A look back on my initial thoughts on innovation.

"How do we get fellow educators to become engaged in the process of innovating for our students? How do we share our passion for innovations with others in an attempt to set high standards for twenty first century learning?" Through exploring these very questions I have come to realize more how intricately connected innovation and creativity are. I found myself looking back on my initial examination of each of these. If we are going to motivate others to explore innovation and creativity, it is imperative that we have an understanding of it ourselves.

Here is my initial discussion post on innovation:

"To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science." Albert Einstein

I quickly discovered through researching innovation that it is not an easy term to define. I have also realized, though I think most of us already knew it, that innovation is closely linked to creativity. According to Amabile et al, innovation is defined as, "the successful implementation of creative ideas"(Amabile, Conte, Coon, Lazenby, & Herron, 1996, p. 1155). Innovation is not necessarily scrapping all current ideas, philosophies and strategies; instead it is utilizing creativity to combine what has worked in the past with a vision of what will enhance the future. Consequently, I agree with Laird McLean and his conceptualization of innovation as a process. He combines many author's definitions of innovation in an attempt to conceptualize innovation, "innovation is about “a process of developing and implementing a new idea” (Van de Ven & Angle, 1989, p. 12). They go on to write that “innovation refers to the process of bringing any new problem solving idea into use . . . it is the generation, acceptance, and implementation of new ideas, processes, products, or services” (p. 20)." (McLean, 2005, p. 227). After doing some reading, especially in reference to the above two mentioned articles, I would have to define innovation as a creative process that implements new ideas in an effort to implement new processes or ideas.

Innovation in education, as in business can be complex. It certainly requires leaders who are willing to support educators who want to 'think outside the box.' Leadership is an essential part of innovation in education. Successful innovation, as it is a process, requires collaboration, teamwork and supportive leadership. Innovative leadership, "inspires others to think outside the box, then creates an environment where new ideas can be tested and evaluated. These leaders tend to be visionaries and motivate their followers through leading by example and fostering collaboration" (Spahr, 2015, p. 1). Therefore if we define innovation as a process, it cannot stand alone. It needs to be supported by innovative leaders and collaborative teams.

Amabile, T., Conte, R., Coon, H., Lazenby, J., & Herron, M. (1996). Assessing the Work Environment for Creativity. Academy of Management Journal, 39(5), 1154-1184.

McLean, L. (2005). Organizational Culture’s Influence on Creativity and Innovation: A Review of the Literature and Implications for Human Resource Development. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 7(2), 226-246.

Spahr, P. (2015, October 30). What is Innovative Leadership? How Imagination Revolutionizes Business. Message posted to https://online.stu.edu/innovative-leadership/