Inventionland Institute

Inventionland Institute is a STEAM-based curriculum created by Inventionland founder George Davison that is currently being used in 35 schools in the United States. It utilizes creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication and teaches students how to bring an idea through the steps to inventing and patenting.

Conception

Inventionland Institute was created in 2014 to, according to Chief Executive Ken Burk, "encourage and assist innovative product development and design." It is project-based, research-driven, integrated and interdisciplinary, student-centered, utilizes meaningful integration of technologies, is rigorous, and adapts to and CREATES personal and social change.

Coursework

When using the 12-week course, students work collaboratively to generate IDeaS and make a concept model, and then engineer each part of their invention using CAD technology. Then, using 3D printing, students create a physical prototype, create external packaging, and develop a marketing pitch and informercial. According to Davison, "Students get to apply what they've learned in STEAM and leverage it in real world scenarios that will help them solve problem they are gong to face in business and in life." It is aligned to the PA standards and eligible content in all STEAM subject areas.

When students begin the course, which is online and cloud-based, they learn AbOUT a product called the "Bag Store" which stores grocery bags. Using that product, students break into small groups, identify their own innovative product idea and then follow all the steps that a real-world inventor would follow to develop the idea, design the product, and market it to a suitable target company as they work through the course. Throughout the course, students learn and apply skills in areas such as Internet research, concept model, computer-aided design, graphic design, 3D printing, communications, marketing, and video production. They also learn about patent law. Inventionland executive director Nathan Field serves as a mentor to the student throughout the course.

After adopting the curriculum, Inventionland Institute provides schools with materials needed to transform part of the school into a Creativity, Innovation & Research Center (CIRC space). For school adopting the K-4 curriculum, that includes clouds hanging from the ceiling, cafe-style booths and conversation couches, a green screen, tablets, murals and a treehouse.

At the end of the course, students present their inventions in a "Shark Tank" type of format to a team from Inventionland.