[Thoughts] 2023 Hualien County Dreams Take Flight - 10th Exhibition for Young Inventors

The cover photo was taken on the way to the national competition with another team from our school on January 26, 2024.

Seeing my wholehearted dedication and enthusiasm for scientific inquiry in the Student Research Competition, the school invited me to join the guidance team for this year’s Youth Invention Exhibition. It was my first time serving as a mentor, and I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. With a careful and attentive mindset, I led the students through brainstorming sessions, encouraging them to identify problems in daily life and design innovative solutions. From the initial conception to practical implementation, every step required careful thought and effort, but also brought a great sense of accomplishment.

On one occasion, the students and I discussed the potential dangers that visually impaired individuals may encounter while walking. We decided to use the materials available at school, an ultrasonic sensor and a buzzer, along with Scratch programming commands to create an affordable and easy-to-use warning device. When an obstacle appears in front of the user, the device detects it and emits an alert sound, helping to ensure safer mobility.

Two teams from our school participated in the exhibition. The other team also needed to program their device modules, and when they encountered errors in the code, I assisted in troubleshooting and correcting the programs. When their mentor expressed gratitude for my help, I felt a deep sense of joy and accomplishment. Through this competition, we had the opportunity to exchange ideas, share guidance experiences, and learn from each other, gaining a wealth of insights.

Although the first project I mentored did not advance in the county-level competition, I did not feel discouraged. Instead, I reflected carefully on the possible reasons for not being selected: perhaps similar products already existed in the market, or the sensor was not sensitive enough during on-site operation, or other projects simply performed better. Fortunately, the participating teams were invited by the Hualien County Education Department to visit National Taiwan Normal University to see the entries from across the country. Witnessing the creativity and innovation of students nationwide inspired me greatly and provided valuable preparation for guiding students more effectively in the future.

Photo Dump

See Also

• Official Website of the Youth Invention Exhibition.
• Introduction Video.