Convergence Education

It's in our DNA.

The Henry Ford is helping develop next-generation talent by leading the way for transdisciplinary learning.

In November 2022, interagencies of the National Science and Technology Council released a report titled Convergence Education: A Guide to Transdisciplinary STEM Learning and Teaching. That same month, The Lemelson Foundation, which is dedicated to cultivating inventors to create a better world, showcased the federal education initiative to hundreds of educators, researchers, policymakers and advocates at its InventEd Convening event in Washington, D.C.

In the report, convergence education is defined as a transdisciplinary approach to learning that focuses on areas where STEM disciplines converge — climate change, pandemic readiness and prevention, emerging technologies and innovation, and entrepreneurship — and where learners apply knowledge and skills using a blended approach across multiple disciplines to create and innovate new solutions.

Invention education is noted as an established practice of convergence education, as is place- based and problem-based learning models such as The Henry Ford's Model i and inHub innovation learning portfolio. All of these educational tools showcase The Henry Ford's leadership in this evolving form of teaching.

The Henry Ford Magazine previously spent time with Lucie Howell, former chief learning officer and director of Learning & Engagement, to learn more about convergence education and how The Henry Ford is embracing its role as a leader in providing educators the transdisciplinary teaching resources they need to prepare the next generation of problem solvers, innovators and changemakers.

THF MAGAZINE: What is the significance of the National Science and Technology Council's published report on convergence education?

LH: This white paper was headed up by some 10 federal agencies that had been looking at STEM education. What they found was that each agency was working on the same things but was talking about them in slightly different ways. So they all came together — and invited non-federal agencies — to talk about transdisciplinary learning.

It's really simple. Creating transdisciplinary learning experiences is one of the best ways to activate students' interest in STEM fields. Fundamentally, it's what we need for talent development in this country.

We [The Henry Ford] were actually in the room when the white paper was shared with the invention education community. When I read it, I thought, "This justifies our entire portfolio of work. We have been doing this since the beginning. It is part of our DNA."

THF MAGAZINE: When you say it's part of our DNA, what do you mean?

LH: Everything we do here is convergence education because The Henry Ford's stories sit at the intersection of social transformation and technical innovation — they sit at the intersection of STEM and the humanities.

Frankly, if everything we do comes from our stories, we can't do anything other than transdisciplinary learning - from our invention convention community to our project- and place- based educational resources like our Model i learning framework and our inHub community. Through these, we are hitting more audiences with richer learning experiences.

THF MAGAZINE: Does convergence education differ from more traditional learning approaches?

LH: The white paper uses an ice cream scale that shows you how disciplinary learning looks — like single scoops of ice cream on individual cones — versus what transdisciplinary learning is — represented as a blended milk shake with multiple ingredients. It's an awesome visual.

What's clear is that every STEM experience a student has should be transdisciplinary, requiring expertise and understanding in multiple areas. I like to say when it comes to learning, there is no single silver bullet.

THF MAGAZINE: Does this approach encourage students to care more about their education?

LH: My hypothesis is if you have lived a life through a particular lens, you see certain problems, and those are the ones you are going to put out there in your classroom. Through convergence education, we are exposing young people to a wider portfolio of problems they can better identify with. And we've learned by providing transdisciplinary learning experiences for young people, they often do feel like they are in more control of their learning, and by giving them control and autonomy, they do tend to care more.

THF MAGAZINE: How do we build awareness of convergence education?

LH: First step is to build the movement, then generate momentum behind that movement and te eader and partner in the space.

If you want to make a change in education, you have to do it top down, middle out and grassroots up. It takes time to build a movement and gain momentum. That's where we are now. We are building our network of Invention Convention Worldwide and its affiliates and expanding the number of students engaging in this learning experience.

We are also supporting educators — that's the "grassroots up." They are the leaders in their communities and classrooms and need to feel respected and supported. Not every educator wants to do invention education, and that's OK, so we give them tools through inHub. Some may lean into our edible education programming or maybe they want to approach learning on a broader scale, so we encourage them to explore our Model i innovation learning framework.

Teaching should be a team sport, yet oftentimes teachers feel in competition rather than in collaboration with one another. I think that's hugely problematic. We should all be thinking about learning as a team — like it's a baton-carrying relay race where you have different super learning stars in every student's learning life. That's why at The Henry Ford, we are committed to contributing valuable resources to the larger convergence education ecosystem.

Working Together

The Lemelson Foundation and The Henry Ford are allies in the convergence education movement.

A longtime champion of invention education, The Lemelson Foundation introduced the 2022 White House publication Convergence Education: A Guide to Transdisciplinary STEM Learning and Teaching at its 2022 InventEd Convening event in Washington, D.C. "The publication's release allowed us to celebrate the collaborative efforts between the invention education community and federal partners in documenting and disseminating a novel educational approach to the nation," said David Coronado, senior program officer, The Lemelson Foundation.

Currently, more people and organizations are needed to advocate for this new teaching practice, shared Coronado, who acknowledges that Lemelson's ongoing partnerships with institutions such as The Henry Ford are critical for success. "This collaboration highlights the importance of teamwork for shaping future generations," he said. "By combining The Lemelson Foundation's and The Henry Ford's educational initiatives, we create a powerful synergy that helps foster a deeper understanding of the invention process and ignites a passion for invention in students who will become the problem solvers and innovators of tomorrow."

Interested in supporting the convergence education movement? The Lemelson Foundation offers steps that individuals and/or organizations can take to help bring these approaches to classrooms.

Be a Champion

• Develop educational programs that showcase real-world problem solving arising from convergence and invention education. This could involve exhibits, workshops or online resources.
• Partner with educational institutions to offer workshops/training for teachers on how to implement convergence and invention education. This could involve providing resources, lesson plans and integration strategies.
• Become a hub for educators and innovators by hosting discussions and networking events

Support Teachers

• Partner with school districts to offer professional development for teachers. This could involve providing grants or scholarships for teachers to attend relevant events.
• Share curriculum resources that align with convergence education principles. This could include online modules, lesson plans and activity guides.
• Create recognition programs for teachers.

Learn more about The Lemelson Foundation at https://www.lemelson.org/