inHub's Summer Programs and Activities Recap

This summer turned out to be an incredibly busy yet rewarding season. It saw the return of THF Summer Camps, inHub surpassed 3,000 members, we hosted our virtual Invention Convention Globals competition, and we welcomed several groups of educators on-site for networking and professional development, energizing all of us for the 2022-23 school year. Here’s a look at all of the activities our team has been up to!

Educators-in-Residence

On July 19, we welcomed 11 educators from Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Connecticut on-site to 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 in their classrooms, schools, and districts.

During their time on-site, educators were introduced to inHub and learned about our Model i Framework, curriculum, and digital learning resources. They also explored Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village through guided tours and participated in workshop sessions led by the Learning & Engagement team. By the end of the three days on-site, educators 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.

Going forward, this cohort will meet virtually to support each other, furthering the rapport and community of practice that they built during the on-site portion of the program. By the end of the school year, participants will reflect on the impact of their ‘innovation journeys’ as they design, optimize, and implement new ideas, resources, and content to foster innovative thinking among their learners. We hope to one day share their journeys with the larger inHub community.

The 2022-23 Educators-in-Residence Cohort with members of the Learning & Engagement team.

The Henry Ford’s Teacher Innovator Awards, presented by Raytheon Technologies

We were pleased to host the 2022 Teacher Innovator Award (TIA) winners onsite from July 25-29, 2022. The seven winners who were able to join us in-person represented Hawaii, California, Ohio, and Michigan. The winners participated in behind-the-scenes tours with curators, explored THF’s venues, tried out lessons from inHub, and were recognized in an awards ceremony on July 28. These teachers were selected as TIA winners because of their innovative approaches to teaching and learning and they certainly inspired our staff with their accomplishments and dedication to their students. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the teachers, including one educator who wrote: “Last week was definitely memorable and I keep reflecting about the experience. You planned a wonderful week and gave us top notch treatment. We all got along so well which made it even better. I can’t wait to share my experiences with my colleagues and students.” If you are an innovative educator, check our website in January to apply for the 2023 Teacher Innovator Awards!