How do you enter?
Individual students and teams (no more than four students) can enter. Your school must register first to receive the teacher organiser pack. Register here at entries@educationfoundation.org.au or call the Dreams and Schemes Coordinator on (03)9650 4277
Students must submit their entry on the official entry form available here and emailed to entries@educationfoundation.org.au by September 19th 2003

Students will be asked in the official entry form questions such as:

1. Describe your invention
2. Explain how you think your invention will help others.
3. We want to know why you think your invention is original?
4. As an inventor what were the major challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

They will also be asked to provide a flow chart or history of how they developed their idea. Students are provided with an example of a flow chart on the entry form. They can either copy and add their text to the example and send to the judges as part of their entry or they can develop their own flow chart.

Either way, your students should be encouraged to keep a journal to record their progress and research endeavours to help them with their final entry.
How long does it take?

Students have from April to September to do their research and come up with ideas and inventions. Entries must be submitted by Friday, September 19. Finalists will be notified during October and travel to Melbourne for an interview with the judges on Sunday, 25 October. Prize winners will be notified on October 31 and attend the Awards Presentation Ceremony in Melbourne on Wednesday, November 12.

What do Students have to submit by Friday September 19?
They will need to tell the judges about their invention and how they went about it (what happened). Following are questions taken from the Official Entry Form.

• Describe your invention
  ie/ What it does, what it is made from, how it is used and anything else you think the judges might need to know.
• Explain how you think your invention will help others. What made you think up your great invention? Why do you think someone would want to buy your invention?
• Tell the judges why you think your invention is original. You will need to research your idea and explain how it is different to what is currently available.
• Tell the judges about any problems and challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
• Create a flow chart or concept map to show how your invention developed from a great idea to something people would be willing to buy.
  

If your students goes into the next round of judging (October 25th) they will be asked to present their Design Brief and a Model or Chart of their invention to the judges in an interview.

Getting permission for publicity
Students may be asked to talk to the press and do interviews. The school should ensure that the student and family concerned has given relevant permission for the student’s image to be used. Please refer to Point 15 in the Official Guidelines.

Steps that students should take to research their idea:

Keeping records
Students should record all work in a journal, and it will make submitting their entry a lot easier.
A journal can simply be recorded in a workbook or exercise book. Students can write information, draw pictures, charts and diagrams. Students could take photos or make a mock-up of their invention.
List all the books, Internet sites and other references that are used. Students should make a note in their journal of the web address and the date the site was visited. For books, list the title, the author, the publisher and the pages used. The publisher’s name is found on the title page inside the book, or in the fine print on the back of the title page (this is called the imprint page).

Market Research
Once the students has a prototype (working model) of their invention they will have to make sure enough people will want to buy the invention in the right shape, form and size (and maybe colour) and at the right price.

Desk research
Students should be encouraged to read industry magazines and journals that could relate to their invention.
They can also search the Internet for information about other products and potential markets.

People research
They will need to talk to retailers about what sells. They might talk to people who would use the product and get their opinion. The more people asked, the more accurate their research will be.

Prizes
Primary School Students
6 prizes for best Individual Inventions - $200 and a framed certificate.
6 prizes for best Team Inventions - $400 and framed certificates.

Secondary School Students

9 prizes for best Individual Inventions - $200 and a framed certificate.
9 prizes for best Team Inventions - $400 and framed certificates.

Out of these prize winners the judges will announce the 2003 Most Outstanding Invention – an extra $200 and a trophy.

Top School Award
$500 and framed certificate

15 Framed certificates for Judges’ Commendation Awards
50 Meritorious Awards
Every student will receive a participation award.