We recently sat down with Tom Jenkins, National Teachers Hall of Fame Honoree, to explore his journey into invention education. His insights reveal a powerful evolution in how we can engage students in meaningful learning.
Tom’s path began as a science teacher, transitioning from inquiry-based learning to STEM education. But something was missing. While STEM projects were engaging, Tom noticed his students craving something more—they wanted to tackle real problems that mattered to them and their communities.
The breakthrough moment? Realizing that invention education flips the traditional classroom dynamic:
Traditional STEM: Teacher-driven projects with predetermined outcomes Invention Education: Student-driven solutions to problems they identify“The kids drive why the class is doing things,” Tom explains.
Tom’s journey shows us that the most powerful education happens when we give students agency to address problems they genuinely care about. That’s the heart of invention education.