The Henry Ford is again opening free to members the morning portion of its Learning Series for educators.

This installment in the series highlights American Innovation. The program begins at 9:30 a.m. on April 13 in Anderson Theater in Henry Ford Museum. Members can find out more information and register here. Registration for members is required by April 11. (Teachers: Look below for more information.)

The keynote speaker is Dr. David Pensak, entrepreneur, creator of the first Internet firewall and author of Innovation for Underdogs.

Dr. David Pensak is one of the country’s most prolific and successful innovators. His undergraduate work at Princeton University was followed by graduate school at Harvard University. He spent 30 years at DuPont, retiring in 2004 to teach and write his book, Innovation for Underdogs. He has taught courses at Wharton Business School and the University of Delaware, and has lectured at major corporations throughout the world. Dr. Pensak also founded Raptor Systems, the computer security company that developed and brought to market the first commercially successful Internet firewall. He has 38 patents and applications being prepared in fields ranging from agricultural chemistry to solid state physics and business-process modeling.

“I am a devout believer in the importance of innovation and thoroughly convinced that we all have the potential to come up with great ideas, which solve important problems … The best way to teach something is to show how others have done it, but not by a simple recitation of history. In the lectures I give and the courses I teach, I try to show you, not only the what, but also the how and the why.”

After Dr. Pensak’s talk, The Henry Ford’s chief curator of industrial design, Marc Greuther will join Dr. Pensak for a Q&A session.

Chief Curator Marc Greuther has a B.A. from the Courtauld Institute of Art at the University of London, and over 20 years experience with industrial technology at The Henry Ford.  His seven years as a member of the institution’s Historic Operating Machinery unit involved him in the operation and troubleshooting of a wide range of artifacts, from 19th century machine tools and steam engines to late 20th century robots and production equipment.  His writings for the Society for the History of Technology’s journal Technology and Culture usually spring from or explore areas where art history and the history of technology overlap.

The full-day workshop is designed for teachers and offers an opportunity to earn continuing education units. The afternoon portion of the workshop includes

• lunch
• an overview of curriculum aligned educational resources on American innovation  followed by a Q&A session
• highlights of Henry Ford Museum artifacts/exhibits focusing on American innovation using self- guided itinerary
• small group work session for the purpose of fostering dialogue, facilitating collaboration and co-creating lesson plans on American innovation

Teachers should register for the full-day workshop with the call center at 313-982-6001.