Jacobson Institute Goes All In on Invention Education

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Jacobson Institute Goes All In on Invention Education

The Jacobson Institute is doubling down on invention education this fall with new and updated programs designed to support student innovation for any K-12 student.

At the center of this work is Invention Convention, a national program that empowers students to identify real-world problems and design creative solutions. Participation continues to grow here in Iowa as young inventors showcase projects that tackle challenges from sustainability to everyday life through the Iowa Invention Convention Program.

Three curriculum resources now offer a clear path to Invention Convention:

KidInnovator, for upper elementary and middle school, has added a brand-new, invention track. Fully aligned with Invention Convention guidelines, this resource for educators equips students to explore the invention process, prepare for competitions, and apply entrepreneurial thinking to bring their ideas to life.
Invent It Kit, launching this fall, is a condensed invention guide designed for high school students in STEM classrooms or afterschool settings. The kit offers everything (but none of the extras) students need to move from idea to invention, with a direct connection to Invention Convention.
BizInnovator Startup, the Jacobson Institute’s flagship entrepreneurship curriculum, has been updated weaving invention throughout the curriculum. An increased focus on ideation and invention helps high school students develop and refine their ideas with an entrepreneurial lens. Students who choose to work on an invention-based startup, have a direct path to participation in Invention Convention.

All Jacobson Institute curricula resources are designed to support students in any state on their path to invention, competition, and commercialization—free to Iowa educators.

An opportunity for Iowa:

Iowa school district educators, parents, and homeschools can now register for Sprint to Invent, a free, in-person professional development training, happening in Iowa City on Friday, October 24, 2025. This training is centered around invention education and the Iowa Invention Convention.