In her Idea Lab classroom, Stephanie Klixbull’s students often asked her, “Miss K, what do you do with an idea?” She’d usually respond nonchalantly, “Well, you could get a patent, or you could make a business out of your idea,” and that would be the end of the conversation. But when Stephanie attended the National Summer Teachers Institute (NSTI) in 2024, she realized how much more she could offer her students.

NSTI is a free, professional development experience that provides educators with the tools to unlock the power of invention and intellectual property (IP) education. Participants learn strategies to give students the skills, mindset, and confidence they need to reach their fullest potential. This year's program will occur virtually.

Stephanie now coaches elementary teachers on how to give students real ownership over their ideas by incorporating IP and invention education into their classrooms. The biggest misconception students have, she says, is that only adults can be patent owners or entrepreneurs. The strategies and resources Stephanie learned at NSTI gave her the tools to break down those barriers and take students’ natural creativity and curiosity to the next level. (You can watch this recording of a recent webinar to hear more from Stephanie and fellow participant Dr. Sequoyah Wharton about their NSTI experience.) 

Are you also a K-12 educator looking for fresh ways to engage your students? NSTI – where creativity, hands-on learning, and project-based approaches of all kinds converge to spark curiosity and innovation in all students – might be the professional development program for you.  

Learn more and apply today on our NSTI webpage. Applications are due March 31.  

If you have questions regarding National Summer Teacher Institute, contact NSTI_Applications@uspto.gov.