This past summer, educators from across the U.S. came together to learn about invention, intellectual property (IP) and the patent process, as part of the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) National Summer Teacher Institute, or NSTI.
NSTI is a free nearly week-long professional development opportunity created to support K-12 teachers build their understanding of invention education, including intellectual property. The training is held in July at the USPTO in Alexandria, Va.
Watch the video of NSTI attendees and organizers discuss the importance of why it's important for teachers to come together to learn about supporting their students on their invention journey.
Teachers working together on a project at NSTI in July 2024 at the USPTO in Alexandria, Va. Credit: PBS News Hour Classroom
The USPTO is the federal agency which grants U.S. patents and trademarks. The Inventors Assistance Center even has a 1-800 number to call to help you get started.
Do you know many young people across America and the world have earned a U.S. patent for an invention they've created? Educators have played a key role in providing their students with information on how to earn a patent and learn about the importance of protecting their ideas, or intellectual property.
Various invention education organizations, like the USPTO, Invention Convention, Lemelson-MIT and PBS News Hour Classroom have programs to help teachers learn how to become invention educators. Some teachers have even received a patent right alongside their students. And even if you don't earn a patent (most people don't!), it's exciting to learn how the invention process works, including problem-solving skills, prototyping and teamwork.
Production note: Video includes footage from 2024 NSTI and student footage at 2024 VEX Robotics competition in Dallas, Texas.
Additional resources
Check out New Hour Classroom's Lesson plan: Patent pending! Learn how to patent your invention. Or join our Invention Network community here for fun updates and events!
This video was edited by Gianfranco Beran, a senior at Amherst College, and an intern with PBS News Hour Classroom, and produced by News Hour's Vic Pasquantonio.
If you would like to pitch an Educator Voice article or video story, contact vpasquantonio@newshour.org.
