Invention+Category

= INVENTION PAGE = According to the National Academy of Sciences, engineering is the application of science and technology to solving a problem. Invention is really about engineering a solution. For students, this can be: · A problem they want to solve · A process or physical design they want to improve

In designing and engineering a solution, students:
· Find a local problem or something that needs to be improved · Research it to find out what others know · Suggest a solution and explain why it should work · Design the solution and the method for testing to see if it works · Build and test the solution · Collect data to be sure your solution made a change · Make sense of the data – how do you know it worked, or didn’t work? · Develop a report and share it with your fellow scientists

Note that sometimes the invention is a model or a sample set. Once the model or design shows that the solution can work, it can be applied to the real world. Examples are: improving the aerodynamic design of a model car; controlling the spread of a pest; improving building design to better conserve energy. As with investigations, the key to defining the project is by posing the right question. Students can ask themselves, “What bothers me?” “What have I heard other people complaining about?” Is it something that could be fixed or improved?

On Wednesday, March 9th, students must have their project approved. When you come in to have your project approved the attached from must be filled out. Incomplete forms will NOT be accepted. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Ver Helst or Mrs. McLaughlin BEFORE the March 8th.