From today GCSE and NQ students across the country will be given access to specialised intellectual property (IP) training and preparing them for the future and ensuring they understand how to protect their creative works.
‘Think Kit’ lesson plans, designed by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and launched today by the government. This will give teachers of Business Studies, Media Studies, PHSE and Music access to brand new online resources and toolkits designed to improve the next generation’s understanding of IP.
The lesson plans and online courses are the result of extensive qualitative research by the IPO involving hundreds of teachers across the UK which found that teachers and students wanted to improve their IP knowledge.
The lesson plans have been funded by The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM).
Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister for intellectual property, said: “It is essential that we educate children about the importance of intellectual property rights. From today these practical, real-world lesson plans will support the UK curriculum.” she continued “The innovators of tomorrow must be equipped with a clear understanding of how to benefit from their creativity and ensure their hard work isn’t ripped off.”
The comprehensive resource pack is designed to help teachers of GCSE or NQ Business Studies, Media Studies, Design Technology or Music get students thinking about innovation and how they can protect and benefit from their ideas. All materials are relevant to their subject – and to students’ lives. The IPO has produced a brief guide to intellectual property to help get student started.
The IPO has also launched a new online hub, which gives schools and colleges free access to teaching resources to help students learn about intellectual property.
