Overview

The purpose of this presentation is to teach the basic topic of innovation. Students should have a better understanding of innovation upon completion.


What is innovation?

Innovation is a new idea or novelty to introduce something new.

Innovation is rapidly growing as technology becomes more and more prevalent in society. As technology is constantly changing, new ideas are able to be developed that were mere ideas without the resources to implement them in the past.

  • examples of innovations: 5G data networks, blockchain technology, automated driving.
  • All of these ideas came from past ideas and devleoped them into something better.

What is innovation? (quick video)



The process of innovation

The process of innovation is often referred to as the design thinking process.

Stages of the design thinking process:

  1. empathize: (talk and research the problem)
  2. define: (define the problem)
  3. ideate: (come up with ideas to solve the problem)
  4. prototype: (create many prototypes to solve the problem, these should be made fast and quickly)
  5. test: (See what works, fix the prototypes, find the solution)

Two common ways to complete the design thinking process:

  1. Google Jamboard. This is perfect for collaboration as you can add others to your Jamboard. Allows you to add photos, whiteboard writing, sticky notes, text.. etc.
  2. Sticky notes. Perfect to write/ jot down ideas throughout the process and add them to a big posterboard.

Example of Google Jamboard from a past innovation of mine.

Example of Google Jamboard from a past innovation of mine.


Invention vs Innovation

Invention = To discover something new.

Innovation = To use a new idea or method.

Tip to remember the difference: Innovation builds off an invention.

Examples 1:
Invention- taxi and cab service. First transport system.

Innovation- Uber and Lyft. Modernized the transport system through technology (smartphones).

Example 2:
Invention- the telephone. The first way to communicate is on the telephone.

Innovation- An iPhone. Took the telephone but made it more accessible and modern with new and advanced technology.

Short video explaining innovation vs invention


Why is innovation important?


It is constantly shaping the world around us!

It is sharpening old ideas and creating more effective processes.

Think about it, imagine if inventions from the 1950s were still in place... Your phone, television, household appliances, cars, and everything around you would look much different.

The bottom line: With innovation, we live in a world where we are constantly advancing and having better processes, ideas, products, and business models.


Practice!

Complete this quick assignment to test your knowledge.

  1. What is innovation in your own words?
  2. Example of an invention:
  3. Example of an innovation:
  4. What is the process called when creating an innovation?
If you do well, you have a basic understanding of innovation!

Answer Key to Innovation Assignment

Source: Ainsley Whittington, https://www.oercommons.org/courseware/lesson/87171/overview
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License.

Last modified: Friday, 7 February 2025, 10:51 AM
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