Science Programmes: Innovation Programme (IvP)
Aim
IvP provides a unique opportunity for pupils to develop their problem-solving and inventive skills.
Objective
- To come up with innovative ideas or products
- To develop problem-solving and inventive skills
- To engage in productive problem-solving scenarios
- To be exposed to knowledge and experiences beyond the classroom through interaction with expert-mentors from tertiary institutions and other organisations and
- To instil a need to respect and protect intellectual property rights
Programme Description
IvP which is scheduled from January to October, seeks to develop pupils' creativity through the following activities:
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IvP Launch
The Launch is a half-day event which provides a platform to inspire pupils about innovation and provide them with some ideas on how to start their projects. Previous IvP participants also share their experiences with the novice innovators.
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IvP Lessons
The focus of these lessons is to teach pupils the skills and strategies for generating ideas and evaluating solutions, conducting surveys to gather information on products, writing reports on their inventions and making prototypes. These sessions which are conducted by teacher-mentors enable pupils to work in groups to share ideas and give positive suggestions on one another's innovation.
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Draft Sessions
For the first half of the year, participants work actively on a self-selected project under the guidance of a teacher-mentor. At the 3 Draft Sessions, participants interact with expert-mentors by tapping on them for their expertise and experiences to enrich their project experience.
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IvP Seminar
A one-day seminar is organised for the Primary 5 and Secondary 2 pupils sometime in May/June at the National University of Singapore. This Seminar provides an opportunity for teachers and expert-mentors to do a final evaluation of the pupils' products. It also provides a platform for every school to showcase their best projects to a panel of judges. The seminar also exposes the participants to the skills involved in “packaging and marketing” their innovative product as well as imbue in them the need to respect and protect intellectual property rights. A session on poster-making is also included in the seminar to prepare the pupils for the Young Innovators' Fair.
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Young Innovators’ Fair
IvP culminates in the Young Innovators' Fair, where selected participants showcase their projects through a stage presentation and poster exhibition. A prototype of the product, developed by the pupil(s), would also be featured in the Fair.
IvP is jointly organised by the Gifted Education Branch and the following institutions:
- National University of Singapore
- Nanyang Technological University
- Nanyang Polytechnic
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic
- Singapore Polytechnic
- Temasek Polytechnic
- Innovators and Entrepreneurs Association
All projects are published and archived in the Innovation Programme website.
An article on the Young Innovators’ Fair 2008 can be found on the Intellectual Property of Singapore (IPOS) website.
Target Group
The IvP is open to Primary 5 and Secondary 2 pupils, in selected schools, who have an interest in innovation and invention.
Note: For Primary GEP pupils, the IvP Project can be done as an Individualised Research Study (IRS) project.