Strengthen Academic Growth With Hands-On Programs

As schools look for effective strategies to address learning loss, invention education can serve as a powerful intervention solution. Between summer learning loss, screen time and chronic absenteeism, students benefit when there are opportunities that actively hook and engage them in dynamic learning and skill building. Whether districts are focused on supporting early literacy, improving math scores or increasing attendance rates, the hands-on STEM and real-world problem solving that come with inventing can ignite learning and help students retain skills.

Read on to learn how student-centered enrichment programs are closing learning gaps and engaging students with hands-on STEM.

Prioritize Hands-On Learning

Hands-on learning can help address learning loss by creating experiences that make academic concepts tangible, relevant and memorable. It allows students to put their existing knowledge into action, explore ideas in tangible ways and practice building core STEM skills.

Active learning experiences give tactile and kinesthetic learners meaningful ways to approach collaboration, experimentation and discovery. When students can see the results of their thinking, they gain confidence in their ability to solve problems. Consistent participation in year-round, hands-on enrichment programs also can help students overcome learning loss and continue building essential skills.

Empower Learners With Invention Project

Programs grounded in purposeful, project-based learning can reinforce core skills while giving students room to play, investigate and persist through challenges. For educators and district leaders, the goal is to select enrichment opportunities that make a difference for students.

Invention Project^®, an invention education program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame^®, is designed to engage K-6 students through hands-on exploration. The program reconnects children with the joy of learning through STEM challenges that promote creativity, problem solving and innovative thinking.

Guiding learners to explore a wide range of concepts, from engineering and STEM to entrepreneurship and innovation, the standards-aligned curriculum reinforces key learning objectives. By tapping into students’ innate curiosity, the hands-on experiences in Invention Project drive student engagement and help children grow into confident creators.

In Invention Project, learners put ideas into action by making choices, testing solutions and adjusting their approach based on what they discover. Through this kind of tinkering, students practice problem solving, collaboration and persistence while applying STEM in meaningful ways. These engaging experiences can help learners continue building skills and confidence as they work to overcome learning gaps.

Benefits of Invention Project

• Builds confidence in STEM learning
• Strengthens creative problem-solving skills
• Encourages collaboration and persistence
• Helps learners develop an inventive mindset

Keep Inspiring Students

Looking for more strategies to unlock student potential? Read our most recent white paper to learn more about the power of early invention education.