Some of the best ideas are sparked from a simple comment like, “Hey, you have to see this video.”
That’s what happened when Director of New Ventures for Nelnet Business Services (NBS) Terry Chvatal shared a cartoon video clip about simplifying innovation with Nelnet Diversified Services (NDS) Culture Director and fellow Innovation Advocates member Jessica Schumacher. As they discussed the video, Schumacher pointed out that kids are good at keeping innovation simple and suggested bringing kids into the office, watching them innovate, and seeing just how straightforward and fun they make it. “The idea kind of blew up from there,” said Schumacher.
And just like that, Kiddovation was born.
Fast forward a few months to the afternoon of August 10, 2023. More than 50 kids, grades K-5, gathered at Nelnet’s Haymarket location to exercise their creative muscles with age-appropriate projects that allowed them to innovate. Kids could play at a virtual reality station or with a robotic dog, or move robotic bugs on an iPad. They were also tasked with using unconventional building materials like pretzel rods, marshmallows, popsicle sticks, and spaghetti noodles to create things that were funny, tall, or a certain type of object. The parents in attendance, most of whom are Nelnet associates, participated in innovation challenges with the kids, along with other Nelnet associates who volunteered for the event.
Chvatal and Director of New Markets for NBS Jessica Charlsen have close ties with Prairie STEM, an Omaha, Neb.-based nonprofit focused on improving critical thinking and creativity in all PK-12 students. Prairie STEM’s partnership made Kiddovation possible, providing hands-on, engaging activity kits specifically designed for the two different age groups – grades K-2 and grades 3-5 – which contained educational lessons with materials, lesson plans, and extension activities. “We also wanted to bring in a community aspect, said Schumacher, “so we reached out to Teammates, who we have a great corporate relationship with. We were able to get six Teammates kids involved, along with having Prairie STEM’s CEO come and participate. It was just a great partnership.”
For their project, the younger group built a carriage car, experimenting with different variables to see whose cars went the furthest, fastest, straightest, etc. The older group completed an escape room activity, using a ping pong ball and experimenting with trial and error to learn about mass and velocity. As Schumacher pointed out, “Prairie STEM’s contribution was more than we could have ever imagined with everything they brought and how interactive they were.”
The Innovation Advocates’ metrics for success – at least 50 kids participating and for participating kids and adults to enjoy themselves – were surpassed. The Net Promoter Score among participants was a robust 92. As Schumacher noted, “It was an entertaining, engaging day, and everybody took away something from the event. Volunteers said they want to be involved when we do it again. It was geared toward kids, but the adults also got to learn and build and laugh too.”
It was an entertaining, engaging day, and everybody took away something from the event. Volunteers said they want to be involved when we do it again. It was geared toward kids, but the adults also got to learn and build and laugh too.
Surveys provided a great way for parents and children to provide feedback. One parent said, “This event was awesome – the kids loved it and I enjoyed watching them. The timing of the event was perfect as I felt it got the kids in back-to-school mode.” Another parent pointed out, “I loved that my kiddos got to meet some other kids of parents that work for Nelnet. I also loved watching their brains work while doing various activities.”
The Innovation Advocates also watched closely – and learned. As Nelnet Director of Innovation Brian Ardinger said at the event, “We all know as adults, we do very well at executing and optimizing, but we don’t do very well sometimes at exploring and experimenting. We hope this event gives us an opportunity to…see how kids react to new activities and gives us new skillsets and mindsets we can carry into Nelnet as well.”
We all know as adults, we do very well at executing and optimizing, but we don’t do very well sometimes at exploring and experimenting. We hope this event gives us an opportunity to…see how kids react to new activities and gives us new skillsets and mindsets we can carry into Nelnet as well.
Schumacher added that, “With the anecdotal information we received [about Kiddovation], we not only accomplished our goal of gaining insight about how to simplify innovation – we also reiterated to our associates what our culture is.” Parents, volunteers, and executives like Nelnet Chief Executive Officer Jeff Noordhoek who participated all agreed that this was a success. The question now is, “What next?”
Schumacher noted that Nelnet’s Innovation Advocates are looking at expanding the Kiddovation pilot to a different location – and are even considering expanding and marketing it to associates. It’s a matter of looking at how it could be useful in making a difference in their view of the organization or building brand or organizational loyalty.
While many of the specifics of future Kiddovation events remain unclear, a few things are obvious, said Schumacher. “We’ve definitely agreed as a group that we wouldn’t do something like this in another location unless we had an organization like Prairie STEM or another external group that can bring something else in terms of resources, energy, and enthusiasm. I just can’t say enough about working with them as an organization. We learned so much from them. Having that type of partnership was crucial in executing something like this.”
When asked what Kiddovation says about us as an organization, Schumacher emphasized, “I think it really highlights our commitment to innovation and culture – both being able to have an idea and then have people get behind and rally around it and pull in the resources, get their friends and families involved. It also shows how committed we are to our core values, our associates, to innovation, to diversification, to growth. It shows that we walk the talk. We say these things are important to us – and we do it.”
