Invention Convention

Mr. Hudson’s Invention Convention (all students)

We will do the following at school:

-                 Choose a problem.

-                 Develop a solution.

-                 Complete workbook.

-                 Present to class

-             Students will make a display board solely at home, using the workbook as a guide.

-                 There is no right or wrong way to make the display board. Have fun. Be creative and visual. Text    

          should be large, legible and succinct.

-                 Students who are NOT participating in the Upper Arlington Invention Convention may use
          poster board. (See display board requirements for students participating in Upper Arlington
          Invention Convention below. Examples were posted in recent blog entries.)

-                 All display boards are due to school on Monday, March 18^th.
-        Workbooks will be completed at school by March 8th to give students ample time to make
         display boards.

Upper Arlington Invention Convention (voluntary)

Students participating in the Upper Arlington Invention Convention:

-              Must register by Friday, March 1 using the online sign-up-genius link below:

         http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4BA5AB2CA02-invention

-             Build a prototype.

        It does not need to be a fully functioning prototype.  

                It can use electricity, but must be battery powered.

        A good rule of thumb is that it should easily fit in a laundry basket. The rules specify it cannot be  

        larger than 2’ by 3’.

        Reflect on what did and did not work well and add this to the workbook.

        Reengineer if possible.

-             Make a design board using a three paneled design board with a header. These are available at
        office supply stores and United Art and Education at Mill Run (3622 Fishinger Blvd, Hilliard, OH
        43026).

Official Rules - 2013 Invention Convention – All Regions

1. Mission. The mission of the Invention Convention is to inspire curiosity, confidence, invention and creative problem-solving in our youth. The Invention Convention makes every effort to ensure an enjoyable, rewarding, inspirational and educational experience for every participant.

2. Eligibility. The Invention Convention is open to students in grades K-8 in participating school districts/regions. Each district is solely responsible for choosing its student representatives. There are a limited number of entry slots for each district. Student participation is optional - students who would like to participate should obtain the name of their district coordinator from his or her teacher.

Students may compete as an individual or as part of a team of 2, but not both. Students who are family members of employees of Invention Convention sponsors are eligible to compete. Invention Convention award winners from previous years may compete again - but must enter a completely new invention. The Grand prize award may only be awarded to a participant once, but past winners can compete for other scholarship awards in future years.

3. Registration; Deadline. Students selected to represent their district must complete the Official Invention Convention Student Registration Form, which will be provided ONLY through the district coordinator each year. All blanks on the form must be completed. The form must be signed by both the student’s parent or legal guardian and the district coordinator. District coordinators and teachers may not sign for parents or guardians. Students must return their completed (and parent or guardian signed) Registration Form to their teacher. The teacher will deliver forms to the district coordinator for his or her signature.

It is the responsibility of the district coordinator to submit completed and signed original (no faxed or copied signatures) Registration Forms to the Invention Convention no later than 5:00 PM on designated deadline day (below). Registration Forms will not be accepted directly from parents.            There will be no extensions or exceptions to the registration deadline, and entries that are postmarked, but not delivered, by deadline will not be accepted.

Registration Deadline(s) are: Miami Valley: February 1st            Cincinnati: March 29th Cleveland: April 12th            Columbus: April 19th

4) . Location(s) and Event Day Schedule(s). The 2013 Final Regional Invention Convention Competitions will take place per the following: · Miami Valley: Wright State University, Saturday, March 2, 2013 · Cincinnati: Fairfield Senior High School, Saturday, April 27, 2013

· Cleveland: Strongsville High School, Saturday, May 11, 2013 · Columbus: Columbus State Community College, Saturday, May 18, 2013

Credentials: · Badges/credentials are picked up at the venue upon check in; prior to Prototype

set-up. · Event Day schedule(s) and details will be emailed to district coordinators and

posted on our website at: www.just-think-inc.com, · Click on your “Region/City”, then “Event day”. · Prototypes must be COMPLETELY SET UP per your cities’ event day schedule. · Venues will open per their standard operating hours.

Judging: Judging will take place from 12noon-2:30 PM – in designated Student Judging areas. ONLY STUDENTS AND JUDGES ARE PERMITTED in judging area DURING JUDGING. Student Invention/Judging areas are open for public view ONLY AFTER Official Judging. The awards ceremony/scholarship presentation will take place per event day schedule. Click on ‘Event Day’ for your region, at www.just-think-inc.com.

5. Participation Requirements - Invention Journals and Models. Participants are required to complete an inventor Journal and a Model of their invention. Students participating as part of team must complete one Journal, and one model. Both signatures/inventors must be present on Team Journal. The Journal is a necessary step to document each participant’s creative process and is weighed heavily in the judges’ evaluation process; it must include the following:

1) a description of the problem addressed by the invention; 2) a description of solution ideas; 3) a description of the invention; 4) a description of how the invention solves the problem; and 5) a detailed description of where the student researched originality of their idea.

Students may use the Official Invention Convention Journal (available online at: www.just-think-inc.com, under “Teachers & Schools > Materials”), or create their own Journal. The Journal must be written in legible/dark print. The Journal must be present for the judge’s review at the Convention.

Students must also build a model of their invention to display at the Convention. The model does not have to work, but must illustrate how the invention would work if the model was operational. Models must fit on a table top, and cannot be larger than 2 feet by 3 feet in size. Electricity WILL NOT be available to inventors at the Convention, but students may use batteries. Backboards or other presentation materials are not required, but are suggested.

Models must be fully set-up at each student or team’s assigned booth BEFORE 11AM – on event day. Parents/guardians and family members may set up the model for their children - students do not have to personally set up their inventions.

6. Judging and Evaluation: Participants will be judged in 6 grade categories: K-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7-8. Scholarships awards will be based on student interviews, the invention itself, supporting materials and the individual student or team presentation of the invention. Students will be evaluated on: 1) Communication, 2) Process, 3) Research, 4) Results. Student scores are not published, and are the property of the Invention Convention. Inventions will be evaluated against other inventions presented at the finals and against award winners from previous years, but not against the total pool of inventions from prior years. All judges’ decisions are final.

7. Awards: One top award (1st place/$500) will be given in each grade category – K-2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7/8 - in the form of a CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan scholarship. One grand prize of $2,500 - will be awarded to the best overall inventor at the Invention Convention. All Scholarships will be invested in the CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan which is administered by the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority. In addition, several Special Category awards may be awarded – in an amount to be determined. The scholarship awards are not transferable, cannot be redeemed for cash, and must be used by the recipient for higher education. Scholarships will be paid according to Ohio Tuition Trust Authority policies and procedures in place at the time the student wishes to use the scholarship. Student winners and their parents/guardians will be required to provide certain information to the Invention Convention and the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority to receive their prize. Participants must be present to win an award. For team entries, both members must be present both at judging and at the time the awards are announced. Awards won by team entries will be divided equally among the team members. You may enter as an individual or a team...but not both.

8. Intellectual Property Rights. JUST THINK, Inc. and the Invention Convention do not profit in any way from any invention submitted by participants. JUST THINK, Inc., its affiliates, sponsors, board members and officers have no rights, privileges or interest in any invention idea submitted as part of the Invention Convention.            Participants are cautioned that the event, and specifically the awards ceremony, is open to the public. As a result - all inventions will be deemed to be “publicly disclosed” at the convention, which may make it necessary for participant inventors to take steps to secure certain intellectual property rights in their inventions. “Public disclosure” is defined as the time any idea has been offered in an open environment.

The Invention Convention strives to highlight additional resources that can assist students, teachers and parents with the protection of their intellectual property, and has involved the US Patent and Trademark Office in the convention project. Please contact your district coordinator for more information. In addition, the Patent and Trademark Office website, http://www.uspto.gov, provides helpful information. However, JUST THINK, Inc. and the Invention Convention make no representations, expressed or implied, regarding the protection of participants’ intellectual property. All participants that wish to protect their invention assumes sole responsibility for securing intellectual property rights.

9. Photo Release: Participants must obtain parental permission – via parent/guardian signature on the Official Invention Convention Registration Form in order to be eligible to compete for scholarship prizes. By signing this registration form - the parent/guardian permits reasonable use of their child’s name, photograph, or likeness, in both static and/or electronic media; releasing JUST THINK, Inc., The Invention Convention, sponsors and promotional partners from any and all claims, liabilities and/or damages arising directly or indirectly out of their participation.

10. Remember... Never let anyone say “you can’t” until you’ve already done it!

For complete event details, go to: www.just-think-inc.com