
-
Click the blue Files /Images button in the upper right of the screen.
-
Drag/drop your PDF file into the Upload a File box, then refresh if needed to view file details below the Upload a File box.
-
Edit the Display Name and file information to include your entry title and your team number; for example, "MathWorks Challenge entry, team 007x."
-
Click on Save to record your edits.
Judging Information
To determine the final winners, we will evaluate both the leaderboard performance and the quality of the remote interview. Teams will be selected for interviews based on their leaderboard ranking, and their overall performance will be a combination of their score submission and their ability to explain their strategy, programming, and teamwork during the interview.
Deadline Information
Current time:
Fri, Dec 6, 2024 7:54 AM CST
Opens:
Wed, Nov 6, 2024 12:00 AM CST
Closes:
Wed, Jan 29, 2025 4:00 PM CST