Alvin Elementary & Alvin ISD Elementary Invention Showcase Guidelines

Transcription

1 Alvin Elementary & Alvin ISD Elementary Invention Showcase Guidelines Invention Showcase Timeline Nov. 27, Invention Showcase packet distributed Jan. 11, Entry Forms Due Feb. 28, Invention Showcase Competition Guidelines adapted from the Young Inventors Showcase of Houston

2 General Rules and Regulations Please read all rules and requirements before you start your project. Consult with your Science teacher to be sure you understand them. Invention projects not meeting ALL rules and regulations will be disqualified. General Rules 1. A student or team (up to 3 members) may submit only one invention. 2. The invention must be an original product. 3. The invention must be the work of the student or team. 4. All entry forms must be complete and turned in by the entry deadline. 5. The student is responsible for setting up his/her display in the assigned location by the given deadline. 6. Individual students and team members must be with their projects during the Showcase. 7. Disruptive students will be disqualified from the Showcase. 8. Students are encouraged to provide judges with copies of a one page summary of their project. 9. Projects should not be marked with student name, teacher name, or school. Participants will be given an ID number to identify project components. 10. Projects must include the invention, display, and Inventor s Log. 11. No radios, TVs, tape players, or other sound transmitting devices may be played unless the sound transmitted by the devices is used as part of the invention. 12. Laser pointers, except as a part of the invention, are not allowed. 13. Inventor s log must be on display with the invention. 14. Participants are responsible for the set up and dismantling of projects. 15. Think carefully about using expensive equipment. The school or district will not be responsible for lost or broken equipment. Safety Rules Proper attention to safety is expected of all Invention Showcase participants, including compliance with the following requirements for all displays: Projects cannot include microorganisms including molds, bacteria, or fungi. Uses of body tissues or body fluids are also not allowed in projects. The display of animals or animal parts is not allowed. This includes live animals, preserved specimens or parts and taxidermy specimens or parts (exceptions: teeth, hair, nails, dried animal bones). Anything which could be hazardous to public display is prohibited. This includes: - poisons and radioactive materials - hazardous chemicals and materials - flammable liquids or gasses - open flame - poisonous plants and other potentially hazardous biological agents - weapons - class III or IV lasers (anything stronger than a laser pointer) - prescription medication - DEA-controlled substances, tobacco products, and alcoholic beverages Electrical components must have appropriate insulation to prevent electric shock or fire. 2

3 Suggested Timeline for Invention The process of creating an invention and the display will take time. To help in time management the following timeline may be helpful. 3 Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Week 6: Brainstorm and research ideas, write a few thought about your idea and what problem it will solve, and draw an initial sketch of your invention. Don t forget to record these in your inventor s log. Write your materials and tools list in your Log. Develop a budget for materials. Gather the materials and tools you will need. Building your first model of your invention. Remember to write and sketch how you are creating your invention in your log. Begin testing and revising your invention. As you make changes to your invention, make sure to record it in your Inventor s Log. Turn in your entry form to your teacher. Finish revising and testing your invention, noting any changes in your log. Begin getting ready for competition by creating your display and summary. Complete your invention and competition materials. Judging Criteria Projects will be judged on a 100 point system with six weighted categories. 1. Originality. The invention reflects original creative thought and provides evidence of no similar product on the market. 2. Value. The invention has practical value and can be useful to targeted market. 3. Inventor s Log. The Inventor s Log book accurately reflects the process through to the end result. Maximum Points Presentation. The inventor is enthusiastic about his/her invention Design & Construction. The invention is well designed and constructed, made wise and creative use of available materials. 6. Display. The inventor has promoted the invention with eye-catching and creative materials. 10 5

4 Parts of the Invention Showcase 1. Inventor s Log The inventor s log is a required part of the Invention Showcase. This log should be used by the student to keep track of research and thoughts throughout the inventive process. This log will also show proof of when you came up with your ideas for your invention. Each page of the entry should be numbered and neatly written. Students may use a bound notebook, spiral, note paper or copies of the Inventor s Log page inside a three-pronged folder. Students should write in ink and not erase any mistakes. Mistakes are part of the inventive process. What an inventor s log should include: ideas and how you came up with them thoughts or concerns about your ideas materials used and/or tested (even the ones that don t work) parts used including where you purchased them and the cost research including what you learned and where you got your information diagrams, sketches, and drawings description of the problems you encounter during the process and how you solved them the collected data from testing your invention charts and graphs of the data 2. Oral Presentation The student(s) should be prepared to give a brief oral presentation of his/her project. The oral presentation is extremely important because it reveals the student s knowledge and understanding of his/her invention. The student(s) should be prepared to answer any questions about the invention that may be asked during the presentation of the project. This is your time to sell your product. 3. Display of Invention A display backboard is required for each project. Projects without a display will be disqualified. Below are the display rules and regulations for the invention display. 1. Size: Everything associated with your display must fit into the given space. Students will have the option of floor display or table top display. All displays are limited to 48 inches wide and 30 inches deep. Floor displays may have a height up to 108 inches and table top displays can be up to 78 inches tall. 2. Construction: Displays should be durable, lightweight, and ridged enough to stand solidly. Recommended materials include cardboard, foam board, and fiber board. 3. Photographs: Photos and/or visual depictions must include a statement giving credit to the source of the picture. For example, Photograph taken by, or Image taken from. is suggested. When using a photograph of people (other than the inventor and/or inventor s family), a signed consent form should be included in the inventor s log. 4. Visually Appealing. The display should be a creative visual summary of your entire project. Students are encouraged to keep in mind the color scheme, graphics, pictures, lettering, etc. The display should tell the story of the invention and sell the invention. 4

5 5 Example Inventor s Log Pages Example Display 30 inches maximum depth 48 inches maximum width Information Diagrams, graphs, charts Pictures maximum heights: floor display- 108 inches table display- 78 inches Inventor s Log Your invention Your inventor s log

6 The Process of Inventing (adapted from The process of developing an invention is not difficult, but it can take time. There are five major steps involved in creating an invention. Each of these steps is listed below with additional information. Remember, while inventing, mistakes or things going wrong is part of the process. Successful inventors learn from these things and move forward. Good Luck! STEP 1 Get an Idea Identify a Need, Want, or Problem. Look for things in everyday life that could be made easier with a different device. Ask the people around you about their needs, wants, or problems. Make a list in your inventor s log and then pick your favorite to work on. Brainstorm Solutions. Make a list in your log of possible solutions. List everything that you think of, even if it seems impossible. Select a Solution. Look over the list of solutions and pick the best one. Keep in mind your abilities, access to equipment, and time you have to complete your project. STEP 2 Get an Idea Do Research. There are 2 key points to research: 1) has anyone already made your invention, and 2) information needed to better understand your problem and help you plan your invention. You must find out if someone already has a patent for your idea. If you use their idea, you are stealing their work and that is infringement. To find out if your invention already exists, you can search the US. Patent and Trademark Office at Apply the Research. Use your research to help answer questions such as; what kind of materials should be used? Are there any hazards to consider? Is there an easier way to build your model? Has anyone already tried and failed? What did you learn from them? Was anyone successful in a related topic? Can you use their findings to help you? Are there any important ideas to help you design your invention? Remember to keep track of all of your research in your inventor s log. STEP 3 Build a Model First, find a place to set up a workshop to keep all of your materials, tools, and research during the process. Start by reviewing your research and begin with a sketch of your invention labeling the drawing helps. Also write down a list of materials and tools you will use. Then start to create the model. There are 2 types of invention models. Conceptual Models. These models show the concept of the invention, but don t actually work. They are used if the idea is too large or expensive to do in full-scale, or if the testing would be unsafe, too expensive, or simply not possible. These models show how the idea would work. Functional Models. These models are working versions of the invention. They are used to test the design and the materials used to refine the invention before the final product is built. STEP 4 Test the Model Conceptual Testing. When testing conceptual models, the goal is to see if others understand your model and how it is supposed to work. Ask friends and family to look at the model and offer suggestions on changes you can make to better show your invention s purpose. Functional Testing. When testing functional models, the goal is to see if your invention does what it is intended to do consistently. You are also testing the materials, do they work each time? During testing you may find you need to make changes to the materials or design. Remember to write and draw everything in your inventor s log. STEP 5 Finalize Your Invention The last step involves going back and reviewing all of your tests and observations, checking over all the changes you ve made to your invention, and making sure everything makes sense. After all of that is done, it s time for the final touches: add decorations, color, give it a final name, and put together your presentation for the invention showcase. Congratulations on your hard work! 6

7 Student Entry Form (Page 1 of 2) Instructions: Fill in all the information below and turned this form into your Science teacher by listed due dates. For team projects, each student must fill in a separate Student Entry Form. 7 Student Inventor Information Name: Grade Level Science Teacher s Name Individual Project Group Project Group Member Names Invention Information: Name of Invention Project will require electricity: Yes No What problem does your invention solve? Please describe your invention and how it solves your problem.

8 Student Entry Form (Page 2 of 2) 8 Media Release Check one: I hereby grant permission for Alvin ISD to publish images of me and my project for the purpose of promoting science in Alvin ISD. I grant this permission freely without reservations. I do not grant permission for Alvin ISD to take pictures of activities that involve me or my team for the purpose of promoting science. Waiver and Release of Confidential Information * Please print the information of the Inventors Showcase participant: Name: Age: Grade level in school: It is understood that the AISD Showcase contestant (the Contestant) as named above will display and exhibit their invention at a campus level Invention Showcase and that certain technical, creative, and intellectual property may be viewed by the general public and judged by persons appointed by the campus. It is expressly understood by the Contestant that such viewing by the general public and contest judges could result in information relating to the Contestant s proprietary ideas, patentable ideas, copyrights, and/or trade secrets, existing and/or contemplated products and services, software, schematics, research and development, and production being copied or misused. The campus, or Alvin ISD is not responsible for any such misuse, duplication, or copyright infringement that may occur and Contestant will hold the campus/district harmless from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and costs) associated with any claim or action brought against the campus/district by Contestant or any third party in connection to Contestant s invention exhibition. Parent/Guardian Name (print): Date: Parent/Guardian Signature: I have read all the guidelines listed in this packet and understand that they must be followed in fact and intent in all phases of project development and exhibition. We understand that failure to comply with the Showcase rules may result in removal of invention from the Invention Showcase. Student Signature: Parent Signature: