Innovation Award 2022

Call to all Columbia University Students

Let's bridge the gap between EdTech and learning research.

We'll help you design and build innovative learning technologies.

This year's focus:
Designing Learning Experiences
in the Metaverse

Problem & Challenge

Designing Learning Experiences
in the Metaverse

How do we design unique learning experiences across modalities and spaces?
How do we design experiences that consider different human relationships and identities?
How can learning take place in new contexts in a post-pandemic world?

In INA 2022, you will identify the needs and challenges of the Designing Learning Experiences in the Metaverse, and address the problem through design solutions.

Challenge

INA 2022 calls for proposal to solve these pressing problems, by designing innovative Educational Technology.

TC Digital Futures Institute

And brought to you in part by the support of TC Digital Futures Institute

THE AWARD

What is the Innovation Award?

INA's mission is to provide a pathway to innovative, research-based EdTech, bridging the gap between practice and research in the EdTech field. The 2022 INA calls on students to solve the problem of Designing Learning Experiences in the Metaverse through the design of an EdTech solution, backed by research, and fueled by innovation.

How does this work?

This year's Innovation Award is an online experience blending elements of asynchronous and synchronous, online and live tasks and events. This year we will host the following:

Online Design Modules
— FEB 28 - APR 15
Live Check-In Sessions
— Fridays 11-1pm
Award and Showcase Event
— APRIL 28, 7pm

INA is selective and designed to guide teams through the process of refining concepts and product prototypes.

In this program your team will:

Learn how to design, develop, and test your ideas
Work with experienced researchers and mentors to critically examine your process and work
Learn new skills through interdisciplinary collaboration
Create a substantive body of work as a stage for future opportunities

At the end of the program, final product prototypes will be judged by a panel of experts in a culminating competition and showcase event.

INNOVATION

What is innovation in Educational Technology (EdTech)?

Innovation is broadly defined as an original idea, product, method, process, or model that can make a positive impact. The TC EdTech Initiative understands that education and technology innovation comes in many forms. The following table demonstrates the possible range of submissions:

Types	Examples
Formats	Digital, Non-digital, Hybrid
Technologies	Web-apps, games and toys, virtual reality, software, hardware, etc.
Products	Physical artifacts, designed experiences, models and processes, etc.
Perspectives	Cognitive, classroom culture, research, data analytics, social justice, etc.
Audiences	K-12, Higher Ed, Distance, Teachers, Parents, Administrators etc.

This list above is far from exhaustive, but the takeaway is that students from all subject matters and different technology and technical expertise are encouraged to participate.

Open to all Columbia University students.

Innovation in EdTech is interdisciplinary and collaborative by nature. It takes both technology and domain expertise to do it with depth, and to do it right. As such, the Innovation Award is open to all Columbia University students. Opportunities will be provided to help you find the right team.

See Students for details.

Evaluation

How are teams and ideas evaluated?

Problems and projects will be wide-ranging. The following are five areas that will be considered.

Category	Description
Innovation	Innovative quality of the problem, approach, and solution
Relevance	Significance of the addressed topic and problem
Research	Rationale based upon literature review and supporting research
Value	Potential impact and effectiveness of a solution

These categories are not intended to be a definitive measure. Rather, they will be used as a guide to allow fairness and equity in the proceedings.

Projects will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprised of a range of disciplines and perspectives (e.g. TC and Columbia faculty members, Edtech entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, teachers, school administrators, members of the student senate.)

TC and EdTech

There's a problem with EdTech...

In a recent Education Week article, Susan Fuhrman described how educational technology startups and companies are worryingly disconnected from researchers and academics (Fuhrman, 2017).

Millions of dollars are spent on educational technology products that are ineffective and unproven. These products are often designed without collaboration with researchers and are not aligned with current learning sciences research.

What we're doing about it.

Innovation Award was established through the collaborative efforts of the TC EdTech Initiative and the Communication, Media, Learning Technologies Design Program (CMLTD) as one of TC's first public steps forward in addressing the issue of disparity between EdTech practice and research.

With continued support from the TC Digital Futures Institute and the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology, INA strives to:

Connect creators to researchers
Build interdisciplinary capacity
Bridge industry to academia

By connecting students from different disciplines and research within the TC community, and bridging the gaps between institution and industry, it’s our goal to inspire innovation in the field of applied learning.

TC’s commitment to the future of EdTech

TC is committed to the future of educational technology with a special emphasis on sound practices grounded in research. We are proud to be hosting this event with the generous support by the Office of Alumni Relations, the Smith Learning Theater, and many others who have helped INA gain traction and contributed to the spirit of this undertaking.

If you would like to join the growing support for this commitment by becoming a sponsor, please visit our support page and donate to the future of TC Students in EdTech.