9 reasons why today’s students are loving
innovation-based courses
-SHAILESH RATHOD
One of the most important aspects of reaching students in a
meaningful way is the ability to keep them engaged and engrossed in
their work. As digital natives, today’s students desire participatory,
not passive, learning experiences. Innovation-based courses are a fun,
challenging and effective way to provide personalized, cross-curricular
pathways.
Our district has implemented the
Inventionland Innovation Course
with great success. The course is based on Inventionland’s 9-step
inventing method and provides students with a real-life “Shark Tank”
experience where they create a product from the initial idea, to a
concept model, to a product pitch.
These kinds of project-based courses with roots in STEM, STEAM,
making, and constructivism are growing ever more popular and provide
real-world application of multiple core courses. As an educator, you
have to love that. So do the students!
Here are the 9 reasons why today’s students love innovation-based courses:
1. They own it. Put students in the driver’s seat
and watch them go! These courses are not geared toward memorizing facts,
but rather letting students take the wheel. When they have a vested
interest in the course, they become the designers, developers, and
owners of their learning journey.
2. They acquire employability skills. These are the
skills and behaviors necessary to be successful in any career. Employers
want people who can use creativity, critical thinking and collaboration
to solve problems. They seek candidates with exceptional time
management, planning and communication skills; all of these soft skills
are embedded in the 9-step inventing process.
3. Their eyes are opened to fresh ideas. Who says
daydreaming at school is a bad thing? Brainstorming serves as a catalyst
for these courses. Innovation is thought provoking and forces students
to think outside the box. The more their minds roam, the closer they
come to the curriculum!
4. They develop self-awareness and confidence.
Sometimes, students need to break out of their shells, as they
oftentimes discover both hidden talents and abilities. When given the
opportunity to customize their classroom experiences according to
personal interests and styles of learning, students become empowered to
take learning in their own direction.
5. They love getting their hands dirty. No idle
hands here. Given the choice between sitting at a desk or being up and
moving, the choice is pretty easy for most students. Whether it’s
cardboard and glue guns, or circuits and robotics, students are all in!
6. It allows for real-world application of computer and technical skills.
So, your school just built a makerspace, installed a media studio or
purchased 3D printers. Now what? Courses based on innovation provide a
practical use of cutting-edge technology so that students can be on the
frontlines of tomorrow’s careers.
7. They see things from another perspective. 21st
Century learners want instant gratification. These courses embrace
challenges and encourage students to capitalize on shortcomings. Failure
is an essential and constructive part of learning. It takes
perseverance and grit to have a substantial idea, create a prototype,
and work it through the design process.
8. They apply other subjects without even knowing it.
Let’s face it; sometimes we need to “trick” students into learning. And
that’s not a bad thing. Doing things in a new way is the essence of
innovation.
9. It all adds up to increased engagement. It’s a
win-win situation for students and teachers. Attendance and achievement
increase, and disengagement and behavioral incidents decrease. What’s
not to love about innovation-based courses?
The Inventionland Innovation Course is web-based and available
nationwide to students in grades 6-16. To explore a demo of the course
visit
www.inventionlandinstitute.com. To learn more about our district’s transformational journey, follow our
STEAM blog here.
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