1. Connecticut Invention Convention Parent Orientation

2. What Is the CIC?
The CIC is an engineering challenge. It includes a local convention, and the possibility to move on to regional, state, and national conventions. It focuses on the PROCESS of inventing. It is aligned with CT’s newly adopted Next Generation Science Standards.

3. The Goal of CIC Is Connecting STEM to the Real-World
It is not enough to know that = 4 The real question is “What can you do with that knowledge that is of benefit to society?”

4. Why Use Inventing?
The value of inventing is NOT a product, but the process. Inventing is a realistic practice for success in the real-world.

5. What Happens at School?
Student orientation for all registered students on November 15 from 3:45-4:15.
Take-Apart Night on January 10, We will take apart electronics and look inside. Parent and child attend together.
Optional after-school STEM enrichment in December-January. Sign up if your child would like to attend.
The school Invention Convention. Students will present their invention board and inventions to judges.

6. What Happens at Home?
The student designs a Working Invention (age appropriate “working” with age appropriate materials)
The student completes an Invention Log (What was done and how it was done)
The student completes a Display Board (showing the invention process and the invention in use)
The student practices presenting their board and invention.

7. When Does Everything Happen?
There is a timeline for all of the related events.
Student orientation
Take-Apart Day
Optional STEM after school
Spring Glen Invention Convention
Regional Convention
State Convention
National Convention
There is also a suggested timeline for inventing.

8. What Is an Invention?

9. What Is an Invention? It could be a brand new device or
an improvement on a current device or
a new way to do the same thing.
The first pencil is an invention
Adding an eraser is an invention
Doing the same thing in a different way is an invention.

10. Edison did not really “invent” the light bulb
Edison did not really “invent” the light bulb. There were other electric lights before his, but his was more efficient and practical.

11. Process: Design & Engineering
CIC Judges Training
Process: Design & Engineering
Did the student use this invention?
What did the student learn in the process of building & using this invention?
How is this different from others out there?
What changes were made to improve the original design?

12. Is Anything New an Invention?
The goal of the CIC program is to enhance the student’s problem-solving skills.
Drawing a picture
Writing a story
Designing a game or toy
Writing a computer program or app
are creative things to do,
but they do not solve a problem with physical solution and
thus are not CIC program inventions

13. Invention Cost? The “rule” is $50 per invention The Reality
No one will ask for receipts.
An invention that is used on a car, does NOT include the cost of the car.
The invention should be “material neutral”
Cardboard is as good as machined titanium.
Build, rather than buy
The student’s input is more important than the money input.

14. Did the Student Build It?
CIC Judges Training
Did the Student Build It?
It is OK to get help and advice.
Parents can (and are encouraged to) help build.
But “doing” is not “helping.”
Refer to Survival Tips sheet
A part probably not designed and made by an elementary school student.

15. It is both the documentation and the map of the child’s journey.
What Is the Invention Log?
The Invention Log is NOT a book report that is created after they are done.
It is a diary that is continually being filled in as they work on their invention.
It’s written with complete sentences, not single words or phrases. (Younger children can dictate to an adult.)
It is both the documentation and
the map of the child’s journey.

16. Why is the Invention Log important?
The goal of the CIC program is NOT the “invention,” but to have the student learn the process of problem-solving and creation.
The Invention Log walks the student through the step-by-step process of problem-solving. Getting a good solution to an issue is not random or spontaneous, but rather a planned organized process.
Putting something together without a plan or documentation is not inventing, it is just tinkering.
In the real-world you must also be able to explain what you’ve done, how you’ve done it and why you did it that way. That is what the Invention Log shows the student how to do.

17. Invention Log Sections
The sections mirror the design process
Identifying Problem & Possible Solution
Designing & Building
Testing, Evaluation and Improvement
Explaining the Invention
Name
Display
Presentation

18. Display Board 24” wide with 12” wings Contains: Features
Name of the invention
Purpose or problem
Description
Student name, grade, school & town
Features
Colors
Fonts Styles
Font Format
Pictures
Information
TIP – Take pictures as your child invents!

19. Invention Convention Dates
Spring Glen School Convention Feb. 22, 2018 Regional Semi-Finals March 18, 2018 State Finals April 28, 2018 Nationals June

20. Who Judges?
Judges are volunteers from the community who are trained to judge.
Family and friends of participants may not participate in the judging.
Judges use a rubric to evaluate each inventor/invention.
Participants will be judged with similar aged peers.
Judging decisions are private and final.
Only a percentage of inventors are selected to move on.
Warning! Kids are often disappointed when they don’t move on to the regional event, so talk up the joy of the process and personal accomplishment throughout the invention process!

21. Still Interested?
Take a registration form to sign up your child for the invention convention (and after- school STEM program).
Take the timeline of events.
Visit sheirwin.weebly.com for a copy of this presentation, resources and support.
Thank the PTA for supporting this event!