Program on Teaching Innovation
The teaching of U.S. and world history is incomplete if it does not address the history of innovation from economic, scientific/technological, and sociological perspectives. We feel it important for students to be encouraged both to explore the role of innovation in U.S. and world history and to develop their own sense of innovation and creativity.
FPRI’s Program on Teaching Innovation is co-directed by Lawrence Husick, co-founder and principal system architect of Infonautics Corporation (now HighBeam Research, Inc.); Alan Luxenberg, and Paul Dickler. Rocco L. Martino, Ph.D., founder of XRT and CyberFone, is the Program’s Senior Fellow.
Papers
- The Technological Revolution, Maury Klein, FPRI FootNotes, 7/2008
- Technological Innovation and National Security, Paul Bracken, FPRI E-Notes, 6/2008
- More Than Just Tools and Toys: Teaching Innovation, Lawrence A. Husick, FPRI FootNotes 5/2008
- A Strategy for Success: Innovation Will Renew American Leadership (12 pages, 187K
), Rocco Leonard Martino, in Orbis Spring 2007
Classroom Lessons
- Matching Innovations to New Technologies, Paul Dickler (41K Microsoft Word document)
- Brainstorming Innovation, Paul Dickler (39K Microsoft Word document)
- Innovation and Inventions, Paul Dickler (39K Microsoft Word document)
- History of Information Technology, Paul Dickler (34K Microsoft Word document)
- Innovation Timelines, Paul Dickler (38K Microsoft Word document)
Additional Resources
- Technology Review, an MIT publication
- The Futurist, a World Future Society publication, “Outlook 2008”
- National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges for Engineering Â
- The Economist
- Search under economic innovation, innovation, invention. See in particular April 28-May 4, 2007 “When Everything Connects”.
- http://www.ideafinder.com/history/timeline
- This website provides an extensive listing of innovations and inventions mixed
- www.inventnow.org
- This website includes a link for patents and is very student friendly.
- Quantum Books: Creativity, Innovation and Problem Solving
- YouTube Innovation Challenge
- Here are some of the more compelling entrants in a global contest to conjure creative uses of everyday objects. The event was organized by Stanford University, through its Technology Ventures program. Anyone in the world could enter. The assignment was to take ordinary rubber bands and "add value" to them. You can see the 114 YouTube videos made by the entrants through this portal.
- YouTube video of Michael Wesch, KSU, “The Students of Today”
- Thunderbolt Thinking: Innovation Report
- Presents findings from 1999 and 2000 Thunderbolt Thinking Innovation surveys. Five insights were gained: innovation happens by leveraging change, innovation requires systematization, innovation demands leadership, innovation thrives on an organic process, and innovation creates value. There is also a Closing the Gap section where findings are presented on where the gaps exist in relation to the five innovation insights
- Innovation Tools
- Provides information regarding innovative tools, resources, and strategies. Topics include articles on creativity, enterprise innovation, innovation in the news, innovation research, book reviews, and much more
- Technology Review: Ten Emerging Technologies That Will Change Your World
- Includes profiles of the innovators who are responsible for them. Site requires free registration.
- The Lemelson-MIT Awards for Invention and Innovation
- An awards program run in coordination with MIT that grants large cash prizes to American inventors. The site includes profiles of inventors, games, trivia, resources, and an inventor's handbook.
- Lemelson Center for Innovation
- Extensive online articles, links and other resources
- History Inventions Web Resources
- A listing of web sites dedicated to providing a showcase for inventions. “Read about these innovations, and investigate the many interesting facts about why they were successful. Some may have made this a better place. They all made a difference.”
- History Inventors Web Resources
- A listing of Web sites dedicated to providing a showcase for inventors and their inventive accomplishments. “Examine their innovations, and investigate the many interesting facts about their lives.”
- Patent and Trademark Web Resources
- http://ideafinder.com/resource/web/rpo-patsearch.htm