At Home Inovation Programs

Parent Info Meeting

Our Agenda

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4

• Welcome and introductions
• Introducing the CT Invention Convention
• What is an Invention?
• The Invention Process and important dates

Goals for Our Time Together

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4

• Increase your knowledge and experience with inventing, the invention process, and its iterative nature.

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• Increase your confidence in mentoring young inventors. You can do this!

• Go through activities that build the skills of invention.

Young inventors

build a prototype (physical object) for their invention

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Inventors will go through a process that allows them to fail and rise above challenges

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Young inventors look into their own lives, the lives of their family and community

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Identify problems

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Solve those problems

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Young inventors take control over their learning!

In the end, young inventors have an invention that they present at events.

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Using your students’ interests and passions makes inventing a STEAM program for all!

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Explore ideas based on their own life experiences

one

56% Female

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34% Inventors of color

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These numbers are well above national STEM program averages

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Your students will:

An estimated 350,000 people have been through the CIC over the years…going into our 42nd year

Our inventors impressed almost 1,200 judges at virtual and imperson events.

K-12 – we have all ages of inventors!

Our inventors receive national and local media attention

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Everyone can Invent!

There is always a problem to solve! – thousands of inventions each year

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Athletes solve problems in their sport.

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Musicians solve problems with their equipment/instruments.

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Readers find problems in the books they are reading.

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Or they go big and solve global problems!

The Essential Elements of Invention Convention

Logbook

Prototype/

Model

Display Board/Poster

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Presentation

Questions?

How do we know something is an invention?

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What is an Invention?

Is the product you created an invention?

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

• Useful
• Did not exist before.
• Fills a need or solves a problem.
• Can be an item (like cell phones �or backpacks) or an idea �(a new method for tying a knot �or ordering at a restaurant).
• Often makes something better �(faster, stronger, cheaper, easier,�safer; more efficient, attractive, �useful, accurate, fun, or productive).
• Makes the world a better place — �most of the time.

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invention

improvement

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5

The solution

is researched

The solution �offers an improvement �to a product that already exists

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Research!

The solution �is either not like anything out there �OR

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The problem �is researched

How will I know �if my inventor has a new idea?

The inventor should be able to explain how their idea is

different/cheaper/etc. from similar products on the market.

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Identify Problems

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Ideate Solutions

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Understand your Idea

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Design + Test your Solution

Our Invention

Process

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Share your idea!

What your inventor will need to submit to the Virtual Invention Convnetion

Logbook

Prototype/

Model

Display Board/Poster

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Presentation

What is an Invention?

New concept or improvement on something hat already exists!

Useful, �unique

Device or process that originates after study and experimentation

What questions do you have?