Abstract
New products and ideas are continually being developed and introduced into the workplace. A cursory observation of any field, for example, medicine, telecommunications, transportation, information management, or the military, will reveal a wide array of new technologies and techniques that have been introduced over the last decade. Many of these innovations have radically transformed the way we work and live. Innovative technologies are also radically changing the way we teach and learn. Among the most well-known recent examples of these learning technologies are multimedia, educational games, software for developing presentations, video conferencing, and the World Wide Web (WWW). In addition, the continuous expansion of the power and availability of technology means newer, better, faster, and cheaper technologies will always be available to assist educators in transforming the learning process.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Product Innovation: Any new tool that can be employed to the attainment of a goal.
Innovation: Any tool or process that represents a new or creative method for accomplishing a goal.
Micro Level Innovations: An innovation that impacts a limited number of people or processes within an organization, usually requiring minimal modifications to the organization’s structure and policies.
Technology: Any tool or process for accomplishing a goal.
Dimensions of Change: The characteristics of an innovation that interact to define an innovation’s impact within an organization. Dimensions can include form, scale, sequence, and intentionality.
Process Innovation: Any modification to an existing practice that is not dependant on new tools to be effective.
Macro Level Innovations: An innovation that impacts a broad spectrum of people or processes within an organization, often requiring significant modifications to the organization’s structures and policies.
Learning Technology: Any tool or practice that is employed to support the acquisition, retention, and transfer of knowledge and skills.