Join this engaging, hands-on course and experience science in a fun way. Sign up and learn the engineering process. Future innovators and inventors are especially welcomed!
How to get the most out of Inspiration, Invention, Innovation with Kathy Dutton:
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First, read the course materials below before the first class meeting.
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Then have a notebook ready and available for class notes each live session.
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Read assignments before class meetings
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Watch that week’s recording if you need to revisit information from our live session.
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Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that week.
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Once the course is completed to the parent's and professor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.
Duration: 50 minutes
Prerequisite: None. However, one of the following is recommended: Physical Science, Chemistry, or Physics
Suggested grade level: 7th to 12th grade.
Suggested credit: 2/3 semester Science or Engineering.
Instructor: Kathy Dutton
Instructor email: kathys.chemistry@gmail.com
Course description: This is a hands-on course. Students will go through the engineering process to develop and build a project of their own choosing. Each class will have a short lecture; the rest will be class discussion. Participation is required.
Course outline:
- Introduction. pt. 1: What Is an Invention?
- Introduction, pt. 2: The Invention Process & Journaling
- Identifying Problems
- Brainstorm Solutions
- Criteria & Constraints of the Solution
- Design Project
- Build Project
- Test Project
- Refine Project
- Communicate Results
Course materials: Computer with a microphone. (This is an interactive class; microphones are mandatory.)
Ability to take and submit pictures and video (a smartphone will suffice).
Materials (and tools) to complete their project; these may be household materials or things you need to purchase.
Parental supervision (and possibly help) is required during the build and testing phase.
Homework: A final project (including a short video presentation) is required. Weekly requirements may include a short quiz, pictures of the project, copies of journal entries, a short essay, and/or a self-assessment. Parents will be required to complete a short parental assignment of their student’s work at the end of the course (due with the final project). Time requirements will vary depending on the project. Students are expected to spend at least 3 hours per week (outside of class) on their project. Mrs. Dutton will give an overall grade for this course.
- Teacher: Kathy Dutton