WELCOME
New York Invention Convention – �where innovators, inventors and
entrepreneurs get their start
NewYorkInvents.org
Terra Science and Education
Since 2011
501(c)3 Non-Profit
Friend of SANY Charter Schools
Presenters
Mission
Terra Science and Education is dedicated to developing �innovative young minds through project-based learning.
International/National
State/Regional/Local
Programs
Goals for Today
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Experience inventing �and its iterative nature
Increase confidence in mentoring young inventors
Build the skills of invention with�hands-on activities
Prepare educators �to assist their inventors to present at escalating ICW events
Goals for Tomorrow
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Remember�what we did �in our workshop
Imagine your students doing �the same things in class, clubs or at home
ID a few invention resources to keep �“in your back pocket” for fill-able moments with students
Talk with others about encouraging and celebrating kids’ “invention think”
Who will enter the Shark Tank?
Let’s stretch our minds …
The GREEN BAG adventure!
Welcome to the Invention Convention World!
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present to real world audiences at Invention Convention events and other opportunities!
Coach young inventors through invention skill building activities:
Problem identification
Engineering Design Process
Communication
Invention Convention
Students will solve a problem of their choosing through a physical solution:
Build a prototype
Research their problem and solution
Fail and rise above challenges
Your inventors will:
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explore ideas based on their own life experiences;
potentially develop real inventions �and innovations;
What is an Invention?
What makes something an invention?
New concept or improvement on something that already exists!
Useful, �unique
Device or process that originates after study and experimentation
Characteristics of Inventions
invention
improvement
Our Young Inventors
Create It All!
There is always a problem to solve!
Athletes solve problems in their sport.
Musicians solve problems with their equipment or instruments.
Readers find problems in the books they are reading.
Or they go big and solve global problems!
Most importantly, this builds the confidence our children need!
Why is this �way of learning important?
Starting Problem Identification
Everyday Objects
This is what �Problem Identification looks like!
Make it Worse
Solution Time
Grab a problem and invent a product that � makes that problem WORSE.�(Yes, go for bigger, sillier, more ridiculous!)
Sketch Time
> Draw a sketch of your new product.
> Name it!
> Think about how you will describe it to others.
GE Inventor Girl – This is what it is all about
The Essential Elements �of Invention Convention
Building
Testing
Identifying
Understanding
Designing
Ideating
Communicating
Our Invention
Process
Capturing the invention process:
Inventors record their invention journey in a logbook!
There are questions to answer, but also free thinking and writing is encouraged.
Inventors WRITE
Inventors DRAW
The Invention Log
Covers many educational standards: reflections, data, research, scientific concepts, and critical thinking
Guides inventors through the invention process, so introduce early
Creates checklist of actions: Keeps track of the invention process
Facilitates feedback: Showing others their logbooks periodically triggers feedback on their designs and thoughts
Why an Invention Log?
Building
Testing
Identifying
Understanding
Designing
Ideating
Let’s go
through �the process
together
Communicating
Identifying Problems
Inventors are identifying problems
and solutions … they are brainstorming
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Talking to their parents and other adults
Reading news stories
Talking to peers & hosting brainstorming discussions
Documenting everything – in their log or on their problem lists!
Brainstorm Example:
Think about the problems you have with things you use everyday
Think about your day – what things do you use everyday?
Examples:
To eat To get to school
To sleep To brush your hair
What problems do you have?
What problems do others have? Think of the elderly or little siblings.
Why do those problems exist?
Problems at locations?
Examples:
Movie theater School
Mall Restaurant
Everyday
Objects
Flexible timing
We CAN offer invention ideas to struggling inventors
Building
Testing
Identifying
Designing
Ideating
Let’s go
through the
process
together
Communicating
Understanding
Continue to brainstorm
problems and solutions
Ideating
The process of
generating, � developing and
communicating
new ideas
SCAMPER is:
What else could �an item become?????
Your Mission:
SCAMPER the Water Bottle
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Brainstorm some ideas �for each of the letters.
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Record your ideas.
Come up with a new idea �for the water bottle
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Draw your favorite idea.
Action Needed
Substitute Could you use different materials to make it?
Combine What could you add to this object? �What happens if you use more than one of the item?
Adapt Can you change a small part of the item? Think of another �unrelated product. How could you make your item similar to it?
Magnify, Minimize Make it bigger, higher, longer, or stronger OR make it smaller.
Put to another use Can you use this item as it is for anything else?
Eliminate What happens if you take parts or pieces away?
Rearrange/Reverse Move parts around or change their order. �Switch the direction of the item or the parts.
Building
Testing
Identifying
Designing
Ideating
Let’s go
through the
process
together
Communicating
Understanding
Understanding
Inventors want to understand
problems and solutions.
Inventors should:
Could a survey help?
How do we know if this mesh laundry bag is unique or “one of a kind”?
Search Key Words:
How would you describe this bag?!?
Online search engines / shopping sites
Research Example
Extra adult help needed? That’s okay ☺
Start with a search engine: Google, Bing, Yahoo
Search shopping sites: Amazon, Target
Use patent websites: Google Patent
Research Example
The Solution Already Exists!
And what happens if you find out something already DOES exist?
Building
Testing
Identifying
Understanding
Designing
Ideating
Communicating
Let’s go
through the
process
together
Designing
Students begin to model
what their solution will look like.
This takes time – do NOT go right to assembly!
Inventors should draw out their designs, label all parts and functions, think about materials.
Inventors should share their models with others to get feedback and advice.
Multiple models will be necessary during the iteration process.
Inventors should DRAW
Inventors can collect items at home for building!
Brainstorm together about materials around the home that can be used.
Testing: Inventors �could have people �use their invention.
Iterations are critical.
Building & Testing
Building the Prototype
Building
Testing
Identifying
Designing
Ideating
Our Invention
Process
Communicating
Understanding
Display Board
Telling the story of their invention … in their own personality
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Collaborating with others
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Invention Log
Communication
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Display Board
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Writing the presentation
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Presenting the invention
Nitty gritty time
This is all fine and dandy … but where does �“invention think” fit �in the reality of the �school day, week and year?
How does Invention Convention�look in my school?
In class?
How many days a week?
How many hours?
Each lesson plan provides timing guides.
Home?
Have the students work on their inventions at home – offer incentives and check-ins.
After school?
Students work on their inventions after school.
Plan for 6-8 wks minimum
Look over the curriculum and decide what lessons you want to use
School Implementation
Inventors have many other opportunities to present: awareness events, TV appearances
People You Can Involve
Community involvement
Parent involvement
Other teachers
Our pal SCAMPER
Let’s do some …
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about bringing �invention think �back to school.
Substitute
Combine
Adapt
Modify
Put it to another use
Eliminate
Rearrange
You have resources to help you!
inHub
https://inhub.TheHenryFord.org�
Invention Convention NY
https://NewYorkInvents.org
What questions do you have for us?
Dr. Damkaci / Mary Eileen Wood: info@newyorkinvents.org
NewYorkInvents.org
The following slides�were produced by ICW�but not presented in �our current time frame.
Feel free to dive!
Terra would be pleased to return�in order to offer an expanded workshop.
How could one plan a local program?
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Week 1 | Kickoff: Kid inventor videos, Catalog Combo activity |
Week 2 | Identifying Problems: Look at familiar objects to brainstorm problems - class brainstorm - research problems |
Week 3 | Research: Research problem and solution |
Week 4 | Research: Continue online research, decide experts |
Week 5 | Designing: Draw solution – feedback - iteration |
Week 6-7 | Building & Testing: Build prototype – test prototype - iteration
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Week 8 | Communicating: Write presentations – work on items for event – practice presentations |
Week 9 | Classroom presentations … and perhaps even a School Event! |
Your Timeline
October – March | Invention activities with students: Brainstorm, design, build, test, evaluate, repeat. Prepare display board and presentations. Register with ICNY for approval to advance students to the statewide finals. (May opt to have students compete in the virtual preliminaries.) |
February | Report inventor numbers |
March | Select students for advancement to ICNY next month. Help them to register and to submit their required files. |
April | Invention Convention New York Finals in Albany |
May | IC National Finalists participate in training session with Terra Science and Education. |
June | Invention Convention Nationals at The Henry Ford |
Curricular �Resources
What’s there from the teacher POV?
How do I incorporate Invention Education
WHEN?
Homework
Before a break!
Right after a break!
During testing
Summer camp
Invention unit
Invention Fridays
After-school activity
Embedded in topics
Enrichment project
Invention Convention�is not just STEM
We need to show our students�the interconnectedness of learning.
Reading & Writing
Community
Intellectual Property
Communi-�cation
Entrepreneur- ship
Social �Studies
The Arts
Environmental Education
Intellectual Property
How will you protect your new product?
Invention Cost
Inventions should not cost more than $50!
Inventions should be “material neutral”
What’s Next?