Innovation!

Innovation Lesson

An interactive lesson series that teaches the basic understanding of innovation. The lessons are primary directed at lower high school children.

The series of lessons was originally designed in Dutch for Petje Af, a Dutch organisation that stimulates the talent development of children, often in deprived areas. The lessons combine fun presentations, interactive games, group projects and individual assignments. The aim is to provide knowledge, develop skills and stimulate talent development.


The content includes:

  • Innovation Explained: what is the difference between development and innovation? Explained through a group game.
  • Innovation Sorts: Demonstrated on the basis of well-known and fun examples.
  • Creative Mindset: developing creativity through games, such as mind mapping and storytelling games.
  • Intellectual Properties: what are intellectual properties and why do we need them? Descriptive though Donald Duck.
  • Patents: what are patents and how can we learn from them? Explained patent development with funny historical patent examples and current relevant daily used patents, including a historical patent quiz.
  • Commercial vs Non-Commercial Innovation: are all inventions commercial? Are they valuable to society? When is it worth investing in inventions? A group game assignment.
  • Innovation Development:explaining the Design Thinking process with fun examples.
  • Design an Innovation Challenge: for example: developing a commercial innovation for a toothpaste, an improvement for a zoo path or a plastic waste solution for a hospital.
  • Occupations and Skills: Which professions are related to innovations and which skills are needed here? Playing games and presenting examples based on successful inspiring professionals, such as Walt Disney.

  Although the lessons were designed for lower secondary education, they are suitable for all ages with minimal modification and can be used in formal and informal education.



Challenge

Provide knowledge to understand innovation and develop skills to participate in innovation creation

Solution

A series of introductory lessons on innovation delivered through fun, engaging activities

Target Group

Broad educational institutions, formal and informal

Status

As of 2020, available in Dutch for young adults of lower secondary education. Adaptable to other age groups, cultures and language on request.