OSKALOOSA — If there's a problem, they'll solve it.
Elementary and middle school students from all over Mahaska County and beyond participated in the regional Invent Iowa competition Saturday. Each student was given the task of solving a real world problem with an invention of their own design.
Ron Shafer of the Great Prairie AEA hosted the event at Penn Central Mall Saturday.
The Invent Iowa program, which has been around for more than 20 years, allows young students to get creative while solving a problem with their inventions, said Shafer.
"The actual focus is on creative thinking and problem solving and application," explained Shafer. "A lot of the education today is focused on conceptual understanding, so what we want students to be able to do is to understand a big idea and also to transfer that and apply it to a real world application."
All of the students' inventions have to be an original idea that hasn't been invented before, said Shafer. He added, a big part of the invention process for the kids is keeping a log of their thought process throughout the invention's creation. This often includes making a prototype of the invention and finding problems with it before going back to the drawing board and figuring out how to make it better, said Shafer.
Shafer said most of the time spent on these invention projects is done outside of school on the students' own time.
"In some cases, students have worked on their inventions for several months," Shafer said.
Each of Iowa's regional AEAs have competitions like the one held at Penn Central Mall Saturday. Once students make it to the state competition, their inventions are judged once again, said Shafer.
About 300 students from around the state of Iowa will be attending the state competition April 24 at Carver Hawkeye Arena on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City.
Ultimately, students at the state level competition not only earn statewide recognition, but are also eligible for $1,000 college scholarships.
------
Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com
Homepage
Related Photos
Invent Iowa fosters creative thinking in young minds
- Local News
-
-
Jury finds VanWeelden guilty of all three charges
Mahaska County Supervisor Henry “Willie” VanWeelden, center, confers with his defense counsel Friday afternoon after the jury delivered a guilty verdict on all three charges he faced in Mahaska County District Court.
-
Faculty art on display at William Penn's Foyer Gallery
- Prosecution, defense give closing arguments in VanWeelden case
-
Skate park construction continues in warmer weather
- VanWeelden takes stand in trial
-
- CNHI/Southeast Iowa
-
-
More deer taken in Ottumwa's 2011-12 bow season
The rise from the previous season was by more than one-third and brought the total number of deer harvested in seven seasons to 612.
Continued ... -
Sneak peek at this year's hottest Super Bowl ads
The Super Bowl is a must-watch TV event, if not for the outcome of the biggest football game of the year, then at least for the multi-million dollar commercials that run throughout. And this year’s buzzworthy spots include celebrity appearances, homages to movies and lots of humor.
Continued ... -
VIDEO: Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction
More than 18,000 people descended on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney for the annual Groundhog Day celebration.
Continued ... -
New police chief sworn in
Robert Bokinsky is Pella's new police chief, with 32 years already served in law enforcement.
Continued ... -
Winter Family Times
-
More deer taken in Ottumwa's 2011-12 bow season
- Sports
-
-
Tyler Sash football career slide show
New York Giants safety Tyler Sash keys in on a Carolina Panthers ball carrier during a preseason game in 2011.
Here's a look back at New York Giants safety and Oskaloosa native Tyler Sash's football career from his rookie NFL season through his college career at Iowa and his days as an Oskaloosa Indian. The Giants face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Continued ... -
Giants’ Sash enjoying the ride
Oskaloosa native and New York Giants rookie safety Tyler Sash is set for action for this Sunday's Super Bowl XLVI.
Continued ... -
IMCA Mach-1 Sport Compacts new at Southern Iowa Speedway
There will be a different class of of racing vehicle this season at the Southern Iowa Speedway.
Continued ... -
William Penn Sports Report
The latest in William Penn sports.
Continued ... -
Oskaloosa YMCA Aerials competed at Chow’s gymnastics meet at Vet’s Auditorium
The Oskaloosa YMCA Aerials JO (Junior Olympic) Compulsory and Optional Teams competed at the 9th annual Chow’s Winter Classic Invitational in Des Moines at Vet’s Auditorium.
Continued ...
-
- Obituaries
