inHub's Fall 2022 Programs & Activities Recap
While the inHub team spent much of the fall gearing up for 2023 programming, we still had the chance to impact and interact with educators across the country and create new learning resources for educators to utilize in their classrooms. Take a look at what we’ve been working on:
Webinar: Exploring the Journeys of African American Innovators
On November 16, Learning & Engagement staff gave a talk on the journeys of African American innovators as part of the National Council for History Education’s webinar series. First, we outlined a brief definition of innovation that included technological as well as social innovations. Then, we explored the stories of innovators like Elijah McCoy, McKinley Thompson, and Rosa Parks through the lenses of the Actions of Innovation and the Habits of Innovators. Using this common language, participants were then challenged to think about how the Actions and Habits applied to their own lives.
The recording from this webinar is free and available to all here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le-6qETaTjg
Educators-in-Residence Program Highlights
In July, we welcomed 11
educators from Michigan, Ohio, Texas, New York and Connecticut on-site at The
Henry Ford for three days to kick off our Educators-in-Residence Program. This
program is a hybrid professional development opportunity for preK-12 teachers,
instructional coaches, and administrators looking to connect with a cohort of
like-minded educators and cultivate a culture of innovation and creativity in
their classrooms, schools, and districts. By the end of the three days on-site,
educators had determined a need or problem that they wanted to address in their
classroom or school during the 2022-23 school year and began identifying their
actions steps.
2022 Educator in Residence Cohort during their on-site
experience.
This cohort met twice
virtually in fall 2022 to update the group on their progress and to ask for
support where needed, furthering the rapport and community of practice that
they built during the onsite portion of the program. After the second virtual
meeting, participants completed a reflection on their experiences.
In December, one of the Residents brought a group of 28 students from a career
technical center in Westland, MI, on a field trip to the Henry Ford Museum of
American Innovation. The students spent time exploring THF’s Model i framework
and made connections between their areas of study and the collection.
Afterwards, the educator sent an email saying that “I have been hearing stories
of student enjoyment and engagement all day. Without the Residency program, I
would not have been able to pull this off conceptually.”
On
December 9, our team also visited an Educator-in-Residence who teaches in
Warren, MI, as he led a lesson that originated with the EdiR program. They
observed a class of middle school world history students going on a virtual
field trip about ancient Roman innovations. After watching a few educational
videos about five innovations, students then identified which Habits of
Innovators the ancient Romans exemplified – and which ones they did not. The
high engagement level of the students was palpable. We are pleased to see the
impact that this program is having on educators and students alike.
Educator Resource Guide for Classroom Innovation
In October we published a new type of resource called an Educator Resource Guide. These include interdisciplinary lesson plans that feature artifacts from The Henry Ford’s collections and subject-area-specific project ideas. They also feature artifact spotlights that provide behind-the-scenes information about specific objects that can support lesson plans. For educators bringing students to The Henry Ford for an in-person field trip, the Educator Resource Guide includes resources to empower educators and chaperones alike to engage students in the museum and Greenfield Village.
A view of the exhibit Driven to Win: Racing in America, presented by General Motors.
Driven to Win: Racing in America Exhibit
The Driven to Win Educator Resource Guide incorporates physics and engineering as you explore the stories, race
cars and concepts from The Henry Ford’s exhibit Driven to
Win: Racing in America, presented by General Motors. The high-speed, flashy nature of racing will draw learners into a rich,
interdisciplinary pursuit of continuous innovation. Join inHub for
free to access this great classroom resource.
And stay tuned for future Educator Resource Guides!
The Think Like an Inventor Bulletin Board Kit centers around Model i and encourages critical thinking as students explore the Actions of Innovation and Habits of Innovators associated with some of America’s most iconic innovations.
Resource Creation with WeAreTeachers
We’ve also been working with WeAreTeachers
to create fun and engaging classroom content, including the “Think Like an Inventor” Bulletin Board Kit and the article “15 Awesome Invention Videos for Kids.” In November we published this virtual museum scavenger hunt where
students can explore The Henry Ford’s digital collection and answer artifact-related
questions. Download yours today!
If you aren’t local or
can’t make it to the museum in person, exploring The Henry Ford’s digital
collections is the next best thing! Download and print this fun and interactive
virtual scavenger hunt for your students today.
It was an awesome fall filled with lots of laughs, unique experiences and amazing memories that will last a lifetime. We’re already looking forward to planning a fun-filled summer camp experience for next year’s campers!
Stay Informed About inHub's 2023 Plans
We’re excited for what 2023 has in store
for inHub and our educators! If you’d like to stay in the know on upcoming
professional development opportunities and new resource launches, sign up for
our newsletter. And join our inHub Educator Connects group on
Facebook to network with our educator community.