I wrote in my previous post about my dissertation research findings. In that post, I mentioned that I showed the engineering process used by designers at IDEO, a product innovation firm in northern California, to my elementary teacher participants as an example of best practices in engineering design. IDEO was founded by Dave Kelley, an engineering professor at Stanford, who has institutionalized his design thinking approach at the Stanford d.School. I wanted to experience that approach first hand, so last summer I traveled to Stanford’s d.School and earned a Professional Certificate in their Innovation Masters Series course called Design Thinking and the Art of Innovation.

It was awesome! I came home and immediately applied that approach by conducting an Innovation Institute for the administrative team at the University City Children’s Center through their LUME Institute. We’re using what I learned at Stanford to design and deliver innovative early childhood education experiences to children, parents and educators. Here’s a link to Stanford’s Student Spotlight profile in which I talk about my experiences in the course and how I applied what I learned to early childhood education. As I travel around the country speaking to and working with educators, scientists, engineers and businesspeople, I’m bringing similar insights and strategies for innovating K-12 STEM education. If you’re interested in learning more about my Innovation Institutes and unique approach to K-12 STEM education, invite me over for a visit.