Bring the Young Inventors’ Program® into Your Classroom
With a copy of the One of our Meant to Invent Teacher’s Guide, you'll have an important program component of a unit of invention. This curriculum-training tool includes practical strategies for encouraging discovery and creative problem-solving among students in the classroom and hands-on activities to use in the classroom. In addition, the handbook provides teachers with fascinating information about the history of invention and inventors and the important role invention and inventors have played in U.S. and world history.
But we don't simply put a guidebook in your hands and say "good luck!" One of the three base components of the Young Inventors' Program is TEACHER TRAINING. While you can certainly implement the program without experiening the teachers' training, the training provides hands-on experiences to assist you in implementing creative thinking and problem solving activities in your classrooms. Accompanied by the Meant to Invent!® Teacher's Guide, the concept of inventing with the process of creative thinking, critical thinking and creative problem solving, will help you provide experiences and activities designed to bring the student in touch with the learning process.
The teacher training component is important as it provides teachers with classroom-tested techniques to motivate and inspire students to think creatively.
Teacher training can also be done through mentoring—communication between a new teacher of invention and a more experienced teacher of invention.
free TRAINING WORKSHOPS
Teacher workshops are conducted during the summer months — at no cost — to promote the concept of incorporating a unit on invention and inventive thinking in the classroom through teacher workshops and in-service trainings. A unit on inventive thinking, which includes the production of an original invention, is a highly effective tool which can be used to spark creativity, ingenuity, and motivation in all students. The topic of invention can also be used as an interdisciplinary theme to tie curriculum areas together.
If you need training assistance, mentoring or help getting your school involved please call (603) 228-4530, E-mail: phampton@aas-world.org.
HOW IT WORKS
The following material is taken from Meant to Invent!® Teacher's Guide, written by a consortium of New Hampshire educators and creators of the Young Inventors' Program®.
Thinking Skills Activities
To encourage creative and productive thinking, start working with some creative thinking processes, including brainstorming, SCAMPER, FFOE, and Creative Problem Solving. Decide how much time you can devote to this area, keeping in mind that these thinking skills can be used in other subject areas as well.
The Invention Process
Now that your students are familiar with ways to think creatively, they are ready to begin inventing. Student inventors may wish to work in teams. Two students per team is ideal. Students, especially young students, may "reinvent the wheel" unknowingly. If this happens that's fine. The process of invention is by far the more important goal. You can encourage older students to conduct product research to determine if their inventions are original. By stressing and encouraging simplicity, your students will see the process as fun, rather than intimidating.
Timeline
The invention unit can be used in a number of ways and in numerous disciplines. It is up to you how you wish to proceed. Inventing does take time. It is strongly suggested that six weeks (minimum) be allowed for the incubation of ideas, experimentation with form and process, and revision of plans and outcomes.
It can be done as an after-school activity As an integrated classroom activity As a science project. It is up to you how you wish to proceed. Inventing does take time. It is strongly suggested that six weeks (minimum) be allowed for the incubation of ideas, experimentation with form and process, and revision of plans and outcomes. A possible timeline, taken from the Meant to Invent!® Teacher's Guide, might look something like this: A possible timeline, taken from the Meant to Invent!® Teacher's Guide, might look something like this:
Weeks One and Two
Encourage and develop inventive thinking skills.
Center class activities and discussion around inventors and the concepts of invention and innovation.
Week Three
Introduce journal-keeping.
Identify problems that may be solved with an invention.
Brainstorm possible solutions.
Start to make plans.
Establish classroom work groups.
Week Four
Make a working model of invention.
Select a name for invention.
Week Five
Introduce concepts of marketing.
Introduce concepts of patents and how they work.
Invention Celebration
While the students progress with their ideas, your major function as teacher is to provide encouragement and continue to show a lively interest. A classroom invention celebration is a rewarding culmination activity. It can be as simple or as elaborate as your time allows.
