Innovation Academy, formerly Table Top Inventing, is dedicated to developing innovators on purpose. There is so much potential in every human being, and we want to liberate that potential. With the challenges facing us locally, nationally, and globally, we can’t afford to lightly disregard the potential hidden inside every student. Instead we need to open the mind, spark the curiosity, and set fire to the imagination! The Innovation Academy approach is to create a powerful learning environment, provide students state-of-the-art tools, and step to the side while students explore and learn through projects. Inquiry-driven, project-based learning puts students squarely in charge of their own education by providing an environment where growth naturally occurs through the process of “hard fun”. Working alongside others with all their senses and mind fully engaged, students learn to solve challenging problems. With an environment rich in possibilities and inspiration students have the raw materials to become amazing! We believe what Socrates said, “I cannot teach anyone anything. I can only make them think.” Thinking is a very personal activity done for very personal reasons, but most education focuses on pushing knowledge at students rather than encouraging students to pull knowledge in and turn it into wisdom. None of us can reach our hands into the brain of a student and help them rewire neurons. Yet on the other hand, environments can be created where we encourage exploration, tinkering, and personal thoughts without the fear of criticism or stigma of failure. In fact around here, we don’t really believe in failure. Failure is simply the first step to something amazing! Productive “failure” is the main ingredient in innovation. For more about the history of Innovation Academy, please visit http://developinginnovators.com/about