Do You Have "Innovator's Block?"

Looking for a little inspiration?  Need to stimulate your inner, innovative self?  Think about paying a visit to America's premier history destination - The Henry Ford.

The Henry Ford provides unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, stories, and lives from America's traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation.  Its purpose is to inspire people to learn from these traditions to help shape a better future.

Located in Dearborn, Mich., The Henry Ford comprises five distinct attractions, including Greenfield Village, which offers 300 years of American history with access to 83 authentic, historic structures, including the courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law, the Wright brothers' cycle shop, Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory and much more.

It started in 2008 with a single interview with barrier-breaker Lyn St. James, and snowballed into a creative, collaborative effort with our country's greatest innovators from Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay, to Bill Gates, Martha Stewart, Steve Wozniak and more.  OnInnovation.com, an initiative of The Henry Ford, offers a 400+ chapter video library of interviews with innovators that can be used for personal or professional inspiration. 

Whether as a conversation starter in the workplace or classroom, these videos can inspire innovative thinking and creative dialog.  OnInnovation offers a unique "Innovation 101" curriculum as well as an opportunity for individual "makers" to share their stories with the world.

"The goal of "Innovation 101" is to inspire students to broaden their points of view, to become more curious, to ask "why" and "how" instead of just "what," says Paula Gangopadhyay, Director of Education, The Henry Ford, and the lead author of Innovation 101.  "Indeed, we even let them know that failure is often an inseparable part of the process.

"There is nothing we can teach our children that is more essential to their success in college, career and life than innovation. Innovation may not be called out as a curriculum strand in core subject areas in our K-12 education system. Why is that? It's because innovation is everywhere. It is the common denominator that transcends the boundaries of all the core subjects."

Check out this tremendous resource for yourself with this introductory video or by exploring the 'Getting Started Tips' on the home page, and make it your business to explore all that's available at OnInnovation.com.