Oskaloosa High School students are tackling real-world business problems through the school’s Innovation Workshop, a hands-on program that partners students with local businesses to find creative solutions to operational challenges.
Fifteen students were selected for the program through teacher nominations, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) participation, and the school’s talented and gifted (TAG) program. Over two days of intensive training, students learned a 9-step process designed to integrate quality tools into a process of gathering data and using interpretation skills to solve problems before being assigned to local Oskaloosa business partners, where they immersed themselves in a specific challenge.
“This is a problem-based approach,” said Jeanne Clark, an Oskaloosa High School teacher and Innovation Workshop instructor. “Students are not just Googling answers. They have to slow down, analyze systems, and dig deeper into complex issues.”
Local businesses Iowa Wood Preservers, Clow Manufacturing, and Musco Sports Lighting opened their doors to the students this year, providing them with hands-on experiences in business operations. For three days, students collaborated with employees, conducted research, and developed potential solutions before presenting their findings.
Junior Lizzie Brummer described the experience as eye-opening.
“I got to see how an actual business functions and the problems they deal with daily,” she said. “It felt pretty cool to be in an office space where people were depending on me for a valuable solution.”
Brummer, who plans to study business management at William Penn University, said the program reinforced her interest in entrepreneurship. “It gave me insight into how businesses operate. Just seeing a little glimpse into the business world was really valuable,” she said.
For senior Xavier Edwards, the process was mentally exhausting, but rewarding.
“We had to do a lot of research, brainstorming, and data gathering. Some questions didn’t have easy answers, and that was frustrating,” he said. “But when we finally found our solution, it felt worth it.”
Edwards and his team initially explored hydrogen-based water solutions, but found the costs to be too high. They pivoted to rainwater collection, a more cost-effective and impactful alternative.
“It wasn’t our first idea, but it was definitely our best idea,” Edwards said. “It had the most efficiency, the biggest impact, and was the most realistic.”
The experience both sharpened students' analytical skills and provided them with an opportunity to communicate effectively in a professional setting.
“In life, everyone has to present ideas and communicate solutions,” said Matt Larson , office manager at Iowa Wood Preservers. “These students handled themselves professionally. Their ability to present and engage with businesses was impressive.”
Larson noted that the students brought fresh perspectives to a challenge his company had previously considered. “They reminded us to revisit rainwater collection as a viable option,” he said. “They also highlighted small, but important steps, like checking for leaks in our system. Sometimes having an outside perspective is extremely helpful.”
Oskaloosa’s strong business community makes programs like Innovation Workshop possible, according to Clark.
“We have businesses big and small that are excited to collaborate with students,” she said. “Over the years, we’ve worked with Musco, Clow, Mahaska Bottling, and others. The willingness of these companies to engage with students is what makes this program so impactful.”
While many schools focus on classroom-based learning, Innovation Workshop gives students a unique opportunity to apply their education in a professional environment.
“I don’t know of any neighboring districts that have something like this,” Clark said. “It’s special.”
As for the businesses, Larson said he hopes to continue participating in the program.
“As long as we have a good problem for students to solve, we would love to be involved again next year,” he said. “This has been a great experience for everyone.”
For the students, the biggest takeaway was the realization that real-world problem solving is rarely straightforward.
“Brainstorming and problem solving are exhausting,” Edwards said. “But when you push through and find a real solution, it’s worth it.”