The Ingenuity Project: Preparing Students for a Global World By Dolores Costello
Watching the 2010 Winter Olympics reminded me that being the best requires years of practice at an intensive pace. Olympic athletes are not “just getting by”; they work hard day in and day out. Yet we hear many high school students say they’ll work hard later, that they don’t want to read and study now and don’t want to be stressed. In reality, those students may get into college but might not graduate because they haven't “trained” for the event. Our youth would be well-served to think of their classes in school as preparation for the “Olympics” of life. The Ingenuity Project (Ingenuity) prepares students to compete nationally and internationally in the intellectual and academic arenas. Ingenuity focuses on mathematics, science and, by extension, engineering and technology. The mathematics and science classes are taught above grade level. In the 9th-grade biology course, for example, content is taught as though students are in 11th or 12th grade. And in the 9th-grade geometry class, students do proofs and use textbooks that require them to think and study. Thinking and studying—these are important characteristics of Ingenuity classes. Ingenuity students cannot just repeat information or plug numbers into an equation and expect to get good grades. Instead, students have to learn and understand concepts so they can apply them to many different situations or problems. We expect them to develop original ideas and new perspectives. The process is challenging, and it takes effort to attain this level of understanding. At times, students get discouraged because they want things to come easily. When that happens, we offer encouragement, tutoring and recommendations on ways to improve their study habits and organizational skills. As the director, watching a student struggle is hard, but I know the result is worth it, and that fewer hours texting and posting on Facebook will bring the self-confidence that develops when students become knowledgeable about their course work and perform well on tests and quizzes. Success and good grades make for a rewarding school experience—and lead to entry into top universities with scholarships. Overcoming obstacles and learning to solve problems are the very things that prepare students to face the future successfully. A few years ago, a senior submitted her original research project to one national competition after another. She did superior scientific work but did not receive recognition. This led to tears and disappointment—and the acknowledgment that the research of other high school seniors across the country was deemed better than hers. She kept improving her work for each successive competition. In the fourth and final competition, her work was recognized, and she took her project to the International Science and Engineering Fair. The joy of that “win” was immeasurable.
Ingenuity students and their teachers work long and hard with great reward. Our students get into great colleges, and many go on to graduate school. Quite a few attend medical schools. (See photo, on the left, of Ingenuity graduates N’Dama Bamba and Trang Diem Vu, now enrolled at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.) Life requires effort, and it is unrealistic to think that easy classes prepare students for good job opportunities. Parents can help by expecting their children to learn, by holding them responsible for their work and by providing quiet study time at home. I hope students train themselves for future “competitions,” such as applying to great colleges and moving on to get good jobs. The key is to use time in school to learn as much as possible. In his great wisdom, Frederick Douglass said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men (and women).” The Ingenuity Project aims to prepare students to be academically strong by guiding them through a challenging “practice” course in middle and high school, with the expectation that they go on to become leaders of the future. |
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 My Testimony: The Ingenuity ProjectBy Megan Reid My name is Megan Reid. I am a senior at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, and I have a true testimony about the Ingenuity Project . A quality education is literally what one receives in this program. Ingenuity's focus on hardcore math and science creates an invaluable foundation for college success. Although the heavy workload is not something I favor, I know I'm prepared to take on the rigorous college courses I'll need to become a chemical engineer. The hours of homework from second-level calculus and Advanced Placement (AP) chemistry give me exposure and practice for the demands of college. Because of Ingenuity, I was able to research lipid (fat) metabolism at the Carnegie Institution under Drs. Steven Farber and James Walters. Gaining research experience as an undergraduate is important in most fields; as a high student, I already have an advantage over most undergraduate students because I've completed two years of research in high school. Ingenuity has provided the networks and resources to do so. When students need help filling out research competition forms and editing college essays, the Ingenuity faculty always helps. Ingenuity students receive notifications about upcoming community service, scholarships and employment opportunities. In short, the Ingenuity Project has made my high school journey pleasant. Through it, I even received a free Macintosh laptop from a donor who contacted Mrs. Costello, our program director, and asked if anyone needed one. Mrs. Costello—aware of my extensive use of the school computer labs—contacted me immediately. I'm so glad they thought of me. I use the laptop to complete many research and homework assignments. The Ingenuity staff will never forget me because of how much I called on them for help. And I will never forget the Ingenuity Project because of the support it's given me and my future. |
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My Testimony: The Ingenuity ProjectBy Christopher Harris I am extremely thankful to be in the Ingenuity Project. Beginning in 6th grade, I had no idea what great possibilities were ahead of me. During the high school phase of the Ingenuity Project, I have had the chance to visit Costa Rica, work in a research lab studying sleep apnea and form lasting relationships with a diverse group of people. The Ingenuity Project has allowed me to build a strong foundation in mathematics and the sciences, excellently preparing me for my future endeavors. |
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Every day—sometimes many times a day—I ask myself if we are doing the best we can to prepare students for the future in a world growing more and more internationally competitive. Today, jobs can be performed in China, India and South America as efficiently as here in the United States. Our students have to be prepared intellectually to get the best jobs and keep the U.S. a real contender for future innovation. My hope is to prepare students to get leadership positions in the medical, commercial, engineering and technology fields—and to develop solutions to problems and live full, productive lives.
Today, that student goes to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She says that Ingenuity taught her to try for things and not be afraid. She learned that losing a competition is disappointing but not the end of the world. She also learned that other people judge one’s work—and that it can always be improved. She learned never to give up.