I am constantly amazed by the general lack of knowledge that seems to be prevalent  regarding civics and government. Sometimes I see it on TV when there is a complete inability for someone to answer a simple question about how our democracy works and the history of our country. Granted there are some tricky questions but knowing the three branches of government is not a trick question. And, I am sometimes embarrassed to ask friends if they know when the civil war was fought and some of the issues about that war. I fear that they will simply not know and possibly not care. And maybe I am just being overly sensitive about what I think  that all Americans should know about how our system works; or in some respects, does not work.
So, one thing led to another and I began to be curious about what a person seeking citizenship in the US had to know to become a citizen. I was particularly interested in what they had to know about civics and government. So, here is the scoop in a nutshell: Each candidate receives a workbook with 100 questions and the answers. The question covers war, presidents, congress, the constitution, and in general, information about how our system functions. When they take the actual test they are asked 10 questions, not multiple choice, and must answer 6 questions correctly. I initially thought that the bar was low, but considering the fact that they had to cover possibly 100 questions, maybe it is realistic. I suspect that most US schools teaching civics would consider 60% a failing grade.
I located the test questions which are multiple choice which makes the test easier, and took the test myself. And, although I missed a few, I always learn from what I get wrong. The test turns out to be a great review and a real learning experience. Of course, the test is only one part of a complicated process to become a citizen. All we have to do is be born here and we get a free pass.
Each page of the test has four multiple choice questions and at the bottom there are two boxes. "Generate Questions", and Review Answers". I found is better to answer the four question and review the answers for each page. Then hit Generate for the next four questions. The test is here. Perhaps it is unrealistic for me to expect that we should all have the same basis for discussion. But then, I still think that English should be our national language. Good luck!
 

Invention and creativity are sometimes considered the domain of special people; that somehow they are different and possess unique skills that allow them to be creative. Well, I am here to dispel that myth, and encourage anyone who wants to be creative to learn how. What you say? Being creative and inventing new things can be learned? Yes they can!
I have had the opportunity to teach “Invention and Creativity” at a local college and discovered first-hand that we all have the potential to be very creative. The course also included understanding US patents and “prior art” as part of the patent process, but, this post will cover only the creativity aspect of idea generation. As the holder of several US patents, I might be considered creative, but having patents is only one small aspect of the creative process. I have to add that none of my patents have made any money! But, that is a discussion for another post.
The class that I was teaching was predominately adult learners with very varied backgrounds. There were men and women from mostly working class and some single mothers who simply wanted to explore the possibilities of being creative and perhaps turning an idea into an income.
Humans have a very long history of being creative. From tools made of stone and then metal, the wheel, to drawings made in caves, we have built our civilization on ideas and the creative process. But, for practical purposes we have to consider what an idea is and how it evolves into a functional concept. We have to begin with what is an idea, and then, is it original, does it have utility, is it practical, can it be accomplished, is it worth the effort, and expenditure of time?
An idea is simply a representation of a thought or question. It can be really simple or extremely complex. Let’s take for example a paper clip. It is simply a piece of wire shaped to hold papers together. But, if we change the shape we can make a hook, a circle, a protractor for drawing, or any other shape that strikes our fancy. And what if we add a rubber band? A device for propulsion, or a musical instrument, may result. An idea has no boundaries unless we make them ourselves. This is the concept of “thinking outside of the box”. And then the question becomes, is it original?  I would argue that any idea that is not known to the inventor is original. If someone has never seen a paper clip and forms a wire into a shape to hold papers together, it is original to that inventor. However, once the inventor discovers that it has already been in use, it is now the concept of “reinventing the wheel”.  And, there is nothing wrong with replicating an idea; I have done it many times.
So how do we learn to be creative? Well, fortunately we are already wired to make connections between various items. The brain has the ability to synthesize new and novel concepts if we use the resident skills that we already possess. The first necessity is that of observation.  Looking carefully at what is around us provides food for the process. And, by looking I mean seeing how materials interact, what are they made of, what is the purpose and utility, and can the item be re-purposed? Work within your knowledge base and use information that is already in your vocabulary. If someone has a skill set in electronics, seeking new ideas can come from that knowledge but can be extended to many other areas. Experiment with what you see. Take it apart and reassemble it and find out what makes it tick. Research any idea to get a feel for what has been done and prevent unnecessary duplication and expand your knowledge base.  Use trial and error in your experiments and do some “blue sky thinking”.  Imagine what you may create if you don’t do it in a confined thinking space. Collaborate with others if possible and get feedback and considered opinion when possible.  Don’t assume that your first idea is the best way to solve a problem. I have fallen prey to this concern and find that coming up with an approach and thinking about it may open up other possibilities that may be better. And most of all, expect failure. I have written a post on failure here, and it is a positive part of the creative concept.
Uncovering your innate ability to invent and to be creative is a process. It takes time, effort, and the willingness to commit to a lifestyle of curiosity and risk. But the reward in making the attempt is worth the effort. Try it, you will like it!