Innovation Boot Camps: a Collaborative, Cross-Discipline, Technology Enhanced Approach to Enhancing Student Innovation Aptitude and Ability

摘要

We believe students need to possess an understanding of innovation and related skills (i.e., creativity, problem finding and forming, ability to generate and develop new ideas into practical and helpful products, etc.) to keep pace and stay ahead of the rapid development and implementation of new science and technology in the 21st century. This research focuses on the methods and efforts developed and being implemented to advance a culture of innovation within our college of technology and engineering. The primary method we have developed to help our students be innovative involves emerging them in an Innovation Boot Camp. The purpose of this paper is to describe the purpose, learning outcomes, curriculum, methods of instruction, and the relative impact the Boot Camp is having on student understanding of and skills associated to innovation, and how the experience is impacting our college initiative to create a culture of innovation.