Why did you create this innovation?
While working at Pixar, two of the X in a Box co-founders recognized that there was constant demand from schools and educators to engage with Pixar and connect students to the innovation happening inside the studio. This led to the collaboration with Khan Academy (and meeting our third co-founder Brit Cruise )to create Pixar in a Box. Elyse, our CEO, was keenly aware of the inequities facing students, teachers and classrooms and wanted to bridge that gap.
The XIAB team has created a unique set of content that is available to every educator, every classroom, and will connect students to innovation happening at leading companies. Pixar in a Box was the first complete series, and led to many other fruitful projects and partnerships such as Imagineering in a Box with Disney or Array 101 with Ava Duvernay.
How does your innovation work in practice?
Pixar in a Box is a behind-the-scenes look at how Pixar artists do their jobs. Students are able to animate bouncing balls, build a swarm of robots, and make virtual fireworks explode. The subjects students learn in school — math, science, computer science, and humanities — are used every day to create amazing movies at Pixar.
Teachers can adapt this set of turnkey lessons to their classroom and utilize the videos and ancillary materials to create engaging classroom experiences. The goal is to ignite students’ natural curiosity and give them the opportunity to put their learning into practice through hands-on projects. Additionally, students begin to build their portfolios of work samples, getting them ready for their future careers.
How has it been spreading?
Our innovation has been spread primarily by word of mouth, which is such a compliment. We know educators and students enjoy our products and we're overjoyed that they share their experiences with fellow educators and students.
If I want to try it, what should I do?
To access our content, please visit our website, xiab.org, and make your way to the Lessons page. We welcome and are grateful for feedback, so we encourage you to connect with us on social media and share your thoughts!
