The Project Invent Fellowship is a year or semester long design thinking and technology experience for disruptive educators.
Applications for the 2023-2024 cohort are now open!
A Fellow’s Journey
Watch the video below to learn more about the experience.
What Fellows Do
Summer
Fellows are invited to Summer Institute, a weeklong experience where they complete the Project Invent program for themselves. Fellows are supported through invention by experts from MIT and the Stanford d.school.
School Year
Fellows lead their students through a year of invention to solve a problem in their community using the Project Invent curriculum. Fellows also engage in quarterly, virtual cohort meetings to engage in collective learning and growth.
Spring
Fellows and their students attend a virtual Demo Day where students pitch their inventions to investors and meet other teams. Selected teams will be invited to pitch at Demo Day Weekend, an in-person event in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Why Become a Fellow
You are looking for a deeper dive into design thinking and innovation, not just another workshop.
You want to learn how to partner your classroom with your community more effectively.
You want to lead meaningful learning experiences that make real impact.
You want to grow as a professional by guiding your students from idea to product.
Who Fellows Are
MIDDLE & high school (traditional or out-of-school) educators
passionate about empowering youth
no engineering experience necessary
What We Believe
We believe that combining human-centered design, engineering, and social impact into a learning experience transforms educators and students alike. Our program is unique because students work with real people in their communities to create inventions. Through interviews and meetings, students build lasting relationships with individuals in their community and create innovative solutions that make an impact.
How We Impact Change
We believe there are specific teacher practices that build 21st-century mindsets in students. Our fellowship helps educators grow their practice to empower students as fearless and compassionate problem solvers.
Fellow Testimonials
Jill Hyatt, Meadville Area Senior High School
Project Invent has re-energized my teaching…My students engage much more deeply in Project Invent than in typical school projects, and I appreciate the opportunity to model risk-taking and push myself as an educator with this program.
Joel Voelz, Crystal Springs School
Project Invent is the cornucopia of teaching programs — it covers so many skills and situations for students, and yourself, to grow and learn.
Hear from more teacher fellows on our podcast!
What Fellows Receive
4 days of design thinking, making, and entrepreneurship training.
3 additional professional development workshops.
One-on-one and small cohort support.
In December, students receive feedback from industry professionals at Google, Facebook, and more.
In April, students pitch to investors for funding.
Membership in our national community of educators.
Support with securing a community partner for real-world problem-solving.
If you would like to bring Project Invent to a whole grade level or school, please get in touch.
Apply to the Fellowship
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR WILL OPEN on MARCH 1.
*Note: Info session attendees will be invited to an expedited application experience.
Additional info session dates will be released throughout the Spring.
FAQs
I ONLY TEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. CAN I APPLY?
Project Invent currently serves middle and high school educators. If you are an elementary school teacher looking for a deep dive into invention education, check out our free curriculum and resources perfect for any age group.
i am a student. can i become a fellow?
As much as we love students, the Project Invent Fellowship is intended only for educators at this time. If you want to be part of Project Invent, share about us with a teacher and have them apply to be a fellow!
Can I do the program virtually?
Absolutely! Our program can be carried out with students virtually or in-person. We leverage online collaboration and creation tools like MURAL, Slack, and TinkerCAD to make this possible. If your school has specific software restrictions, we can work with you on the best tools to run Project Invent with your students virtually.
do i already need a project idea before i apply?
No! After you are accepted, we will work directly with you to scope a community project and guide you through the process of finding local community partners to work with throughout the year. No need to determine a concrete project idea or proposal right now.
do i already need to have students recruited before i apply?
No! As long as you are committed to bringing Project Invent to your school, we are confident that you will find students who will also be excited about solving real world problems and building a better world.
is there a cost to the fellowship?
Project Invent program fees are dependent on the population of students that you serve as an educator. Educators who serve Title I eligible populations are invited to participate in Project Invent for free.
All other educators will be charged a small fee to cover training and event costs. This is to be paid after you interview and are accepted. 2022-2023 program fees will be announced in March. As a general rule: do not let cost keep you from applying! We are always happy to explore alternate funding options with you.
How long does the application take to fill out?
We expect the application to take about 30-45 minutes to fill out.
after applying, when will i hear back?
We will get in contact with you 2-4 weeks after you apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the end of May. The earlier you apply, the higher your chance of admission.
what is the summer institute for?
The Summer Institute brings all of our Fellows together for four days of design thinking and invention. The week will be very interactive and a great way to get to know other Fellows and experience the invention process yourself.
where are the trainings?
Our trainings are usually hosted at the Tech Interactive in San Jose, CA. However due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions, our 2020 & 2021 Summer Institutes were hosted virtually.
what happens after the fellowship?
Your first year as a Project Invent Fellow brings you into the community — but that’s only the start! Once you’re a Fellow, we will save you a spot at Demo Day every year and you will have the opportunity to advise future fellows of Project Invent. Students who wish to continue their projects after Demo Day are also invited to participate in the Accelerate program, our mentorship program that guides students from prototype to product.
are there any benefits to applying earlier?
The earlier you apply, the more likely it is for you to be accepted. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis so once we run out of spots, we will close applications. Your best bet is to apply as soon as you can!