Teaching a New Generation of American Innovators

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

Innovation and Economic Growth: Lessons from the Story of ENIAC, Rocco L. Martino, 4/2009
Innovation and the Growth of the American Economy, David Hounshell, 2/2009
War and Technology, Alex Roland, 2/2009
Engaging Students on Innovation, Trudy Kuehner (reporter), 1/2009
Social and Technological Change in Western History, Alex Wright, 11/2008
Webcast for Students on Innovation and Entrepreneurshipa>, Lawrence Husick, 11/18/2008
From Stone to Silicon: A Brief Survey of Innovation, Lawrence A. Husick, FPRI FootNotes, 10/2008
What Hath God Wrought, Daniel Walker Howe, FPRI FootNotes, 8/2008
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
The Ecstasy and the Agony of Our Romance With Flight: A Meditation on the Centennial of the Wright Brothers’ Triumph, Walter McDougall, 12/2003
Journey to the Center of Jules Verne… and Us, Walter McDougall, 8/2001

Classroom Lessons

20th Century Innovation Tournament (47K Microsoft Word document): Brian Burback, Lincoln North Star High School
Applying Real World Concepts of Problem Solving (33K Microsoft Word document): Joseph Selfridge, West Philadelphia Catholic High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aviation Innovation (47K Microsoft Word document): Paul Dickler
The American West and Gun Innovations, Paul Dicker, (52K Microsoft Word document): Paul Dickler
Brainstorming Innovation Paul Dickler (39K Microsoft Word document): Paul Dickler
Eisenhower and the Military Industrial Complex (56K Microsoft Word document): Mike Kaiman, Timberland High School, Wentzville, Missouri
History of Information Technology (34K Microsoft Word document): Paul Dickler
How Has Technology/Innovation Impacted our World? (69K Microsoft Word document): Jennifer Jolley, N.B.C.T. Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida
Innovation and Inventions (39K Microsoft Word document): Paul Dickler
Innovations and Entrepreneurs of the Industrial Revolution (40K Microsoft Word document): Dr. Linda Karen Miller, College of Southern Nevada Department of Education, Fairfax High School Emeritus
Innovation in your Community: How Is It Done?: Susan Pomasko, Marlborough School (47K Microsoft Word document)
Innovation Timelines (38K Microsoft Word document): Paul Dickler
Matching Innovations to New Technologies (41K Microsoft Word document): Paul Dickler
Mining in the American West 1848–1920 (43K Microsoft Word document): Paul Dickler
Political, Social, Economic, Religious, and Cultural Achievements and Innovations of the Renaissance (47K Microsoft Word document): Daria Anderson-Faden, Potter-Dix Public School, Potter, Nebraska
The Significance of Innovation in the United States’ Historical Development (72K Microsoft Word document): Michael Young, Omaha Public Schools
Ten Greatest 20th C. Innovations (32K Microsoft Word document): Diane Elliott, Sarcoxie High School, Sarcoxie, Missouri
Today’s Ideas— Tomorrow (72K Microsoft Word document): Douglas A. Haskell, University of Cincinnati
Top U.S. 20th Century Innovation (47K Microsoft Word document): Joseph Schmidt, Umonhon Nation High School, Macy, Nebraska
Understanding the Roots of Innovation (50K Microsoft Word document): Michele D. Hassall, Ed. D., Moorestown Township Public School District, Moorestown, New Jersey

Innovation Essay Contest

FPRI’s Wachman Center sponsored an essay contest for high school students for an essay of between 900 and 1000 words on: The top 5 innovations developed in the U.S. since 1945, ranked from #1 to #5. Read more about the essay contest

Events

The Invention and Development of Rotorcraft: A Case Study in the History of Innovation: A workshop for teachers, cosponsored and hosted by The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center; September 26, 2009
Innovation Workshop for Teachers: Co-sponsored by FPRI, the Goethe-Institut, and the Heinrich Boell Foundation; April 4, 2009
Teaching Innovation in World History: Asia as a Case Study: A Program for K–12 Teachers, at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga; March 5, 2009
Technology and Innovation for World History: Korean Studies Conference for K–12 Teachers in the Greater New York Area; November 4, 2008
Paul Bracken on Technological Innovation and National Security: The Rocco Martino Lecture on Innovation; May 12, 2008
Webcast on Innovation and Entrepreneurship: November 18, 2008
Teaching the History of Innovation: A History Institute for Teachers: Saturday and Sunday, October 18-19, 2008, Kansas City, Missouri

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
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.
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