46
edits
Changes
no edit summary
<span style="font-size:small;">Though there is a lack of involvement, Rensselaer clearly values entrepreneurship, as indicated by an excerpt of The Rensselaer Plan found below:</span>
'''''<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">"It is imperative that Rensselaer students learn about opportunities to get involved in entrepreneurial pursuits early on in their college career in order for Rensselaer to effectively achieve the goals stated in the Rensselaer Plan. </span>Entrepreneurship is a way of life that springs from fundamental education and research programs. We work to infuse understanding and encouragement of entrepreneurship through all schools and programs.<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">" </span>'''''<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">(The Rensselaer Plan - 6.1 Entrepreneurship Education and Research)</span>
<div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div></div>
= <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Project Pitch Video</span> =
<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xwYI0Ztzox8}}</span>
= Our Plan Goals =
*Expand the Institute’s fundamental research activity in technological entrepreneurship and the management of innovation.
=== '''What We Teach are the Changes that MUST Change.Be Made?'''<br/> ===
''' '''Professor Tina Seelig said it beautifully in her Innovation Engineer talk - we must learn how to think in the terms of "? + ? = 10" not "5 + 5 = ?". Sure, “engineers make sure bridges don’t fall down," it is their responsibility. But engineers can also create ''new ways to communicate'', ''new paths to education'', and ''new technology ''that makes it possible for any one person, anywhere in the world, to get the best possible healthcare and education.
Another beautiful example is Max Little's TED talk about Parkinson’s diagnosis. His innovation is '''massively scalable''', continues to learn, and costs essentially nothing. Shouldn’t healthcare, education, and opportunity fit the same requirements? Why aren't students stretched to reach for the ideal in their designs?
The current "fundamentals first" model of education has failed to equip most students with the sort of creative confidence necessary to become an entrepreneur. The highly theoretical and intense courseload has a general lack of hands-on learning which removes the curiosity from learning and leaves little time or energy for students to work on projects outside of class. This leads to a general attitude of apathy towards learning which incentivizes a culture of "doing as little as possible to get the grade", cheating, and quite possibly binge drinking on the weekends.
=== What Skills Do Our Students Need To Suceed In the Future? === <br/>“Knowledge and Thoroughness” is the current RPI motto, along with "Why not change the world?" But what will, and should, the new motto be? "Change the world" is too vague and does not adequately point out the '''threats '''posed by inequalities. <br/><br/>Students need to learn to see opportunities without being told what to do, and they need to make their visions into reality. They can't sit back asking "Why not change the world?" but rather, they need to sit back and say "How can I change the world, '''for the better'''?" "What is the next step?" "What difference can I make TODAY?" and "Am I doing work that is making an impact? Am I building the skill sets I needto do what I love?"
Technology must be focused on making life better for the 99%, not for the elite and their fancier kitchens, cars, or toys. If students learn to focus on the most needy, then everyone can use the technology. There are many people right in North Troy, New York who are struggling to survive. THEY are our customers, not the 1%.
=Overcoming The Barriers to Success = = Overcoming the barriers to success =Fall 2016 ==
1) School Curriculum
**Our school lacks a facility where students can work 24hours a day. While we do have some facilities that contain machinery and work tables, most are only open during the hours of 8am-6pm, the exact time when most students are in classes. After interviewing RPI students, it has become apparent that opening a facility open 24 hours would greatly benefit them by giving them an environment where they can work for long periods of time, when they don't have classes, and with other students.
**We are in the process of securing a location in the "J-Building" on campus to serve as a Makerspace. We are continuing to interview students about how much this space would benefit them and how they would like it to be set up.
== Spring 2017 ==
As of spring 2017, a new makerspace for ALL students is currently up and running. "The Forge" is located in the basement of the DCC, and is equipped with five 3D printers, a 3D scanner, laser cutter, smartboard, and a touchscreen presentation monitor. The space is quite impressive yet cozy. Effectiveness is yet to be gagued as the UIF team and other students are still working on promoting the club and student awareness of the space. There is also a new workshop currently in the process of being finished, which is open to all Humanities/STS students who are usually restriced from acessing the engineering workspaces.
=== School Curriculum and Culture<br/> ===
==== Fear of the Unknown <br/> ====
==== Starting a Business <br/> ====
==== Confidence in Skills <br/> ====
==== Lack of an Entrepreneurship Community <br/> ====
=== Faculty Reach<br/> ===
=== Entrepreneruship Events<br/> ===
=== Student Leadership <br/> ===
=== Consistent Branding, Location and Organization of Existing Resources ===
= Our Plan [Spring 2017] =
#Resource Management/Awareness
#Design THinking and Innovation Teaching Modules
#Freshmen Orientation Workshops
#Wall of Opportunity
[[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]]
University Innovation Fellows