Category Archives: STEM

Join the 2017 Thomas Edison Invention Challenge

All you K-12 inventors out there … it’s time again for the Thomas Edison Invention Challenge, the 2017 cycle. Check it out here: Edisoninventionchallenge.org

Join the 2017 Thomas Edison Invention Challenge

The Challenge started in 2010 to celebrate the spirit of invention, and to spur young folks to strive to become the next Thomas Edison! When Edison created his invention factory concept [later to become corporate R&D labs], he used a team-based, integrated or interdisciplinary, head and hands, approach to new product development— exactly what we recognize today as STEM. We can think of Edison as the original “STEM-meister”.

This cycle will challenge inventors to develop things that improve the qualitative life of people-the betterment of society in representative categories:

Alternate energy technology applications
Assisting the handicapped
Medically relevant products
Educational games
Intel Edison smart chips and coding for robotic/prosthetic applications

Winners receive 3D Printers and other cool prizes!
Virtual Competition- All submissions must be uploaded through a shared google drive folder. We do not accept any other type of submissions outside of Google drive.
K-12 Students are eligible to participate
$250 Teacher Stipend to all schools who complete the competition (1 per school)

Last year’s Challenge [2016] involved 13 States, 50+ schools, 2 countries, & well over 100 teams. Interested?

Questions? Contact: EIC@picoTurbine.com
Main Contact: edisoninventionchallenge@gmail.com

Don’t let the invention parade pass you by!

Several of Last year’s winners:

Middle School

High School

Thomas Edison Loves Young Inventors

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Nothing would please Edison more than to see students interested in serious invention activities; and so with the completion of the Edison Innovation Foundation’s 5th annual alternate technology competition, the great inventor would be most happy.

Traditionally a NJ event, this year the Foundation expanded the competition to the national level. Nine (9) states were represented by sixty-four (64) teams vying for top honors. A key aspect of the competition-it was done totally virtually. The teams fulfilled all requirements of the competition via computer-even submitting their presentation videos via email to be judged by twelve members of the engineering, academic, business, and consulting community. Here are the winners, by division, state, and team name!

High School Division

1st Place: High Point Regional HS, New Jersey, (Purple Dragons-for a ski lift energy solution)
2nd Place: New Providence HS, New Jersey, (Zhang Plus One-for a parabolic boiler)
3rd Place: Morris Knolls HS, New Jersey, (ZFN2 Team 1-for an electric car charged through a photovoltaic array)

Middle School Division

1st Place: Banks Trail MS, South Carolina, (The Chargerz-for a wireless cell phone solar charger that could be used during catastrophic events, or in locations without electricity)
2nd Place: Howell MS North, New Jersey, (Artificial Intelligence-for a sun grill)
3rd Place: Linwood MS, New Jersey, (Team 4-for an improved flight data recorder)

Honorable Mentions

Albert Bridge Elementary School, Vermont, (The Edisons-for a wind powered phone charger)
Chaney STEM Campus, Ohio, (Thomas Friends-for a sustainable swimming pool)

Great effort everyone! Shown below are several selected photos of the winners.

High School Third Place Winners

Middle School First Place Winners

Teachers, school principals, students out there … participate in next year’s national competition. Join in the fun and competitive spirit.

Thomas Edison said, “I find out what the world needs. Then I go ahead and try to invent it.”

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Edison Invention Challenge – 2014 Awards

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Thirty-six teams of students came to compete in the fourth annual Thomas Edison Invention Challenge. Students ranging from 5th grade to high school, participated in this popular invention competition. Last year twenty-seven teams were involved.

Held on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology [NJIT] on Saturday, March 29th, 2014, this energy technology themed competition capped 4 months of work by the student teams. Teams from all over northern and central New Jersey and Staten Island got up bright and early to bring their inventions and excitement to NJIT. Judges examined each team entry and interviewed them to learn the specifics of their creations. Here below are photos and explanations of the winning entries and teams. In addition to the three top-ranking awards highlighted below, each judge gave out an honorable mention award to a deserving team in a special category.

1st Place Team from Northern Highlands Regional High School – Invented a Solar Survival Kit

2nd Place Team from High Point Regional High School aka “The Green Team” – Invented the Eye in the Sky, a fuel cell/battery powered quad-copter for surveillance

3rd Place Team from Waldwick High School aka “Team Warriors” – Invented a Solar Cooler

Great work student teams! Thomas Edison would be proud. To see more pictures from this event, visit and ‘like’ our Facebook page.

“Hell, there are no rules here – we’re trying to accomplish something.”

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

Setting the Tone for an Innovative School Year

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Many teachers, including myself take the summertime to relax, recharge and reflect on what is working in their classrooms, and what needs to be modified and updated. A laundry list of modifications and good intentions continues to develop as the first days of school draw near. Too often, the ambitious list of improvements gives way to the reality of preparing a classroom, in-service days, seating charts, attendance and grading policies.

Teachers must make it clear to our students that in order to become truly innovative in the classroom, they will need to take risks and be prepared to fail. As teachers, we too often place such emphasis on getting the correct answer the first time, that we fail to remember that it was Thomas Edison who said, “I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Students need our support and guidance, while they experience failure along the road to success. Students are conditioned from an early age to play it safe, and go for the sure thing that will satisfy the problem the teacher has presented. What we do not do often enough, is leave problems open ended and encourage the ideation and creativity that can only exist when the risk of punitive failure is removed.

A method I use in my technology education classroom is allowing students to document their work thoroughly throughout the process. They document research, design idea, the build process, and the results of the testing of their product. Following this, they evaluate what they would change, and why. This authentic learning allows students not only the ability to take a risk, but justify their reasoning, and evaluate and synthesize decisions made. Overall, this is a very powerful learning experience.

So keep it innovative, but keep it structured. Allow for freedom of design, but insist on justification and reflection. Allow your students the opportunity to experiment, invent, and create in an environment that truly encourages innovation.