Inventionland Issue #2 - August 2017
21st Century Schools - taking your schools, districts, campuses and other educational organizations truly into the 21st century.
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Inventionland - Transforming Students' Lives is the second of a 12-month series of articles featuring Inventionland, a fantastic resource for schools seeking ways to authentically incorporate Creativity, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Imagination into their programs and curriculum.
Sincerely, Anne Shaw, Director 21st Century Schools |
Inventionland - Transforming Students' Lives
All student teams must pitch their invention to a panel of judges. This newsletter features one student and tells the story of how her life was literally transformed by the Inventionland Curriculum experience.
In his book, To Sell is Human, Daniel Pink defines the 21st century workforce. He provides some interesting statistics:
* The U. S. Census Bureau estimates that the American economy has more than 21 million "non-employer" businesses, and they constitute the majority of businesses in the United States.
* 30 percent of American workers now work on their own, and by 2015 the number of nontraditional workers worldwide will reach 1.3 billion.
* Entrepreneurs will become a majority of the American workforce by 2020.
The Inventionland Curriculum supports the development of entrepreneurs! Read below about Denise, our featured student, and more about how Inventionland is valuable to your students - now and in their futures!
In his book, To Sell is Human, Daniel Pink defines the 21st century workforce. He provides some interesting statistics:
* The U. S. Census Bureau estimates that the American economy has more than 21 million "non-employer" businesses, and they constitute the majority of businesses in the United States.
* 30 percent of American workers now work on their own, and by 2015 the number of nontraditional workers worldwide will reach 1.3 billion.
* Entrepreneurs will become a majority of the American workforce by 2020.
The Inventionland Curriculum supports the development of entrepreneurs! Read below about Denise, our featured student, and more about how Inventionland is valuable to your students - now and in their futures!
Meet Denise! A Life Transformed!
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Students that have the opportunity to experience the Inventionland Curriculum are typically highly engaged, motivated and show increased levels of learning, not only content, but important skills and literacies. Denise is an excellent example of the the dramatic turnaround that can happen in a student's life when they go through the Inventionland Experience. |
Coming into the program, according to the stories shared with me by teachers and Inventionland educators, Denise never spoke. In fact, she did not speak for weeks and seemed to disappear into the background, unnoticed.
But then her invention won first place in the Inventionland competition! And that was no small feat! The competition involves making a pitch for your invention to a panel of three judges - usually a representative of Inventionland, a school superintendent and a teacher. Denise was amazed, very proud and truly transformed. Her life literally changed!
Before I tell you about HOW her life was changed, let me tell you a bit about her experience.
The Inventionland Curriculum is currently available for Middle and High School students, and there is a brand new Elementary Curriculum. The first phase, Inventing, begins with some history of Inventionland and inventing in general. Then students move into the invention process, which utilizes the same 9 Steps utilized by the 200 inventors and designers who work at Inventionland:
1. Protecting your idea.
2. Pre-development
3. Brainstorming
4. Ideations
5. Concept Model
6. Engineering
7. Package Design
8. Graphic Design
9. Product Sample
But then her invention won first place in the Inventionland competition! And that was no small feat! The competition involves making a pitch for your invention to a panel of three judges - usually a representative of Inventionland, a school superintendent and a teacher. Denise was amazed, very proud and truly transformed. Her life literally changed!
Before I tell you about HOW her life was changed, let me tell you a bit about her experience.
The Inventionland Curriculum is currently available for Middle and High School students, and there is a brand new Elementary Curriculum. The first phase, Inventing, begins with some history of Inventionland and inventing in general. Then students move into the invention process, which utilizes the same 9 Steps utilized by the 200 inventors and designers who work at Inventionland:
1. Protecting your idea.
2. Pre-development
3. Brainstorming
4. Ideations
5. Concept Model
6. Engineering
7. Package Design
8. Graphic Design
9. Product Sample
The next phase is entitled, The ABCs of Storytelling. As they say at Inventionland.
"To sell your idea, you need to tell a story."
The panel of judges, or Shark Tank, shown above includes CEO of Inventionland, George Davison, and two of the Inventioneers at Inventionland.
This is a comprehensive series of steps the students will take to develop a compelling "story" of their product/invention. Beginning with brainstorming and script writing, the students then go through pre-production, production and post-production - ending with their pitch to a panel of judges. This is an excellent real-world application of many 21st century skills and literacies!
For further details you may view a Curriculum Demo here.
So, what did this experience do for Denise? As a result of this experience her future plans changed dramatically. Before this experience Denise had no plans to pursue formal education beyond high school. Now she plans to go to college and major in graphic design!
This same type of transformation is experienced by all students!
"To sell your idea, you need to tell a story."
The panel of judges, or Shark Tank, shown above includes CEO of Inventionland, George Davison, and two of the Inventioneers at Inventionland.
This is a comprehensive series of steps the students will take to develop a compelling "story" of their product/invention. Beginning with brainstorming and script writing, the students then go through pre-production, production and post-production - ending with their pitch to a panel of judges. This is an excellent real-world application of many 21st century skills and literacies!
For further details you may view a Curriculum Demo here.
So, what did this experience do for Denise? As a result of this experience her future plans changed dramatically. Before this experience Denise had no plans to pursue formal education beyond high school. Now she plans to go to college and major in graphic design!
This same type of transformation is experienced by all students!
Transforming students' lives? Is that the purpose of education? You bet it is!
Sadly, since the inception of NCLB (No Child Left Behind) in the USA in 2002, followed by the introduction of the CCSS in 2007, and now the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) which replaced NCLB in 2015, schools in the USA and around the world have been transformed from places of authentic learning to test prep and testing centers. The curriculum has narrowed; usually the only things "taught" are those that are being tested.
Ironically, there is an equal demand for students to develop, at high levels, "21st century skills". These skills are: Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Accessing and Analyzing Information, Oral and Written Communication Skills, Entrepreneurial Skills, Curiosity and Imagination, and Leadership Skills.
When students are practically force-fed huge amounts of content to be memorized for tests, usually through teacher lectures and assigned readings, they are denied the opportunity to develop any of these 21st century skills. It's almost as though educators are saying, "We do not have time for thinking or creating. We have to get the students ready for the test!"
However, when students participate in the Inventionland experience they have unlimited opportunities to be curious, explore, experiment, make mistakes, and create. They actually do become entrepreneurs and develop many, specific skills required of entrepreneurs.
William Glasser, MD, in his book, The Quality School, told us years ago that students will NOT LEARN until four specific needs have been met. Those needs are:
* The need to belong and to love
* The need for power
* The need for freedom, and
* The need to have fun.
As you could see from the video above, all these needs are met for the students in the Inventionland experience. They work in small teams, and the teams and teachers all provide continual positive support to each other. They have the power and the freedom to brainstorm, create and decide what kind of invention they want to create. And they have the freedom to make mistakes - which is really the only was we truly LEARN! And, of course, finally and quite obviously, they are having FUN throughout the entire process!
Sadly, since the inception of NCLB (No Child Left Behind) in the USA in 2002, followed by the introduction of the CCSS in 2007, and now the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) which replaced NCLB in 2015, schools in the USA and around the world have been transformed from places of authentic learning to test prep and testing centers. The curriculum has narrowed; usually the only things "taught" are those that are being tested.
Ironically, there is an equal demand for students to develop, at high levels, "21st century skills". These skills are: Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Accessing and Analyzing Information, Oral and Written Communication Skills, Entrepreneurial Skills, Curiosity and Imagination, and Leadership Skills.
When students are practically force-fed huge amounts of content to be memorized for tests, usually through teacher lectures and assigned readings, they are denied the opportunity to develop any of these 21st century skills. It's almost as though educators are saying, "We do not have time for thinking or creating. We have to get the students ready for the test!"
However, when students participate in the Inventionland experience they have unlimited opportunities to be curious, explore, experiment, make mistakes, and create. They actually do become entrepreneurs and develop many, specific skills required of entrepreneurs.
William Glasser, MD, in his book, The Quality School, told us years ago that students will NOT LEARN until four specific needs have been met. Those needs are:
* The need to belong and to love
* The need for power
* The need for freedom, and
* The need to have fun.
As you could see from the video above, all these needs are met for the students in the Inventionland experience. They work in small teams, and the teams and teachers all provide continual positive support to each other. They have the power and the freedom to brainstorm, create and decide what kind of invention they want to create. And they have the freedom to make mistakes - which is really the only was we truly LEARN! And, of course, finally and quite obviously, they are having FUN throughout the entire process!
What about Accountability?
"Instead of letting a thousand flowers bloom, we replace all flowers with the same lifeless, overtested weed.
"We take every ounce of creativity out of the classroom, replacing it with a soulless march through dull curriculum and test prep decoupled from life skills. We prioritize standardization and accountability, and don't seem to notice or care that students lack engagement and purpose.
"We rob our kids of their futures."
"We take every ounce of creativity out of the classroom, replacing it with a soulless march through dull curriculum and test prep decoupled from life skills. We prioritize standardization and accountability, and don't seem to notice or care that students lack engagement and purpose.
"We rob our kids of their futures."
Inventionland provides educators and their students with a powerful solution to this warning from Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith in their book, Most Likely to Succeed.
It is easy to see just how many of the required content standards from various disciplines are learned and applied throughout the entire invention process. In fact, get together with one or two colleagues and analyze the 9 Steps to Inventing and the ABCs of Storytelling in the Inventionland Curriculum, or take a sample invention created by a student, then analyze how many content standards are evident for each discipline and how many of the 21st century skills and literacies were utilized. Then, if your state uses the CCSS, take a look at how many of those are learned.
Because the standards are being used/applied, and are relevant, the students will remember them, and will actually learn them at much high levels than they would listening to a lecture or reading the textbook.
This means that student motivation increases, student achievement increases, as do test scores. So, if your school thinks that you do not have time for Inventionland due to concerns over accountability, think again! Your test scores and accountability ratings will actually go up!
But that isn't why we have schools - to create millions of students with higher test scores. We have schools so that we can provide students, all students, with experiences that will allow them to realize their full potential, find out who they are and what they love, and to discover possibilities for their future that they may never have considered!
It is easy to see just how many of the required content standards from various disciplines are learned and applied throughout the entire invention process. In fact, get together with one or two colleagues and analyze the 9 Steps to Inventing and the ABCs of Storytelling in the Inventionland Curriculum, or take a sample invention created by a student, then analyze how many content standards are evident for each discipline and how many of the 21st century skills and literacies were utilized. Then, if your state uses the CCSS, take a look at how many of those are learned.
Because the standards are being used/applied, and are relevant, the students will remember them, and will actually learn them at much high levels than they would listening to a lecture or reading the textbook.
This means that student motivation increases, student achievement increases, as do test scores. So, if your school thinks that you do not have time for Inventionland due to concerns over accountability, think again! Your test scores and accountability ratings will actually go up!
But that isn't why we have schools - to create millions of students with higher test scores. We have schools so that we can provide students, all students, with experiences that will allow them to realize their full potential, find out who they are and what they love, and to discover possibilities for their future that they may never have considered!
Inventionland Curriculum - what experiences led to Denise's transformation?
First of all, Denise discovered many talents and interests which she possessed without realizing it. She discovered a multiple of possibilities for her future which had never occurred to her before. She gained SELF CONFIDENCE! She discovered SUCCESS!
She learned that learning can be fun, joyful, transformative and that it is lifelong. She developed what is popularly known today as a "growth mindset" (as opposed to a "fixed mindset".)
Inventionland curriculum allowed her to discover that learning is not only fun, but that real learning is much more than a "march through the standards", which is, sadly, the only experience which most students are offered in schools today. Inventionland gives teachers and students a specific, concrete way out of the mind-numbing curriculum in vogue today. We call it the Pac-Man Curriculum!
Just as Pac-Man races through the maze, gobbling as many dots as he can, so too, do our students spend their long days in schools racing through the content standards, "gobbling", or memorizing, as many as they can, as fast as they can - hoping to remember as many as possible when it comes to the day of The Test.
Inventionland curriculum is not only project-based, it integrates all the criteria in our Framework for Education in the 21st Century! These are high level, intense, deeper learning experiences which meet our 3 R's - Rigorous, Relevant and Real World. And THAT is what gets students awake, motivated and truly learning!
She learned that learning can be fun, joyful, transformative and that it is lifelong. She developed what is popularly known today as a "growth mindset" (as opposed to a "fixed mindset".)
Inventionland curriculum allowed her to discover that learning is not only fun, but that real learning is much more than a "march through the standards", which is, sadly, the only experience which most students are offered in schools today. Inventionland gives teachers and students a specific, concrete way out of the mind-numbing curriculum in vogue today. We call it the Pac-Man Curriculum!
Just as Pac-Man races through the maze, gobbling as many dots as he can, so too, do our students spend their long days in schools racing through the content standards, "gobbling", or memorizing, as many as they can, as fast as they can - hoping to remember as many as possible when it comes to the day of The Test.
Inventionland curriculum is not only project-based, it integrates all the criteria in our Framework for Education in the 21st Century! These are high level, intense, deeper learning experiences which meet our 3 R's - Rigorous, Relevant and Real World. And THAT is what gets students awake, motivated and truly learning!
In the next issue . . .
We will explore more in-depth connections between Inventionland Curriculum and 21st Century Schools' Critical Attributes of 21st Century Education.
Also, we will provide you with some ideas for September projects related to inventing that can easily be expanded into other classes and courses, from Language Arts, to Art, Music, Filmmaking, Television Production, to History, Science and more!
We will explore more in-depth connections between Inventionland Curriculum and 21st Century Schools' Critical Attributes of 21st Century Education.
Also, we will provide you with some ideas for September projects related to inventing that can easily be expanded into other classes and courses, from Language Arts, to Art, Music, Filmmaking, Television Production, to History, Science and more!
Visit Inventionland
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Inventionland welcomes students and teachers to enjoy a full tour of the magical facilities at Inventionland. Inventionland has received thousands of visitors, and would love to welcome you and your students as well!
Meet real inventors, learn about the invention process, see examples of thousands of inventions, explore the many pathways and avenues of creativity and inventing, and be inspired to pursue these avenues when you return to your school!
You may visit Inventionland, which is located at 585 Alpha Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. Visit this link for details including visiting hours, and to complete a form for Requesting a Tour!
If you are unable to visit in person in Pittsburgh, PA, you can tour Inventionland virtually! Either way, you will have an opportunity to learn about the Inventionland Institute Curriculum and the processes for helping your students learn how to really become creative thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, researchers, marketers and storytellers!
These skills are all part of the inventing process, and are applicable in many forms - from inventing a new product for use in the kitchen, in the garage or even on the Space Station; to products for pet care to beauty and health products; new products for sports, toys, transportation, fashion, and more.
The 9 Step process can also be adapted for developing Community Improvement Projects (solving traffic problems, designing and constructing a playground, and/or presenting a proposal to the city council or state legislature).
Meet real inventors, learn about the invention process, see examples of thousands of inventions, explore the many pathways and avenues of creativity and inventing, and be inspired to pursue these avenues when you return to your school!
You may visit Inventionland, which is located at 585 Alpha Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. Visit this link for details including visiting hours, and to complete a form for Requesting a Tour!
If you are unable to visit in person in Pittsburgh, PA, you can tour Inventionland virtually! Either way, you will have an opportunity to learn about the Inventionland Institute Curriculum and the processes for helping your students learn how to really become creative thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, researchers, marketers and storytellers!
These skills are all part of the inventing process, and are applicable in many forms - from inventing a new product for use in the kitchen, in the garage or even on the Space Station; to products for pet care to beauty and health products; new products for sports, toys, transportation, fashion, and more.
The 9 Step process can also be adapted for developing Community Improvement Projects (solving traffic problems, designing and constructing a playground, and/or presenting a proposal to the city council or state legislature).
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A preview of things to come - the 12-month feature series on Inventionland!
Be watching your email inbox each month for a new featured article from 21st Century Schools on Inventionland. Here is a sample schedule:
August (second issue in August) 2017 - Inventionland and the Critical Attributes of 21st Century Education - it may be fun, but it is much more than fun and games. This featured article will outline the specifics of how the Inventionland Curriculum supports and delivers these critical attributes of 21st century education! Also included is an article on How Inventionland can Help Your School Overcome the Obstacles to Transforming Education.
September 2017 - Back to School - The Physical Learning Environment! Creating YOUR Invention Space! - This article is a basic overview of what you can include in your personal Invention Space! It will include an in-depth, research-backed analysis of the critical importance of designing a learning environment that supports 21st century modes of learning.
An additional article will be about the connections between Inventing and Constitution Day which is September 17. Schools are required to teach about the U. S. Constitution on this day, and there is a plethora of interesting opportunities for teaching such as the inventions of our Founding Fathers as well as the inventions of lessor known people from that time period. These studies provide meaningful connections to the past, the present and the future, and provide students with a more personal understanding of why and how the U. S. Constitution was created. This can also be expanded to include a study of social entrepreneurship, another critical skill!
October 2017 - Teaching the Content Standards and 21st Century Skills through Inventing - This article discusses the interdisciplinary content that can be taught, and at high levels, with increased student motivation, through the 9-Step Invention Process. It will include two examples of specific invention projects, showing how each of the 21st century skills is developed. These are the 7 Survival Skills for the 21st Century as articulated by Tony Wagner of Harvard University
November 2017 - How Inventionland Projects Support the Multiple Literacies of the 21st Century - There is so much more to "literacy" than the traditional reading, writing and math! The curriculum based upon inventing includes excellent ways to support students' development of the 21st century literacies: This article will explicitly outline the connections using examples of exciting student projects.
December 2017 - Winter Projects for Inventors! - Inventions related to the winter season/weather are plentiful, from recreational activities and games to sustainability and alternative energies, medical issues (winter weather survival), safety (driving, winter weather road hazards) nature/ecoliteracy (protection for animals, feeding the birds, etc.). So, using these ideas as a few jumping off places, what kinds of inventions can your students think of that are related to these or other issues?
The 2018 Winter Olympics take place in South Korea in February. Watch for invention projects ideas coming in the January issue.
Happy New Year 2018!
Spring issues of Inventionland will include themes such as the Winter Olympics, Black American History Month, the Spring Equinox, Earth Hour, Earth Day - with amazing amounts of resources and ideas connecting inventing to ecoliteracy, ideas for your own Invention Fairs and Student-Produced Film Festivals, nutrition, culinary arts, gardening, and much more!
Also, be on the lookout for announcements and updates for the roll-out of new curriculum and professional development services.
August (second issue in August) 2017 - Inventionland and the Critical Attributes of 21st Century Education - it may be fun, but it is much more than fun and games. This featured article will outline the specifics of how the Inventionland Curriculum supports and delivers these critical attributes of 21st century education! Also included is an article on How Inventionland can Help Your School Overcome the Obstacles to Transforming Education.
September 2017 - Back to School - The Physical Learning Environment! Creating YOUR Invention Space! - This article is a basic overview of what you can include in your personal Invention Space! It will include an in-depth, research-backed analysis of the critical importance of designing a learning environment that supports 21st century modes of learning.
An additional article will be about the connections between Inventing and Constitution Day which is September 17. Schools are required to teach about the U. S. Constitution on this day, and there is a plethora of interesting opportunities for teaching such as the inventions of our Founding Fathers as well as the inventions of lessor known people from that time period. These studies provide meaningful connections to the past, the present and the future, and provide students with a more personal understanding of why and how the U. S. Constitution was created. This can also be expanded to include a study of social entrepreneurship, another critical skill!
October 2017 - Teaching the Content Standards and 21st Century Skills through Inventing - This article discusses the interdisciplinary content that can be taught, and at high levels, with increased student motivation, through the 9-Step Invention Process. It will include two examples of specific invention projects, showing how each of the 21st century skills is developed. These are the 7 Survival Skills for the 21st Century as articulated by Tony Wagner of Harvard University
November 2017 - How Inventionland Projects Support the Multiple Literacies of the 21st Century - There is so much more to "literacy" than the traditional reading, writing and math! The curriculum based upon inventing includes excellent ways to support students' development of the 21st century literacies: This article will explicitly outline the connections using examples of exciting student projects.
December 2017 - Winter Projects for Inventors! - Inventions related to the winter season/weather are plentiful, from recreational activities and games to sustainability and alternative energies, medical issues (winter weather survival), safety (driving, winter weather road hazards) nature/ecoliteracy (protection for animals, feeding the birds, etc.). So, using these ideas as a few jumping off places, what kinds of inventions can your students think of that are related to these or other issues?
The 2018 Winter Olympics take place in South Korea in February. Watch for invention projects ideas coming in the January issue.
Happy New Year 2018!
Spring issues of Inventionland will include themes such as the Winter Olympics, Black American History Month, the Spring Equinox, Earth Hour, Earth Day - with amazing amounts of resources and ideas connecting inventing to ecoliteracy, ideas for your own Invention Fairs and Student-Produced Film Festivals, nutrition, culinary arts, gardening, and much more!
Also, be on the lookout for announcements and updates for the roll-out of new curriculum and professional development services.
Planning Ahead for the 2017-18 School Year
We hope that you are as inspired and excited as we are at 21st Century Schools to discover this incredible resource -Inventionland!
We realize that you are working now on goals, projects, plans and schedules for the new school year - which will be here before we know it! We hope that you are looking forward to receiving the monthly special newsletters featuring Inventionland!
Contact us to learn more about ways you can implement Inventionland at your campus or in your district. We can provide guidance and support with everything from materials, to creating an Inventionland Learning Space, to curriculum design, professional development, scheduling and ensuring alignment to standards. We've got you covered!
Please add a visit to Inventionland and/or a consultation with representatives from Inventionland and 21st Century Schools to your calendar today!
Feel free to contact us with your requests for more information or any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you and to working with you, your faculty and the amazing students at your school/district!
Sincerely,
Anne Shaw, Director
21st Century Schools
Gatesville, Texas
Phone 254-206-1744
Director@21stCenturySchools.com
and
Nathan Field, Executive Director
Inventionland Institute
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Phone 1-800-585-8434
Field.Nathan@InventionlandInstitute.com
We realize that you are working now on goals, projects, plans and schedules for the new school year - which will be here before we know it! We hope that you are looking forward to receiving the monthly special newsletters featuring Inventionland!
Contact us to learn more about ways you can implement Inventionland at your campus or in your district. We can provide guidance and support with everything from materials, to creating an Inventionland Learning Space, to curriculum design, professional development, scheduling and ensuring alignment to standards. We've got you covered!
Please add a visit to Inventionland and/or a consultation with representatives from Inventionland and 21st Century Schools to your calendar today!
Feel free to contact us with your requests for more information or any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you and to working with you, your faculty and the amazing students at your school/district!
Sincerely,
Anne Shaw, Director
21st Century Schools
Gatesville, Texas
Phone 254-206-1744
Director@21stCenturySchools.com
and
Nathan Field, Executive Director
Inventionland Institute
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Phone 1-800-585-8434
Field.Nathan@InventionlandInstitute.com
