LANSING, Mich. — Teachers from across Michigan gathered virtually last week for the Michigan EdTech Innovation Bootcamp, learning skills to develop their own ideas or businesses for classroom innovation. The Bootcamp was organized by Michigan Virtual with support from Spartan Innovations, the Burgess Institute, and the Michigan Small Business Development Center.
“Michigan teachers understand the challenges facing our schools, students and curriculum better than anyone else. Technology offers a solution to those challenges, but often lacks the support to bring ideas to life,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, president and CEO of Michigan Virtual. “The education technology industry has the expertise to bridge that gap, and our Edtech Innovation Bootcamp holds the potential to make real change happen within our classrooms.”
Educators from Lake Orion, Riverview, Stockbridge, Livonia, Ann Arbor, Oxford, Sterling Heights, St. Clair, and Bay City participated in the Bootcamp between July 18 and 21. The Bootcamp allowed educators to explore and develop a business model for their idea or business while developing skills and identifying resources to bring innovation and entrepreneurship to the classroom. Some of the ideas that attendees were working on include a choose-your-own-adventure history app, a mobile laser design studio for STEAM activities, a blended school capturing the best of online and in-person learning, and a cube satellite for hands-on STEM learning.
“The Bootcamp gave me the confidence to start my own business. I will also use the knowledge gained while practicing my pitch to improve my fundraising skills which allow me to continue to provide my students with better tools, equipment and experiences in my class,” said Bob Richards, a high school science teacher from Stockbridge and the founder of QB-Sat, the first place winner of the Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest.
The Bootcamp follows the Michigan EdTech Innovation Pitch Contest, which saw first, second, and third place awards given out at the end of June to teachers from Stockbridge, Ann Arbor and Livonia. The $20,000 awarded to those winners will be used to develop a satellite-launch STEM and curriculum focused on engineering and space exploration, an audio/visual encyclopedia exploration environment for early learners, and an online learning tool that integrates social emotional learning with academic practice.
Given the wide interest from Michigan educators, Michigan Virtual plans to host the contest again in 2023. To learn more about the Contest and Bootcamp, visit MichiganVirtual.org/pitch.
