Learning the process of inventing develops students' problem solving and creativity in the broadest sense. Inventing provides a unique opportunity for learners of all ages to synthesize and apply their knowledge and skills in an interdisciplinary, real-life manner. It places a strong emphasis on defining an actual problem, formulating an original solution, developing a product, and sharing the results or products with appropriate audiences. A unit on invention challenges students to become actively engaged in the learning process. The invention process provides an opportunity for all students to participate and be successful.
All children can identify problems in their homes or neighborhoods.
Almost every day of their lives they will face at least one problem. An unmade bed, a dog that eats the cat food, a mother who broke her leg and has to keep it elevated when she sits, or a grandfather who cannot grasp a bar of soap because of severe arthritis are all examples of real life problems identified and solved by New Hampshire students. By having students identify the problem to be solved, they become actively engaged in the learning process. Once the problem has been identified, the teacher and parent need to stand aside and watch them go. A unit on inventive thinking, which includes the production of an original invention, is limited only by the imaginations of the teachers and students.