Our Curriculum
“I love that we are able to give students the opportunity to discover what uniquely intrigues them…and bring it to life.”
— Jen Long, Mentor
“Every student participant receives an IDO toolbox custom-designed for each project.”
For Everyone.
100% Free
All IDO programs are provided at no cost to the schools or students.
Good Partners
IDO partners with teachers and school districts to determine the best projects to implement based on grade level (K-12, emphasis on HS) and school requirements.
Tools Included
Every student receives a project kit including all necessary materials and tools.
A Golden Ratio
IDO provides one mentor for every three students.
Hybrid Model
IDO currently offers a hybrid program with hands-on materials and online support from mentors, with real-time lectures, demonstrations, and coaching.
Feedback Loop
Program evaluations are completed at the close of every project.
Our Process
1/ Immerse
We immerse students through demos and presentations in the types of tools, materials, concepts, and techniques they will be using throughout the creative process. From how to use an X-acto knife safely to making patterns, students learn hands-on techniques of construction.
2/ Brainstorm
Students learn to define the problem and then open their minds to out-of-the-box solutions. They narrow these ideas into themes that inform their research done by school computers where they find images for inspiration. This process demonstrates that ideas come from many different sources and requires a deep and broad thought process to come up with meaningful ideas.
3/ Ideate
Students continue to brainstorm, sketch, and now build 3-dimensional mock-ups of their ideas to test out concepts and explore creative possibilities. Mentors give relevant presentations meant to inspire the creative process and demonstrate how personal passion areas can influence design thinking.
4/ Prototype
We teach students how to develop a good idea through 3-dimensional form. Rapid prototyping and peer reviews inform students which direction to pursue. This process encourages experimentation, learning from failure, and utilizing feedback to build better solutions in a rapidly, progressive way.
5/ Build
Crafting the final solution introduces students to new materials, methods, and assemblies. Mentors oversee the production process so that there is a high level of execution while preserving materials and resources to ensure a successful outcome.
6/ Share
Students present their process and final design to their class. They learn how to demonstrate the journey of their thinking from defining the problem, researching for inspiration, to rapid prototyping and finally their ultimate design. They walk away proud of their end products, which reflect both the creative process and themselves.