Inventionland Education is revolutionizing classrooms, STEM Labs, and CTE centers across America by introducing Innovation Labs®—immersive, hands-on learning environments that ignite creativity, foster collaboration, and transform traditional education into an exciting, student-driven experience.

A New Era of Learning Spaces

Innovation Labs® replace conventional classrooms with vibrant, themed environments that captivate students’ imaginations and encourage active participation. These dynamic spaces are tailored to various age groups, ensuring that every student, from kindergarten to high school, engages in an environment conducive to exploration and discovery.

Integrating Real-World Skills

At the heart of these labs is Inventionland’s award-winning applied STEM curriculum, which guides students through a nine-step process of ideation, prototyping, and pitching their inventions. This approach enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills and bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications. Students can work with materials like 3D printers and electronics, bringing their ideas to life and gaining valuable experience in innovation.

Empowering Educators and Students

The Inventionland applied STEM curriculum empowers teachers to adopt a facilitator role, guiding students through exploratory learning rather than traditional lecturing. This shift encourages students to take ownership of their education, fostering independence and a deeper understanding of the material.

Transforming Communities

The impact of Innovation Labs® extends beyond the classroom. By revitalizing underutilized spaces, schools can create hubs of creativity and learning without the need for extensive new construction. These transformations have been recognized nationally, with Innovation Labs® receiving prestigious awards and accolades for their contribution to education.

Inventionland Education’s Innovation Labs® are more than just classrooms—they are catalysts for change, inspiring a new generation of thinkers, creators, and thinkers. By providing engaging, exciting, and decidedly different environments, they are reshaping the educational landscape and preparing students for future challenges.

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At Inventionland Education, we believe in the power of immersive learning to inspire creativity and foster innovation. Our Innovation Labs® and award-winning applied STEM curriculum have transformed how students and educators approach problem-solving, invention, and learning. To give you an inside look at the transformative experiences our programs provide, we’ve curated a collection of experiential videos that showcase the impact of our Innovation Labs®, professional learning programs, and STEM curriculum.

Step Inside the World of Innovation Labs®

Our videos provide a captivating look at how Inventionland’s Innovation Labs® immerse students in a hands-on learning environment that sparks experimentation and creativity. These labs are not just spaces. They are dynamic environments that guide students through every step of the invention process—from brainstorming ideas to developing prototypes. The videos vividly demonstrate how these spaces foster collaboration, critical thinking, and a passion for learning, empowering students to turn their ideas into real-world solutions.

Hear From Educators and Students

Our video collection features amazing stories from educators and students who have experienced the power of Inventionland Education firsthand. These stories are not only inspiring but also evidence of our programs’ tangible impact on schools and classrooms across the country.

Educators discuss how our applied STEM curriculum and Innovation Labs have transformed their teaching methods, giving them the tools and confidence to create more engaging, project-based learning experiences. Students share how the Innovation Labs® have ignited their curiosity, helping them realize the potential of their own ideas and creativity.

Award-Winning Applied STEM Curriculum

Our award-winning applied STEM curriculum is at the heart of our experiential videos, designed to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in the modern world. Our videos demonstrate how the curriculum blends creativity and technical knowledge, challenging students to think like inventors and problem-solvers.

Educators can see how the curriculum encourages a hands-on, experiential approach to learning, making it easy to understand how it can positively impact any district, school, or classroom.

Watch and Learn More

We invite you to explore these videos and get a closer look at the world of Inventionland Education. Visit our video pageto see how Innovation Labs®, professional learning, and our applied STEM curriculum inspire the next generation of inventors and innovators.

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Innovation is the lifeblood of student progress, and its heartbeat 

Our Innovation Labs are not just spaces; they are incubators of ideas. They bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds to explore, experiment, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Unlike traditional classrooms or workspaces, our Innovation Labs are immersive environments that engage all the senses, breaking down barriers between disciplines and encouraging participants to think outside the box.

At Inventionland Education, we are pioneers in creating transformative spaces like Innovation Labs. We understand the link between environment and creativity and use this knowledge to inspire and empower learners of all ages through our innovative designs.

At the heart of these labs lies the belief that innovation thrives in environments prioritizing exploration and discovery. From age-appropriate settings to state-of-the-art technology, every element is carefully selected to stimulate the imagination and fuel curiosity. Whether it’s a castle, treehouse, or a futuristic science fiction scene, each lab is designed to transport participants to a world where anything is possible.

But it’s not just about the aesthetics—functionality is crucial. Inventionland Education works with schools and districts to consider and integrate any maker machines a school may already have. From 3D printers to laser cutters, electronic kits, and robotics, we’ll design, construct, and install suitable environments to maximize their use.

Central to the success of Innovation Labs is our emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. These spaces create the foundation for creative ideas and collective problem-solving by bringing together individuals with diverse perspectives and skill sets. 

Whether through structured projects or informal brainstorming sessions, participants learn to use collaboration to drive innovation forward.

Our Innovation Labs are not just about theory but about action. They provide opportunities for active engagement and real-world application of knowledge, empowering participants to become creators rather than passive consumers. Whether building a prototype, coding a new product, or designing a marketing campaign, learners can explore their interests and pursue their passions.

Immersive Innovation Labs represent a beacon of hope in an increasingly complex world. These transformative spaces empower the next generation of student innovators to shape the future by fostering imagination, creativity, and collaboration. With organizations like Inventionland Education leading the way, the possibilities are limitless. 

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Grant Components and Structure

The Inventionland® Education Innovation Grant Cycle is a multifaceted initiative that empowers educators to reshape their teaching environments and curricula. 

The grant is considered a stackable, or supplemental grant, which pays for a part, but not all, of the cost for Innovation Labs, our K12 applied STEM curriculum and professional learning. Here’s a breakdown of its core components:

1. Immersive Innovation Labs:: The grant offers schools the resources to set up state-of-the-art Innovation Labs. These labs transcend traditional classrooms, providing students with dynamic spaces to brainstorm, collaborate, and engage in hands-on learning experiences. The labs foster an environment that nurtures creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. While it doesn’t pay for the entire amount, it helps to bridge the gap of the necessary financial resources to implement the spaces.
2. Inventionland®Applied-STEM Curriculum: At the heart of the grant cycle lies the Inventionland®Applied-STEM curriculum. This comprehensive curriculum integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with practical application, mirroring real-world innovation and inventing scenarios. It encourages students to explore, experiment, and innovate, propelling them toward a deeper understanding of the subjects while preparing them for the challenges of the future job market. The grant offsets the cost of the curriculum by approximately 30%..
3. Professional Learning: Recognizing that educators play a pivotal role in shaping young minds, the grant also offsets professional learning costs. Teachers learn the necessary skills to embrace maker machines in the classroom, introduce innovation to their students, and enhance their skills with project-based learning. By empowering educators, the grants create more confident teachers, ensuring a more transformative learning experience.

Unlocking Potential

Inventionland® Education’s collaboration with K12 schools across America is part of their dedication to bringing innovation into education. The innovation grant offsets total costs to help unlock the potential of educators and students.

Nurturing Innovation

The immersive innovation labs give students with the space and tools to unleash their creativity. These labs inspire unconventional thinking, fostering a spirit of curiosity and exploration that can lead to unbridled learning.

Fostering Collaboration and Soft Skills

Inventionland® Education understands the importance of collaboration in the modern world. Students work together on projects, mirroring the collaborative nature of professional environments. Students develop interpersonal skills that are invaluable in their personal and professional lives by engaging in group activities.

Preparing for the Future

Inventionland® helps to prepare students for the challenges of the future. The curriculum equips students with high-demand skills across various industries by emphasizing practical application, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Download a Grant Application Today ›

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Impacting Innovation in Education

In a rapidly evolving world, traditional educational methods often fail to equip students with the soft skills and innovation mindset necessary to thrive. Inventionland® Education fills the gap between education and innovation through its groundbreaking approach. The grant provides schools with ways to offset the costs of immersive Innovation Labs, the Inventionland®applied-STEM curriculum and vital professional learning.

Grant Components

The Inventionland® Education Innovation Grant Cycle is a multifaceted initiative that empowers educators to reshape their teaching environments and curricula. Here’s a breakdown of its core components:

1. Immersive Innovation Labs: The grant offers schools the resources to set up state-of-the-art Innovation Labs. These labs transcend traditional classrooms, providing students with dynamic spaces to brainstorm, collaborate, and engage in hands-on learning experiences. The labs foster an environment that nurtures creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. While it doesn’t pay for the entire amount, it helps to bridge the gap of the necessary financial resources to implement the spaces.
2. Inventionland®Applied-STEM Curriculum: At the heart of the grant cycle lies the Inventionland®applied-STEM curriculum. This comprehensive curriculum integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with practical application, mirroring real-world innovation and inventing scenarios. It encourages students to explore, experiment, and innovate, propelling them toward a deeper understanding of the subjects while preparing them for the challenges of the future job market. The grant offsets the cost of the curriculum by approximately 30%.
3. Professional Learning: Recognizing that educators play a pivotal role in shaping young minds, the grant also offsets professional learning costs. Teachers learn the necessary skills to embrace maker machines in the classroom, introduce innovation to their students, and enhance their skills with project-based learning. By empowering educators, the grants create more confident teachers, ensuring a more transformative learning experience.

Unlocking Potential

Inventionland® Education’s collaboration with K12 schools across America is part of their dedication to bringing innovation into education. The innovation grant offsets total costs to help unlock the potential of educators and students.

Nurturing Innovation

The immersive innovation labs provide students the space and tools to unleash their creativity. These labs are designed to inspire unconventional thinking, fostering a spirit of curiosity and exploration that can lead to unbridled learning.

Fostering Collaboration and Soft Skills

Inventionland® Education understands the importance of collaboration in the modern world. Students work together on projects, mirroring the collaborative nature of professional environments. Students develop interpersonal skills that are invaluable in their personal and professional lives by engaging in group activities.

Preparing for the Future

Inventionland®helps to prepare students for the challenges of the future. The curriculum equips students with skills in high demand across various industries by emphasizing practical application, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Download a Grant Application Today ›

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1. Stimulating Curiosity: Curiosity is at its peak with early learners. Educators can tap into their inquisitiveness by introducing innovation and inventing during this period, encouraging them to explore new ideas and solutions. Providing hands-on experiences and practical challenges ignites their passion for learning and empowers them to think critically.
2. Cultivating Problem-Solving Skills: Innovation and inventing involve identifying problems and developing creative solutions. The Inventionland®innovation course helps students develop essential problem-solving skills by engaging them in this process. These skills, such as critical thinking, analysis, and experimentation, lay a strong foundation for their future academic and professional dreams. It’s crucial to equip students with resilience and adaptability by encouraging them to embrace challenges and persevere through setbacks.
3. Fostering an Innovation Mindset: Introducing innovation and inventing at an early age instills an innovation mindset, which is crucial in today’s dynamic world. Inventionland® Education’s “fail forward” saying reinforces the idea that failure is an essential part of the learning process. Students learn to view setbacks as opportunities for growth and refinement rather than reasons for discouragement. This mindset encourages them to take calculated risks, think outside the box, and embrace continuous learning.
4. Developing Collaboration and Communication Skills: Innovation and inventing requires teamwork and effective communication. By engaging students in collaborative projects, we nurture their ability to work with others, value diverse perspectives, and communicate their ideas effectively. These skills are essential for success in the modern world, where collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking are highly valued.
5. Cultivating a Passion for STEM: Introducing innovation and inventing early on can ignite a passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. By providing students with hands-on experiences and exposure to real-world applications of these subjects, we bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical relevance. This can inspire students to pursue careers in STEM fields, addressing the global demand for skilled professionals in these areas.
6. Encouraging Entrepreneurial Thinking: Innovation and inventing foster an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging students to identify opportunities, take initiative, and turn ideas into reality. By nurturing this mindset, we equip young students with the skills and mindset needed to become future entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers. These skills, including creativity, critical thinking, and resilience, are highly sought soft skills and contribute to future personal and professional success.

Conclusion: Introducing innovation and inventing to young students is crucial for their holistic development and preparation for the future. By stimulating curiosity, cultivating problem-solving skills, fostering an innovation mindset, developing collaboration and communication skills, cultivating a passion for STEM, and encouraging entrepreneurial thinking, we empower students to become lifelong learners and innovators. Inventionland® Education’s “fail forward” approach provides a safe and supportive environment for students to explore, experiment, and learn from failures, reinforcing the value of persistence and resilience. By embracing young minds, we can bring out their potential and equip them with the tools they need to shape a better tomorrow through innovation and inventing.

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Creativity

Creativity is the ability to come up with new and innovative ideas. It is a critical skill that employers highly value in today’s fast-paced and competitive business world. Inventionland® Education’s K12 innovation course provides students a platform to unleash their creativity and explore their potential.

The course offers students a variety of activities and challenges that require them to think creatively and come up with unique solutions. Students are encouraged to think outside the box and explore unconventional ideas. This approach helps students develop creativity and think critically about problems and challenges.

Collaboration

Collaboration is another critical skill that future employers are looking for. Inventionland® Education’s K12 innovation course encourages collaboration by creating a supportive and inclusive environment where students work together in small, student-led groups to solve problems and achieve common goals.

Throughout the course, students learn how to work effectively in groups while developing essential communication and interpersonal skills.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking analyzes information and makes informed decisions based on observation, evidence, and logic. Inventionland® Education’s K12 innovation course emphasizes critical thinking skills, allowing students to explore problems and develop creative solutions.

The course encourages students to question, challenge assumptions, and think critically about inventing a new product or making it better. Students learn to evaluate concepts, develop ideas, and make informed decisions to make things better. This approach helps students develop critical thinking skills, which employers highly value in any industry.

Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is another essential skill set that employers desire. Inventionland® Education’s K12 innovation course offers students a range of problem-solving challenges requiring them to apply their creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration skills to develop their inventions. Students learn how to identify problems, develop solutions, and implement effective strategies through hands-on projects and real-world scenarios. This approach helps students develop their problem-solving skills, which are essential for success in any career.

Communication

Effective communication is critical for success in any career. Inventionland® Education’s K12 innovation course emphasizes communication skills, allowing students to present their ideas and collaborate effectively via storytelling.

Students learn how to express their ideas clearly and persuasively through presentations, group discussions, and team projects. They also learn to listen actively, provide feedback, and work collaboratively to achieve common goals. This approach helps students develop their communication skills, which is crucial in any environment.

 Innovation

Innovation is the ability to develop new ideas and bring them to life. Inventionland® Education’s K12 innovation course provides students an essential platform to explore their creativity and develop innovative ideas.

Student-led teams work on their unique ideas, overcoming challenges and learning to identify new opportunities, develop new concepts, and implement effective strategies. In addition, this approach helps students build their inventing skills, which is a highly-prized in any industry.

Final Thoughts

Inventionland® Education’s K12 innovation course is a unique and innovative program designed to help students develop the creativity and soft skills that future employers want. By providing students with opportunities to explore their potential, think outside the box, and develop innovative solutions, this course helps prepare studen

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For example, if your classroom has four desks set up so that each desktop is touching one another, you can use a 2×2 divider which is one divider that will act as a barrier for all four desks. Another example would be a Floor Standing Divider, if you’re planning on separating the desks further you can use one of these which will be a stand holding up a piece of cardboard or polypropylene which will block the students from one another. In addition, if you still want students to be able to interact with either their fellow classmates or if you want a front divider where they’d still be able to see you, you can install desk dividers with window slots and polypropylene in these slots so that students can safely interact in the classroom.

Given the state of the world right now, it may seem beyond your means or budget to purchase dividers for your entire classroom (and sometimes multiple classrooms). Luckily, our incredible ILI team have created step-by-step instructions on how to build a divider that would best fit your classroom. Using these directions, you can build your own desk dividers using cardboard that you can either laser cut or cut yourself. And, if you’re into recycling, you could use discarded packages or cereal boxes for the divider materials depending on the width of the cardboard and the rigidity of the piece you’re attempting to construct. These guides specifically use low-cost materials in order to make it both affordable and possible for you to create a safer environment for your students.

Even with our building instructions, however, you may wonder whether a project like this is really within your means, budget, and time constraints. Luckily, we’ve taken the research element completely out of your hands because our team has created guides breaking down the cost based on the materials and distributors you could use. So say you wanted to use Corrugated Plastic from United States Plastic Corp (1/8″-3/16’) – that should cost you roughly $21.63.

Our team has also provided teachers with direct links on where to buy each of the materials as well as the direct contact information for the companies listed. This is because, in addition to many educational resources making their products available for a free or reduced cost due to COVID-19, many companies are stepping up to help educators during these trying times. If you’re having trouble finding the budget or supplies needed to create these classroom materials, it is well worth your time to reach out to one of the companies listed or even a local hardware store. There may be a local Makerspace that would allow you access to their laser cutter or CNC machine. There may even be parents or volunteers in the community who would be willing to help make these supplies with you. People care about the wellbeing and health of students, it’s not all on you!

In addition to desk dividers, another way to add additional safety precautions to your classroom is to add covers for phones, desks, computers, etc. During this strange time we’re living through, we’ve all become experts at tracing the spread of germs (whether practically or simply due to sheer paranoia).  Someone sneezes on their phone, they hand their friend their phone, their friend uses that same hand to touch their nose or mouth, and suddenly that student is now at risk. It’s hard for kids to both have that foresight and have an enjoyable educational experience, so it’s up to us as educators to create as many precautions and barriers as possible.

In one of our July Hour of Innovation seminars, we highlighted one company in particular, Jokari, who is developing a line of protectant covers using a material called Nano Silver. The material is specifically designed to attach to bacteria walls and suffocate the bacteria cells, making them consistently 99% bacteria-free. The material holds its potency for several weeks and has passed several ‘bacteria tests’ including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia Coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Thus far, the line has announced plans to release a phone pouch, mask pouch, surface protector, office partition, car window shade, screen protector, and mask. Products like these or comparable models would go a long way to reduce the spread of germs within your classroom.

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