Engaging Students in the Making of Good New Ideas
Table of Contents

9:00 - 10:30 - Laying the Groundwork

What do the ISTE and AASL standards expect in the way of thinking and invention? How does that contrast with old fashioned topical research and copy and paste thinking?

Module One - The Standards - 1
In what ways are many international reports and documents such as the AASL, ISTE and 21st Century standards all calling for the making of good new ideas?

Module Two - Definitions - 2
What do we mean by synthesis? invention? novelty? imagination? originality? inquiry?

Module Three - - The Crucial Role of Questions 3
How do questions and questioning support inquiry that produces new understandings?

10:45 - 11:45 - Synthesis and Puzzling

Meaningful inquiry involves students in wrestling with mysteries, puzzles, conundrums and difficult questions and issues that deserve thought and consideration. We expect students to weigh the thinking of experts and elders but then come up with their own positions, decisions and suggestions.

Module Four - - Puzzles, Mysteries and Conundrums 4
What is required to wrest meaning from the fog?

Module Five - - Adding, Subtracting, Meshing and Adjusting 5
Modifying one's view as evidence accumulates.

1:00 - 2:00 - A Half Dozen Synthesis Strategies

Module Six - - SCAMPER 6

Module Seven - - Slice-and-Dice 7

Module Eight - - Idea Box 8

Module Nine - - The Phoenix Checklist 9

Module Ten - - The Six Traits of Effective Writing 10

Module Eleven - - Brutethink 11

2:00 - 3:00 - A Half Dozen Synthesis Strategies

Module Twelve - - Hall of Fame 12

Module Thirteen - - Analogies - Rattlesnakes & Roses 13

Module Fourteen - - Just Suppose - What if? 14

Module Fifteen - - Dream On 15

Module Sixteen - - Play, Experimentation & Improvisation 16

Module Seventeen - - PMI 17

© Jamie McKenzie, 2008, all rights reserved. No copies can be made or distributed in any format without the express written permission of the author.