Interested in mentoring in 2021?
Email [email protected] with your interest
The Chicago Student Invention Convention is a flexible curriculum focused on critical thinking, creativity, and innovation. It is supported by activities and lesson plans and culminates in a final competition of student-built prototypes.
The mission of the Chicago Student Invention Convention is to inspire curiosity, confidence, invention, and creative problem-solving in our youth, making every effort to ensure an enjoyable, rewarding, inspirational, and educational experience for every participant.
Community leaders, consultants, mechanical engineers, entrepreneurs, start-up CEOs — no matter your job, everyone has something to teach a curious student! Professionals in just about every field can contribute:
What can mentors contribute?
As a Mentor, your role is twofold. You will encourage and guide students on the invention process. In addition, you will also share insights about your career as a STEM, invention, or entrepreneurship professional and explain how your work impacts the world.
Mentors visit our participating sites and lead classroom discussions and activities. Even if your profession is not STEM-heavy, every professional can promote the guiding principles of the Invention Convention:
Share your real-world experience and career path with students and provide guidance and feedback on student inventions. Mentors visit our participating sites and lead classroom discussions and activities.
Some possible mentoring models to consider: on-site school visits, holding office hours (in-person or virtual), speaking engagements, leading ideation exercises with classrooms, hosting or connecting schools to organized events at your work, and more!
(Recommended: at least 5 hours of service between January and April)
You will receive your classroom match
Coordinate with your teacher to schedule the first visit, and subsequent visits
Classroom visits
Classroom visits
Classroom visits
Assist with school’s Invention Convention (optional)
Classroom visits
Judge inventions at citywide Chicago Student Invention Convention (optional) @ Illinois Tech on April 25
Complete Post-Experience Survey