An individual’s ability to innovate and act entrepreneurially is often the catalyst that drives enormous gains for society and cuts across all industries. Instilling these skills and attributes in high school students is critical to their future success and necessary to help solve current global challenges. This session presents two complementary and successful models: a classroom curriculum and an online collaboration. Attendees can share ideas and explore how these models and their rubrics may be leveraged to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
At Georgetown High School in Massachusetts, innovation is critical to a required 9th grade course where students identify a problem and invent a product or service to solve the problem. Students design prototypes and then apply concepts of entrepreneurship to create a business plan to launch their product/service. Students gain feedback through online blogs and make video “infomercials” about their inventions for an end-of-course showcase.
Project Lead the Way’s web-based “Innovation Portal” enables students, teachers, and mentors to build and collaborate on problem-solving projects, and then connect with opportunities offered by universities, businesses, and industry. This secure portal is available at no charge. Students upload information and invite others to comment on their work. The Portal includes a portfolio template, scored examples, and a research-based rubric. All are organized around a design process that opens participation to anyone and any project topic.
Join us as we explore how these two programs can engage your high school students in designing and implementing innovative solutions to real-world problems.