The Goals of the Invention
Convention Worldwide
Invention Convention Worldwide advances a vision of a world in which all learners have access to innovation, invention and entrepreneurial learning to gain the confidence and skills to control their own destiny.
In realizing this vision, our goals are to:
- Increase the return on investment on STEM and Entrepreneurship by more effectively bridging these disciplines, with a stronger and more innovative collective outcome.
- Instil problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship and creativity skills for life to inspire young people to become innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs over the course of their K-12 careers.
- Activate STEMIE (STEM + Invention + Entrepreneurship) education through competitions, events and a flexible, project-based curriculum aligned to education standards.
- Showcase the innovative thinkers from among hundreds of thousands of young people who compete at various levels across the U.S. and from countries around the world.
About Invention Convention Worldwide
Invention Convention Worldwide is a global K-12 invention education program that teaches students problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship and creativity skills and builds confidence in invention, innovation and entrepreneurship for life. Invention Convention Worldwide’s global community of affiliates and supporters collaborate in developing curriculum and programs, growing the community, and keeping one another informed about new insights and breaking developments.
About The Henry Ford and Invention Convention Worldwide
A force for sparking curiosity and inspiring tomorrow’s innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs, The Henry Ford fosters learning from hands-on encounters with authentic artifacts. Through its 26 million artifacts, unique venues and resources — Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation™, Greenfield Village®, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center® and Henry Ford Academy®, as well as online at thf.org and through the TV programs The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation and Did I Mention Invention? — The Henry Ford helps all individuals to unlock their potential and help shape a better future. The Henry Ford leads the Invention Convention Worldwide community and works to make STEM + Invention+ Entrepreneurship (STEMIE) learning accessible to educators and students worldwide. As part of our leadership in invention education, The Henry Ford powers events like the Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, curriculum and professional development.
VALUE OF INVENTION EDUCATION
In today’s rapidly changing world, proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) matters more than ever. Yet, as important as STEM may be, business decision-makers, government leaders and educators are realizing that students’ future success may depend on learning something more. Together with STEM learning or on its own, Invention Education empowers young people to develop the skills and self-confidence they need to identify and solve real-world problems and make informed choices about their future careers.
For students as well as society, the outcomes of this kind of education can be game changing
The promise of Invention Education has galvanized a community of educators, business decision makers, government leaders and others into a worldwide movement. To advance this movement, a growing number of organizations have coalesced around the idea of combining STEM with Invention and Entrepreneurship (STEMIE) learning to instil problem identification, problem solving, entrepreneurship and creativity skills for life — and to inspire young people to become innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs over the course of their K-12 careers. This is the community that forms the heart of Invention Convention Worldwide.
Why is it important?
At the heart of Invention Convention Worldwide is STEMIE learning, which recognizes the foundational skills that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math create in combination with Invention and Entrepreneurship learning. STEMIE education prepares students for the needs of the 21st century economy, creating critical thinkers and problem solvers and empowering a new generation of innovators.
What’s in it for students?
Students gain a new and innovative mindset for life. Along the way, they become part of a global ecosystem that allows them to gain new skills, friendships, recognition and perspectives.