From the Classroom to the Startup Playground

Abstract

The goal of the author's curriculum is to create a foundational understanding of engineering. Creating this program was a long and bumpy road. The methodology was important. The author has long been a fan of inquiry-based science, and her classes were very often hands-on and discovery aligned. It took a few years, but eventually she ironed out the social setting, the real-world connections, and the hands-on open-ended challenges that allowed students to apply their science information. Originally, the author only intended to use the materials in her own classroom, but when she felt it would be a huge benefit to other educators who were grappling with similar challenges, she began to seek publishers. She went through quite a few false starts—scams, lazy publishers, and rejections—until she decided to self-publish. The author discussed, marketed, strategized, and partnered, and now the curriculum is approved for government funding and will be live in January on global digital platform. For every success, there are a dozen failed attempts. However, she had a great support system that was always ready to help her to the next opportunity. This chapter explores that journey.