Allan Drive Middle School students unveil invention projects

May 17, 2018 · 0 Comments

Written By JASEN OBERMEYER

After working on them for two months, the Grade 8 students at Allan Drive Middle School have unveiled their invention projects to solutions for problems they see in their community, which helps them become better problems solvers.

They unveiled their projects this past Tuesday (May 15) in the school’s gym. The program is offered by The Learning Partnership, and is dubbed Investigate! Invent! Innovate! According to its website, it is experimental learning that challenges students to identify a problem and invent a solution. The program “engages students by following an inquiry-based learning model and includes comprehensive lesson plans and other resources, as well as training and ongoing support.”

“Working through the scientific process of figuring out what the cost will be to build it, to make it,” explained Megan Pierce, one of two of the school’s Grade 8 teachers, who previously did this program last year.

“They come up with commercials, brochures, things like that.”

Some of the projects include an audible fire alarm, self-propelled skipping for those with a physical impediment, water bottle variations, and visor protectors when playing sports. “This project gives them an opportunity to find their passion and drive their passion,” she added.

“It’s a really good experience for them to get every curriculum in one learning.”

The program integrates science, technology, engineering and math skills along with problem solving, collaboration and communication.

“I think the biggest thing in schools right now is they’re lacking problem solving or how to be empathetic to things,” Ms. Pierce explained, and by taking ownership for their work, the students make a difference in the community. “They’re growing their own knowledge.”

She said the students become productive citizens while helping to determine where they can go in the future. “The kids had a really good time.”

Ms. Pierce added she likes the program because she is big on inquiry based learning, instead of just doing textbook learning. “For me it was having them explore the work themselves and doing a hands on project.”

She described how the students worked really hard and likes how they were so engaged. “They do it all themselves, and I just sit back and facilitate. They can take it anyway they want.”

For more information on the program, visit www.thelearningpartnership.ca/i3.