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Title: Open Innovation Challenge to Mitigate Global Warming
The purpose of science competitions or science fairs in STEM education is to provide students with opportunities to experience and practice science as it is practiced and experienced in the real world. The Innovate to Mitigate project hosts an annual open innovation challenge for students aged 13-18 to develop methods for mitigating global warming. Over several weeks, students innovate, develop prototype solutions, and engage with peers and with scientists online about their developing ideas. Finally, they submit videos and papers for discussion and judging by a panel of scientists. Submissions over the past few years have included projects over a wide range of domains, for example, energy conservation, renewable energy, agricultural innovations, or social/behavioral change. Framing learning goals for science fairs and science competitions around phenomena that are meaningful to young people offers the opportunity to make direct connections to relevant science and to understand how science is useful in society. We offer suggestions based on what we have learned that provide multiple ways for teachers to begin to support students in learning and effectively using the science practices. Carefully designed competition environments can reveal students as effective problem-solvers, unleash their imaginations, and help them to innovate.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1908117
PAR ID:
10524183
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Publisher / Repository:
National Science Teachers Association
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Connected Science Learning
Volume:
5
Issue:
5
ISSN:
2475-8779
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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