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What is IDEAcademy?

At IDEAcademy, we take an experiential approach to education by immersing students in programmatic topics commonly found in college courses to provide a foundation for innovative thinking. By fostering their natural curiosity to analyze and solve problems that improve the human experience, our approach aims to develop leadership skills, creative confidence, and professional collaboration among students.

Whether it's college, trade school, or an early career, IDEA provides students with a "hiker's toolbox" of educational and practical skills to help them prepare for the next big mountain in their lives. The program consists of a multi-session, class block schedule in which students engage in human-centered design projects spanning several focus areas. All of our program managers are industry professionals and recent students with prior leadership experience. This allows students to access teachers unlike their current public schools and brings the world of private & public sector businesses to students in the comfort of their school system.

When:

July 8th - July 26th, 2024

Monday - Friday, 9am - 2pm

Where:

Wayland Exploration Lab for Design (WELD)
Center for Computing & Data Science, Boston University Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

Scholarships

How It Works:

Apply for IDEA2024: Students should submit their applications via the button at the top right of our website to be considered by our admissions team. An email confirmation will be sent to you if your submission was successful.

Monitor Your Inbox: If a student's application is approved, they will receive an email in 1-2 days with their tentative acceptance into the Academy contingent upon completing the registration process.

Register For Courses: Tentatively Accepted students will be able to register via our website for two classes from our selection of 2024 Course Offerings, listed below. At this time, students will be expected to pay their Commitment Fee to lock in their spot as a part of the IDEA Class of 2024.

Get Excited! Once registered, students just need to count down the days until our program kicks off on July 8th.

IDEA 2024 Course Offerings

Please note that course offerings vary by location. All students may register for courses from one location.

Our Wayland courses offer students an opportunity to engage with innovative project management from within their own community.

A Block Courses

Cities for People: Urban Design & Architecture

Unpack the art and science of crafting sustainable and accessible urban environments, where innovative urban planning, landscape analysis, and forward-thinking architecture converge to shape the cities of tomorrow.

Print to Empower: Assistive Technology in Public Health

Explore how 3D printing and biomedical engineering merge to create empowering assistive technologies, enhancing public health through prototyping and design that promote health equity for all members of a community.

Beyond the Logo: Ethics and Deception in Marketing

Delve into the ethical landscape of business marketing, where branding, corporate responsibility, and social justice advocacy intersect to challenge perceptions and explore the fine line between persuasion and deception.

B Block Courses

Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking? Exploring Linguistic Psychology

Dive into one of the most fascinating aspects of the human the mind in a course that explores linguistic psychology, covering topics from language acquisition and neuroscience to cognition, influence, and the implications of computerized language processing.

Code with Compassion: Human-Centered Design in Computer Science

Discover the power of human-centered design in computer science as you learn UI/UX principles, front-end development, game and app creation, and foundational coding logic, all aimed at creating technology that improves the user experience.

Deal or No Deal: Mastering Negotiation, Investing, and FinTech

Master the art of negotiation and personal investing by learning about strategic communication, business negotiating tactics, and data-driven decision making to help you in navigating the ever-evolving industry of FinTech.

Our Boston courses offer students an opportunity to engage with college-level innovation from the heart of the city.

A Block Courses

Minds of Machines: Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics

Uncover the transformative power of generative artificial intelligence by mastering data visualization, predictive analytics, and natural language processing. Navigate the crucial ethical landscapes that shape technology's future.

Inside the Courtroom: Law, Forensics, & Criminal Justice

Embark on a compelling journey into the legal system, tailored for pre-law students, that combines intense mock trials, deep dives into criminology, and civil rights advocacy with a dedicated focus on victim support and restorative justice.

Maker's Lab: 3D Printing, Fabrication, and Product Manufacturing

Gain hands-on experience in a course focused on the entire product development cycle, from prototyping and design to advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing and laser cutting. Explore the practical skills required to transform innovative ideas into tangible products.

B Block Courses

Mind Matters: Cognitive Psychology and Social Well-Being

Explore the intersections of cognitive psychology and social well-being in a course that covers counseling techniques, social psychology, integrative public health, and social impact advocacy. Develop skills in mediation and learn how psychological principles can drive positive social change.

From Concept to Code: Game & App Development

Master the skills of game and app development in a comprehensive course that takes you from foundational coding logic to full stack development using React and Python. Gain hands-on experience in building interactive applications and controlling hardware with Arduino.

Green Screens: Marketing Sustainable Digital Prototypes

Explore sustainable digital design with a focus on UI/UX principles, branding, and creating accessible technology. Gain practical experience in prototyping and wireframing to effectively market eco-friendly digital solutions.

Students will work through the project ideation process over the course of the program, creating a final product that fits into one of these key concept areas:

Conversations

What conversations should we be having, and how can we create a space to have those conversations effectively?

Creations

What creations can we design and implement to improve the quality of the human experience?

Conclusions

What conclusions about the world are misunderstood or lacking, and how do we fill that gap?

Connections

What connections can we form to sustainably and equitably serve all individuals of our world?

Share The IDEA 2024 Application

Interested In Joining Us Next Year?

Fill out this form to be considered for early registration!

IDEAcademy 2025 applications go live this December 1st, 2024.

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