Creativity In Imagination
Gampel Pavilion, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
On Saturday, May 3rd, 2008, we attended the 25th year of Connecticut Invention Convention in Gampel Pavilion - University of Connecticut, in Storrs, CT.
The Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC) is a non profit organization dedicated to the goals of promoting critical and creative thinking. The CIC has also helps prepare our children for future productivity and success.
A total of almost 500 student finalists from different schools (including homeschools) in Connecticut gathered to compete for Recognition Awards and celebrate their achievement in problem solving and critical thinking.
The students were asked to identify a problem or need and then to invent something to solve the problem. They also had to make sure that their invention had not already been created and then, with a budget of no more than $25, build their invention.
They had also to make a display boards explaining the problem and the steps taken to solve it, how they made their inventions and what they did.
Many students who had participated in the CIC credited their later interest in science, math and engineering to their early experience with "inventing."
Many young CT inventors had appeared on the Martha Stewart, Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres and Cyberchase shows, and even been recognized by a US Secretary of Energy for their inventiveness and creativity.
Homeschooling Kids in CIC 2008
You can see the list of winners in the 25th year of Connecticut Invention Convention website.
This competition was very good for kids. The kids learned and invented something that didn't exist before. All young inventors will become brain of tomorrow. Their problem solving ability will help drive a more robust economy and develop new products. The kids will always discover new ways to solve any problem they might encounter.
Insha Allah, next year more Muslim kids will join in the CIC.
A Short Story About Going To Convention of The Invention
That Saturday morning, we were ready to go to I-95 highway, but we forgot to bring the invented stuff in our car. We had to go back home again to take the invented stuff for the display in University of Connecticut. It was almost 9am. It took about an hour to go the University of Connecticut.
At 9:50am, we arrived in there. The opening ceremony already started.
We had to do the admission first to find out the number of table for displaying the invention. Alhamdulillah, we were right on time.
My daughter was so distressed about going down the stairs to put her display in table 48. Alhamdulillah, a staff helped her to go to the table and to put her invention's board.
After the opening ceremony, the judge started to go down to see the display and to interview the students about their inventions.
The parents and the teachers were busy, such as having the science teachers forum, looking around on the booths, taking care the siblings, tour on campus, etc....
When the judge finished interviewing her. She heard that one of the judges said "sockingly true" about her inventions. She thought that he looked socking about the inventions.
At 12:30pm, we were having lunch and went to Islamic Center of the University of Connecticut to pray Zuhur at 1pm.
My husband did sholat ba'da Zuhur such a long time.
We were waiting in the car.....waiting, waiting, and waiting. The time was 1:50pm.
We had to be back to the Gampel Pavilion at 1:30pm for annoucement of the winners.
At 2pm, we were back again in the Gampel Pavilion. It was right on time, my daughter was announced that she won for special award. What a relieve that we were on time again in there. Alhamdulillah, we didn't miss anything.
Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, and alhamdulillah.
This is only the beginning of our journey in homeschooling.
May Allah always increase our knowledge. Ameen.
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