1. Inventions and the Scientific Process A Classroom Lesson from The Mathematics & Science Center

2. Inventions and the Scientific Process Where do ideas come from? How do you know if an idea is good (or not)? How do scientists develop and test their ideas?

3. Why Learn About Inventions? It’s fun! It relates science to YOUR daily life. They’re unique; we remember the strange and different… … so we can tie methods of inquiry and science to the study of inventions!

4. Some Inventors and their Inventions… Note how each happened Think about the characteristics of each inventor Think how the scientific method relates to the process of invention

5. Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790 The “Franklin” Stove The Glass Harmonica Bifocal glasses Did he “invent” electricity?

6. Friedrich Kekule’ 1858 Wanted to be an architect, not a chemist! Kekule’ Structures Instead of H2O, H – O -- H

7. Galileo1564 - 1642 17 years old Saw swinging lamp in church The Pendulum

8. Thomas Edison 1876 Simply worked all the time (Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99 % perspiration) By accident – and keen observation -- invented phonograph!

9. Albert Einstein 1905 Used pencil, paper, & his mind – NO LABS! Knew by “feeling” General Theory of Relativity “Ugly” equations

10. Elijah McCoy 1872 Mechanical Engineer and Train “Oilman” Invented the automatic lubricator for engines “The Real McCoy”

11. Alexander Graham Bell 1876 Interested in “Visible Speech” & the deaf Knew little about electricity – so he invented telephone Founded the National Geographic Society

12. Art Fry1974 3M Scientist… … & choir member Developed the Post- it Note!

13. Chester Carlson 1938 Invented electrostatic photocopying method IBM, RCA, GE, and other companies turned him down XEROX

14. Jack Kilby 1959 Worked for Texas Instruments The Integrated Circuit Photo Credit: usps.gov

15. Cassidy Goldstein 2004 The Crayon Holder! Photo Credit: BKFK.com

16. How do Inventions Happen? Close observation Sheer dumb luck – timing Motivation -- $ ? Search for an answer to a problem Creative approaches and strategies By asking, “what if?” and Brainstorming Using “models” … followed by a period of testing or scientific analysis.

17. Traits of Inventors Unique – different individuals Risk-takers – follow their instincts Ask questions -- & pay attention to answers Inspired – passion about subject Task commitment – persistence Which of these traits do you have?

18. Inventions: are PRODUCTS we create which are… Unusual Appropriate for a job Transformed from something else Condensed (refined after testing)

19. Pathways to Inventions First, find a PROBLEM that you want to solve. Develop your IDEA. Then, TEST your idea. And finally, you will EVALUATE your results.

20. Finding Your Problem Make a “bug list” of things that bother you… What “bugs” you? What can you improve? Messy room? Pencils that break? Heavy school backpacks? Little brothers or sisters? You can come up with an idea from your bug list!

21. Developing Invention Ideas Use Synectics (analogies) Compare your idea to another thing, or even to yourself! How is ______ like a ______ ? How am I like a ______?

22. More Ways to Develop Ideas Combine Opposites! What is exactly opposite to my idea that I could somehow combine with it? IdeaOpposite

23. And More Invention Ideas! Use the SCAMPER Method: For my idea, what can I …. Substitute Combine Adapt Modify – Magnify – “Minify” Put to other Uses Reverse or Rearrange … to make it WORK! Photo credit: lbl.gov

24. Put Your Idea to THE TEST! Once you have an idea, then put your idea to the TEST to see if it works! In other words, design a test to see if your hypothesis for your invention is supported (or not)!

25. The Process of Invention and Science An idea (or problem) = hypothesis Develop a “bug” list = observe/describe Build/design = testing “Back to the drawing board” = rethink hypothesis and try a new variable Establish criteria to evaluate = analysis of results Will the public buy it? = conclusion

26. More Invention Strategies Change your perspective Work problems backwards Break your own rules for past success Develop new reading habits Be a “risk-taker” Combine opposites Listen! Listen! Listen!

27. Once begun is half-done! “If I have a thousand ideas a year, and only one turns out to be good, I’m satisfied.” Alfred Nobel

28. Photo Credits Most photos are from the public domain of pictures of great inventors that have been used and reprinted numerous times over the years. Other sources include: BKFK (By Kids for Kids ) usps.gov lbl.gov