Every time you figure out a new way of doing something or change
something to fit your needs, you become an inventor!! An inventor is
someone who thinks of new ideas to make life easier or better through the
use of an invention.
- Inventions can be a "new way of doing things" (process), or
- Inventions can be the "result of an accident" (serendipitous), or
- Inventions can be a "new way of making something" (innovation).
For nine weeks, from the week of September 11th, to the week of
November 7th, we will be working together to discuss inventions and
create inventions. Participating KIDLINKers will work in teams, using
the "Creative Problem Solving Method", to try to discover a solution to a
problem, or a way to make life easier or better. Guest speakers from the
area of research and development will come join us on the KIDLINK IRC to
discuss the invention process in the real world, and we will have a
patent attorney speak to us about the patent/copyright/trademark process.
The time line for our project follows:
- Pre-project: Students send in Responses to the 4 questions,
teachers or students register for the KIDLINK IRC
- Week 1 (week of September 11th): Classes discuss inventors/inventions
in their area
- Week 2 (week of September 18th): Classes interview friends and
family for "problems" and brainstorm a list to be
sent to KIDPROJ.
- Week 3 (week of September 25th): Students choose a problem to
work on. Laurie Williams will match students interested
in the same problem and set up teams.
- Week 4 (week of October 2nd): Teams brainstorm ideas for a
solution. (Guest speaker #1)
- Week 5 (week of October 9th): Teams shorten their solutions list
and evaluate the possible solutions to choose the best
solution
for the problem. (Guest speaker #2)
- Week 6 (week of October 16th): Teams discuss the form that their
model will take. (Guest speaker #3)
- Week 7 (week of October 23rd): Teams create a model of their
solution and give their solution a name. (Guest speaker #4)
- Week 8 (week of October 30): Teams complete "inventor's logs" and
develop a hard copy edition of their logs for their teachers.
They can trade pictures of their models via snail mail or in
GIF format. (Guest speaker-Mark D. Simpson, Attorney at Law)
- Week 9 (week of November 6th): Teams send an invention summary to
KIDPROJ. We join on the KIDLINK IRC to discuss the process
and inventions.
- Post-project: The final summaries and GIF's will be added to the
KIDLINK Web site. Some inventions may become part of
an invention competition in some places.
Join us as we create innovations and processes that may change
the way we live! Who knows...we may have another Edison here in one of
our classes!!!
The KidProj Invention Project is Moderated by Laurie Williams
lauriew@tenet.edu
KIDPROJ Information Contact: Patti Weeg pweeg@shore.intercom.net
KIDPROJ WWW Contact: Grant Dougall dougallg@indigo.quadrant.net
![[KIDPROJ Home Page]](/icons/t-kidproj.gif)
![[KIDLINK Home Page]](/icons/logo-tiny.gif)
This page is part of KIDLINK's KIDPROJ Invention Project.
KIDLINK, KIDPROJ, and Multi-Cultural Calendar are Service Marks of
the KIDLINK Society.
Invention Project Page Created April 15, 1996
