Now Is The Time For Invention Education

Supporting Student’s Social-Emotional Needs with Hands-On Learning

If there is one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught both educators and district administrators alike, it’s that there is only so much we can control. Because of this uncertainty, it can be difficult to determine if classes throughout the year will be held in person, at home or in a hybrid setting.

For both students and teachers, this uncertainty can cause feelings of anxiety. How does one plan for a pandemic that can change from week to week? How can we help both educators and children regain a sense of control and help restore that joy for learning and exploration?

At the National Inventors Hall of Fame^®, we believe that the solution can be found in invention education, a pedagogy that invites participants to discover or “invent” solutions to real-world problems through hands-on prototyping and exploration.

This paper explores the benefits of invention education and explains why now is the time for district administrators to rethink tradition and embrace this type of learning within their plans for the 2021-22 school year and beyond. Highlights include:

• Why educators should look beyond “COVID-19 slide” and consider supporting student’s social-emotional learning (SEL) needs.
• Research published by the Center on Reinventing Public Education articulating five clear findings speaking to the negative impacts of COVID-19 on students’ mental health.
• How invention education is both engaging for students and can be designed to meet the unique needs of school districts around the country.