Stay curious at thehenryford.org/modeli.
creativecommons.org © 2018 The Henry Ford The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, is an internationally recognized cultur- INNOVATION POWERED al destination that brings the past BY PERSPECTIVE forward by immersing visitors in the stories To unleash everyone’s potential to innovate, The Henry Ford has of ingenuity, resource- developed Model I, a unique learning framework based on artifacts fulness and innovation and stories in The Henry Ford Archive of American Innovation. This that helped shape remarkable collection provides unprecedented insight into the ways America. people innovate across 300 years of American history.
A National Historic For over 90 years, our curators and historians have studied its content, Landmark with an curating stories of American ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation unparalleled collec- that continue to evolve with today’s breakthroughs. It is this experience tion of artifacts from combined with our decade-long focus on innovation education that 300 years of Ameri- provides the expertise behind Model I. can history, The Henry Ford is a force for The Model I framework consists of two frames: Actions of Innovation sparking curiosity and and Habits of an Innovator. Together, we use them as a language to describe Innovation Journeys within our collection — and activate inspiring tomorrow’s DID YOU KNOW? innovators. More than 1.8 million visitors annually experience its learners through their own innovation journeys. attractions and resources: Henry Ford Museum of Learn more at American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge thehenryford.org Factory Tour and Benson Ford Research Center. ACTIONS™ OF INNOVATION
A SET OF GUIDEPOSTS Look to them to help point the way forward.
Innovation is messy and there’s no one formula, but when we set out to pursue a new idea or solve a new problem, we can learn and act in ways that increase our chances of success. For would-be innovators, this set of guideposts helps to point the way forward.
HABITS™ OF AN INNOVATOR
A FRAME OF MIND The best way to learn them is to live them.
Developing our mindset — the way we see, think and interact with something — turns out to be especially useful for staying motivated and inspired to explore new ideas and overcome challenges. creativecommons.org © 2018 The Henry Ford AN INNOVATION JOURNEY On paper, innovation is a step-by-step process. In reality, it rarely happens that way. However the journey unfolds, we make the Define / Challenge the Rules / Take Risks best progress when our habits and actions work together. The Wrights recognized that successful Explore the innovation journey of the Wright Brothers’ flight required three things: wings for lift, an first flight to spark your own path. engine for propulsion and – the key problem – a way to control flight.
Collaborate Orville, Wilbur and their sister Katharine Uncover / Be Empathetic Stay Curious lived, played and worked In 1896, the world leader Observing birds in flight together. in glider flight died when led to their breakthrough his glider plunged into the moment when Wilbur Design / Take Risks ground. This reawakened twisted a bicycle inner-tube In 1900, they tested the Wrights’ interest in box and discovered “wing their glider at Kitty Stay Curious aviation so they searched warping,” the key concept to Hawk, but the wings Their father local libraries for anything controlling flight. failed to produce bought them a related to aeronautics and enough lift. rubber-band- even penned a letter to the powered flying toy, Smithsonian requesting which stimulated information about their first interest “mechanical and Chart out the rest of the Wright Brothers’ journey at in flying machines. human flight.” thehenryford.org/explore/stories-of-innovation/what-if/wright-brothers/ HOW CAN YOU HELP STUDENTS THINK LIKE AN INNOVATOR? We support educators and satisfy a critical need by sharing a universal language for the teaching and learning of innovation that can be applied at every stage of the talent pipeline. Get started at thehenryford.org/modeli. Activate Model I
Stay curious and Send learners on Tune in to The Henry Get your students Experience the real deal explore our professional their own innovation Ford’s Innovation involved in your local stories of innovation development journeys using our new Nation TV show to Invention Convention, with a field trip to The workshops and apply for Innovate curriculum. identify habits and setting goals to be Henry Ford or the new our Teacher Innovator The series of online action of past and selected as a finalist at Innovation Nation Awards, which provide courses and resources present-day innovators. the National Invention Live! touring show innovation immersions introduces the Model I Watch Saturday Convention and that opens in theatres for 10 winners each year. framework using stories mornings on CBS or Entrepreneurship throughout the U.S. in of innovators past and at thehenryford.org/ Exposition. fall 2018. present. innovationnation Available in Fall 2018 OUR MISSION The Henry Ford provides unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, stories and lives from America’s traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation. Our purpose is to inspire people to learn from these traditions to help shape a better future.
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124 thehenryford.org