Great Inventions and How They Happened Chris Lundberg, Mathematics & Science Center [email protected].

Great Inventions andHow They Happened

Chris Lundberg, Mathematics & Science Center

[email protected]

Why Learn About Inventions?

It’s fun!

It relates science to student’s daily lives.

They’re unique; we remember the strange and different…

… so we can tie methods of inquiry, and creative and critical thinking strategies to the study of inventions!

Some Inventors and their Inventions…

Note how each happened

Think about the characteristics of each inventor

Think how the scientific method and experimental design relate to the process of invention

Friedrich Kekule’ 1858

Wanted to be an architect, not a chemist!

Kekule’ Structures

Instead of H2O,

H – O -- H

Galileo 1564 - 1642

17 years old

Saw swinging lamp in church

The Pendulum

Thomas Edison 1876

Simply worked all the time (Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99 % perspiration)

By accident – and keen observation --invented phonograph!

Albert Einstein 1905

Used pencil, paper, & his mind – NO LABS!

Knew by “feeling”

General Theory of Relativity

“Ugly” equations

Elijah McCoy 1872

Mechanical Engineer and Train “Oilman”

Invented the automatic lubricator for engines

“The Real McCoy”

Alexander Graham Bell 1876

Interested in “Visible Speech” & the deaf

Knew little about electricity – so he invented telephone

Founded the National Geographic Society

Art Fry 1974

3M Scientist…

… & choir member

Developed the Post-it Note!

Chester Carlson 1938

Invented electrostatic photocopying method

IBM, RCA, GE, and other companies turned him down

XEROX

Cassidy Goldstein 2004

The Crayon Holder!

Inventions:

are PRODUCTS created which are…

Unusual Appropriate for a job Transformed from something else Condensed (refined after testing)

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?” Brainstorming Using “models”

… followed by a period of testing or scientific analysis.

Traits of Inventors

Unique – different individuals

Risk-takers

Ask questions -- & pay attention to answers

Inspired – passion about subject

Follow instinct

Task commitment - persistence

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

Activities for Students

Creative and Critical Thinking Strategies

Learn about Learning Styles

Conduct Experiments

Inventions! Competitions!

Study of Famous Inventors and Inventions

Creative Thinking Strategies

Synectics Direct analogies Personal analogies Compressed conflicts

SCAMPER(Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Magnify

Minify, Put to other uses, Reverse, Rearrange)

Learning Styles & Problem-Solving

Use SensingGet the facts & pay

attention to details

Use ThinkingApply Logic and cause

and effect

Use IntuitionThink of possibilities and

options

Use FeelingTrust your feelings and

your values

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!

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

Add the study of inventions to your teaching bag of tricks!

Here is your lesson plan for inventions….