IA40330

This module focuses on the importance of education in the promotion of more entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviours and refers to the challenge of stimulating entrepreneurial mindsets in students. The concepts of Entrepreneurial Thinking & Innovation are explored in a way that these concepts can be developed as educational tools in the classroom. There is now clear evidence from a societal perspective that skills such as creativity, innovative and entrepreneurial thinking contribute to individual and societal well-being.

This module aims to introduce participants to the mindsets and skills necessary to inspire entrepreneurial thought and action at the personal level and amongst student cohorts. The module introduces core concepts central to the development of entrepreneurial ideas from initial idea to launch such as opportunity generation and development, iteration and prototyping and idea validation. The concept and foundations of Design is brought into the approach to the main project on this module, The Festival of Education (FoE). The FoE project requires the participants to work in teams to firstly understand a need in educational change and then work through this need using empathy and coming together at the end of the week in a Festival style presentation of the ideas generated by the team. The FoE is a highlight of the overall programme and brings an invited audience with guest speakers and panel discussion from key educational leaders.

Module objectives include:

• Identifying how to bring design, entrepreneurial mindsets, and experiments from across the globe to the classroom
• Exploring leadership and how to effect change in educational institutions
• Developing the ability to apply new teaching methodologies and approaches to learning.
• Creating a more innovative learning environment.

This module offers a carefully constructed, challenge-based learning experience that will contribute to the development of an entrepreneurial mindset for education. We will explore the concept of an entrepreneurial mindset, and its application to driving innovation in education. This includes:

Reframing problems as opportunities to create value in the future
Willingness to move forward with a decision despite inevitable uncertainty and challenges
Ability to engage with others to progress an opportunity
Intentional iteration based on feedback
Students are given the opportunity to explore a particular area of education that interests them in greater depth during this module. Recent topics have included artificial intelligence, teacher training and development, engaging learners and inclusive education.

Working in groups, you will develop innovative ideas to address complex and nuanced issues. This module culminates in the Festival of Education where students practice influencing others and building a movement for change. Inspiration and support will come from guest speakers from Ireland and abroad.


At the UCD Innovation Academy, we are a group of Educator Practitioners with extensive real-world experience as academics, educators, business and social entrepreneurs, tech thinkers, creative professionals and design practitioners.

We take an action-oriented approach to learning, with a combination of individual, group and class tasks and activities, including discussions, presentations and reflection. All of our teaching is grounded in academic rigour, but our focus is on learning from doing in a real-world context.

www.innovators.ie

**Enrolment in an Innovation Academy module means a commitment to active participation and engagement, which necessitates attendance at all scheduled classes.**