This past school year marked the beginning of the 15% Innovation Portfolio (IP) program at New Life Academy. Students in grades 6-12 explored scientific learning of their choosing and had complete freedom to learn whatever they wanted.
Academic dean Becky Wallerick is excited about this next generation of learners. She says, “They have billions of pages at their fingertips where they can learn anything they want—and they do.” The limitless access to knowledge became a motivating factor to challenge the way NLA approaches learning. Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math (STEAM) is a growing area in education. The learning transfers directly to skills needed in college and future careers.
Inspiration for 15% IP began the previous year when parent and CEO Dean Hager of Jamf spoke with teachers about coding and the focus on technology. Members of NLA’s science and technology department continued brainstorming at the 3M Innovation Center where they learned about the process of combining business and ideas. Many companies have begun to use the 15% IP model, where they encourage employees to use 15 percent of their time being creative. 3M led the way with its 15 percent culture back in 1948, giving employees the freedom to research and explore topics of interest above and beyond their day-to-day job responsibilities.
Would the concept work in a school? NLA teachers were committed to finding out. Craig Butler, NLA’s science chair says, “We wanted to allow for even more ‘outside of the box’ thinking that would be innovative and personal to the students.”
Amy Clausen is NLA’s director of marketing and a parent of students who participated in 15% IP. Clausen explains that it’s key to educate parents on what is important for this young generation of learners, the next generation of business leaders and employees. This was also a chance to combine service and science. Students were able to make connections with NLA’s mission work and really solve problems that “impact the world in some way, either small or large,” Clausen says.
Tenth-graders Kayley Hyland and Sarah Zimmermann found inspiration in their love of kids and local charity Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). The girls saw a need pertaining to babies in underdeveloped parts of the world who are too young to receive the FMSC meals. Together the girls designed a removable baby bottle placed inside a stuffed animal. Their goal was to offer both a comfort toy and a source of nutrition for undernourished babies. Like adults exploring ideas, they made many changes along the way.
Leaders in business and innovation partnered with NLA to show students how to express their ideas. The final presentations were like a sales pitch. It wasn’t just product design, but learning how to speak to clients. Clausen says, “Why aren’t these kids on Shark Tank right now?”
It’s clear students found a passion for learning. 3M International Operations senior business leader Kourosh Motalebi helped launch NLA’s 15% IP initiative. He says, “NLA is pioneering something very unique to encourage students to advance their curiosity, pursue with passion, practice initiative and leverage resources without being afraid of failure.”
Motalebi hopes NLA can keep the momentum going through continued support of parents and staff. Students are already thinking of ways to improve their designs and add to their portfolios this school year.
