At the end of last year, PBS NewsHour Classroom unveiled its new Invention Education Fellowship — a program to help create community and share new ideas among educators excited about #InventionEd. Over the course of the fellowship, these educators will attend PDs and test out new lesson plans with their students.
What is Invention Ed?
We're glad you asked!
Invention Education is project-based learning that allows kids to practice their natural problem-solving abilities. With Invention Ed, students learn to brainstorm and create unique solutions, then share their inventions and get feedback to improve. Students are natural inventors and invention gives them tools to express their empathy and creativity by creating solutions to real problems! Would you like more
Meet the Fellows!
Kirstin Bullington
10th-12th Grade Next Energy Engineering teacher from Columbia, SC
School: Richland Two Institute of Innovation, Columbia, South Carolina
Favorite teacher growing up: "I had so many outstanding teachers that it's hard to pick just one, but Barbara Timmerman, my orchestra teacher from grades 6-12, was an inspiration in building confidence, showing empathy, and curiosity beyond just the subject she taught."
Favorite invention: "I love the Foldscope (an origami-type paper microscope): it makes the microscopic world invisible to so many in a creative way and has so many exciting possibilities about diagnosing malaria, cancer, and other conditions where diagnostic laboratories are not readily available."
Why Invention Ed?: "Invention education is a wonderful way to give students more agency and to discover their purpose in STEM. When engineering a solution for an actual problem the students have identified, they have far more buy-in and aptitude for STEM concepts."
Shawn Chesser
9th-12th Grade Science teacher from Hurley, MS
School: East Central High School, Moss Point, Mississippi
Favorite teacher growing up: "My 5th grade science teacher, Mrs. Merkerson"
Favorite invention: "The printing press. It opened up education to the common people, not just the rich and powerful."
Why Invention Ed? : "The multiple facets of invention education offer avenues to get a much larger audience interested in STEM fields. It is a natural way to include more underserved communities in the problem-solving process and shows students that anyone can make a difference in their community. Inventing teaches students that problems are obstacles that can be overcome, not barriers that stop them and cause them to fail."
Abraham Cohen-Garcia
9th-12th Grade Computer Science & Earth Science teacher from New York, NY
School: Bronx Arena High School, Bronx, New York
Favorite teacher growing up: "Mr. Kellogg (Social Studies Teacher!)"
Favorite invention: "Rock, then paper, then scissors."
Why Invention Ed? : "Invention education puts the learning in students' hands - it's a powerful tool for motivation and reflection!"
Jean Darnell
6th-8th Grade Librarian from Austin, TX
School: Dessau Middle School, Austin, Texas
Favorite teacher growing up: "Ron Shafer, who was my social studies teacher & 4th grade home room teacher."
Favorite invention: "The defibrillator to restart the heart via electric shock."
Why Invention Ed? : "I'd recommend checking it out because it's rooted in innovation and exploration. The imagination is equivalent to the infinite spanse of space. Invention education carves the path through the learning space."
Terri Dove, Ph.D.
6th-12th Grade Science & Health teacher from Bowie, MD
School: PGCPS Online Campus, Prince George's County, Maryland
Favorite teacher growing up: "Mr. Kachell, my 6th grade teacher, Trinity Christian School, Las Vegas, Nevada"
Favorite invention: "DVR (Digital Video Recorders): I've always loved TV. Growing up I missed some of the most iconic final episodes of my favorite sitcoms because of other activities. If I managed to record it on our family VCR, it was always at risk of being recorded over by my dad's sport event or mom's soap operas. As a busy educator and family member, having the ability to record my favorite shows, pause them (when interrupted frequently by my spouse) and fast forward past all the commercials/ads, has saved my marriage, my sanity and expanded my me time. As streaming takes over, I see it becoming obsolete, much like my beloved walkman. But for now, it still tops my list of all time favorite inventions."
Why Invention Ed? : "Invention education allows for real world application of content in every subject matter. Students are able to determine, investigate and collaborate around problems from the past, those issues happening right in their communities and predict future needs. Invention ed shows them that the solutions don't necessarily have to come from outside entities but they already have the tools to solve those problems. This is a mind shift that can reverberate for generations."
Ed Hernandez
9th-12th Grade Engineering teacher, Lead teacher & Director of T-Tech Academy from Tustin, CA
School: Tustin High School, Tustin, California
Favorite teacher growing up: "Mr. Leith, a hard-nosed 10th grade science teacher who always pushed for his students to 'be observant and follow directions.' My motto to this day."
Favorite invention: "The transistor. That single electronic component has transformed our society in ways that would have been unimaginable in the years before its invention."
Why Invention Ed? : "In order for our society to continue to advance, we need to transcend from being a nation of users to makers and inventors. Whereas engineering is applied math and science, Invention is applied engineering!"
Mary Lynn Hess
K-5 teacher from Sanford, FL
School: Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School, Sanford, Florida
Favorite teacher growing up: "Mr. Hargest"
Favorite invention: "Velcro"
Why Invention Ed? : "Sounds like a challenge!"
Rizza Husband
8th Grade English & U.S. History, 6th-8th Grade ELD & Student Leadership teacher from Oxnard, CA
School: Rio del Sol STEAM School, Oxnard, California
Favorite teacher growing up: "Mrs. Argend - 8th grade science"
Favorite invention: "The camera"
Why Invention Ed? : "I don't know much about it yet, but I am interested in the idea of students 'inventing' as a way of learning."
Tricia Kearns
6th Grade Science teacher from Northbrook, IL
School: Maple School (6-8), Northbrook, Illinois
Favorite teacher growing up: "My German Teacher-Herr L."
Favorite invention: "Simple-the wheel; Sophisticated-my Tile key tag"
Why Invention Ed? : "Kids love building and engineering things. They stay engaged and their minds are open to learning, exploring and innovation when they are doing."
Dr. Jean Langevine
K-12 District Science Specialist from Houston, TX
School: Galveston Independent School District, Galveston, Texas
Favorite teacher growing up: "My biology teacher"
Favorite invention: "Solar panels"
Why Invention Ed? : "I would encourage teachers who have never heard of Invention Education to check it out so that they can experience the whole new world beyond STEM. They will experience the use of their creative nature applied to SEP's."
Marty Momsen
7th Grade Life Science, 10th Grade Biology, & 11th-12th Grade Environmental Chemistry teacher from Winona, MN
School: Houston High School, Houston, Minnesota
Favorite teacher growing up: "Mr. Benson. He was from the same hometown where I currently teach!"
Favorite invention: "I am a fan of bicycles, vaccines, or the chia pet!"
Why Invention Ed? : "Great way to connect students with real world applications of science!"
Monika Moorman
3rd Grade Gifted teacher & 3rd-5th Grade Robotics & Coding Clubs sponsor from Fort Lauderdale, FL
School: Central Park Elementary School, Plantation, Florida
Favorite teacher growing up: "Autobiographies of scientists/inventors"
Favorite invention: "A basic needs invention: AC (since living in South Florida); a luxury invention: photocamera but also a printing press; do I have to pick one?? :D"
Why Invention Ed? : "Invention Education is about nurturing curiosity and fostering the culture of creating and inventing."
Carla Neely
7th-8th Grade Science & Computer Science teacher from Cleveland, OH
School: Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cleveland, Ohio
Favorite teacher growing up: "Mr. Williams - 7th Grade Science Teacher"
Favorite invention: "The home security system"
Why Invention Ed? : "Invention education teaches students about the importance of creating inventions that can help change the world."
Miriam Townsend
MultiMedia, Web Design & Personal Finance teacher from St. Louis, MO
School: McKinley Classical and Leadership Academy, St. Louis, Missouri
Favorite teacher growing up: "Dr. Slade"
Favorite invention: "The airplane and automobile"
Why Invention Ed? : "It gives you an opportunity to create and incorporate lessons that develop innovation."
Kevin Warfield
Pre-Engineering & Computer Science teacher from Lewisburg, WV
School: Greenbrier East High School, Lewisburg, West Virginia
Favorite teacher growing up: "Ronnie Hylton"
Favorite invention: "The electric guitar"
Why Invention Ed? : "I know it sounds cliché, but invention education empowers students. It is the first step to producing the generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers."
LaToya Washington
11th-12th Grade Environmental Systems teacher from Baytown, TX
School: North Shore Senior High, Houston, Texas
Favorite teacher growing up: "I can't name just one. I'm still in contact with many of my former teachers, and they still motivate me and push me to be my best."
Favorite invention: "The smartphone"
Why Invention Ed? : "Not only does it allow students to create solutions to problems, it teaches the importance of collaboration, troubleshooting, and being empathetic to the plight of others."
Interested in becoming a PBS NewsHour Classroom Invention Education Fellow for the 2023-2024 school year? Email education@newshour.org and let us know a little about yourself (grades 5-12, any subject).
Fellowship will meet virtually two times in the summer and then virtually a few more times during the school year. It is fun, filled with smart, friendly teachers, and you will love it -- stipend included!
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