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"SIIA's Innovation Incubator program identifies and supports entrepreneurs in their development and distribution of innovative learning technologies. The program began in 2006 and has provided incubation for dozens of successful products and companies in their efforts to improve education through the use of software, digital content and related technologies. SIIA's Innovation Incubator program is unique in that it both employs a peer review process to identify the most innovative and most likely to succeed products, and those peers - successful industry leaders - provide one-on-one mentorship to support the growth and success of identified innovators."

"Atmosphere of Innovation: What's Your 20% Project? September 27, 2012 - by Adam Renfro You don't want to be the one who can't breathe in this atmosphere of innovation. I've had the great opportunity to work with some impressive leaders who always encouraged innovation and creativity. One went on to lead the 18th Airborne Corp, another became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, another went straight from principal to superintendent, and others went on to start, resurrect, and transform state-level virtual schools. I'm lucky indeed."

"To out-educate, we must out-innovate Posted by michael_horn | Under Online learning, Schools Thursday Feb 10, 2011 In his State of the Union address, President Obama urged the country to out-innovate the rest of the world. If we want to bolster America's competitiveness now and for the future, there's no better place to start than education, where Obama also said we need to out-educate the rest of the world."

"This project focuses on building the capacity of leaders and policymakers in states that are members of the Innovation Lab Network (ILN) to design assessment and accountability systems that result in deeper forms of student learning. With support from the Sandler Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, SCALE works alongside ILN states (California, Kentucky, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) to support the development, piloting, and implementation of new performance assessments that can be incorporated into accountability systems. All assessments are aligned to the Common Core State Standards and the work of SBAC and PARCC, the two assessment consortia."

"Inspire Drive, Innovation, and Creativity: The 20% Project in the Classroom Written By: Kate Petty - Jul* 20*12 Daniel Pink asks us to find what drives us. Sir Ken Robinson asks us to inspire creativity in students. The latest in education is asking us to find essential questions for students. How? One way is to institute a 20% project in class."

"BUILDING THE FUTURE NOW We are dedicated to the proposition that educators themselves-whether in schools, library, museums, or community organizations-are central to the task of reimagining education in an era of Connected Learning. Educator Innovator gathers educators, partners, and collaborating organizations to support and invest in building this future together."

"Dr. Lodge McCammon is a Specialist in Curriculum and Contemporary Media at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation (www.fi.ncsu.edu). His work in education began in 2003 at Wakefield High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he taught Civics and AP Economics. He finished a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in 2008 where his work at The Friday Institute continues to bring innovative practices to students, teachers and schools. He developed a teaching and professional development process called FIZZ which encourages and models best practices in implementing user-generated video and online publishing in the classroom to enhance standards-based lessons. He is also a studio composer who writes standards-based songs, with supporting materials, about advanced curriculum for K-12 classrooms. More information, user-generated videos, and songs can be found at Lodge's website (www.iamlodge.com). Dr. Lodge McCammon explains how to create a Paper Slide Video."

"Project Tomorrow is a national education nonprofit group based in Irvine, California. The vision of Project Tomorrow is ensure that today's students are well prepared to be tomorrow's innovators, leaders and engaged citizens of the world. We believe that by supporting the innovative uses of science, math and technology resources in our K-12 schools and communities, students will develop the critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills needed to compete and thrive in the 21st century. "

" What amazed me most about Classtools.net was not the valuable tools provided, but the ability for teachers to easily customize these tools and use them in any subject area. If that is not enough, how about the ability to embed your newly made instructional resource on your own classroom website, wiki, or blog? Any educator will also like the fact that students have no need to log in or sign up for an account… and neither do teachers! Need tutorials… they are provided! Do samples help you understand better… you will find plenty! Is budget a problem… then free should be affordable! Classtools.net is the work of educator, Russel Tarr, Head of History at the International School of Toulouse, France. Upon entering the site, educators will see the listing of tools. Clicking on a tool allows teachers to individualize that specific tool for their own classroom needs. Teachers then have the option of copying a generated link to place on their own web site or of copying a generated code to embed as a tool (widget) on their classroom site. Also, on the front page, are some video links that will provide further information. Two videos that provide excellent information are the 1 Minute Overview and How to Create Games. The Listing Of Over 20 Digital Tools For Your Classroom The tools that you can even customize are included below. Along with this tool listing you will find descriptions of each tool, an overview of and samples of specific tools (if provided), and any related video (if provided). * Arcade Game Generator - Allows teachers to create concept builders, practice exercises, and reviews. Best of all, one set up feeds into five different game possibilities at the same time The teacher can choose which game, or allow students a choice. Make sure you check out all the examples and pre-made games in (overview and samples). Also watch the How to Create Games . * Random Name Picker - Can be used as an activity management tool or skip the names.

"Innovative educators are often frustrated when administration will not allow them time for collaboration and professional study. At the same time,  innovative educators know that to succeed they need to have an effective principal at the helm. Principal effectiveness includes knowing how to provide teachers with these three things:"

About Creaza Creaza is used worldwide by thousands of students and teachers every day. Creaza offers you an integrated, web-based toolbox for creative work, both at school and in your spare time. You can use the toolbox along with various fully developed thematic universes: historical periods, fairy-tales, fantasy worlds, and current challenges, such as climate change/environmental issues. You can combine these themes with your own uploaded content. Creaza integrates professional and user generated content, creative tools and a social network in a new and innovative way.

"Complying with, and teaching young people about, copyright in an educational setting often feels burdensome. That's because copyright laws were not designed to facilitate the sort of sharing and collaborating that has become widespread in the digital age. The innovative nonprofit organization Creative Commons turns the process around, making the concept of protecting and sharing work online not onerous, but positive. We asked Ahrash Bissell, Executive Director of Creative Commons' ccLearn division, for a primer:"

"Creative Commons helps you share your knowledge and creativity with the world. Creative Commons develops, supports, and stewards legal and technical infrastructure that maximizes digital creativity, sharing, and innovation. "

"Overview The CUE Conference collection contains videos featuring the best of curriculum technology solutions, resources, and techniques presented by outstanding educators. Through engaging interviews, panel discussions, or keynote presentations, leading education and technology experts discuss the ways that innovative uses of technology are making a positive impact on education."

"Social media offers some great opportunities for learning in the classroom, bringing together the ability to collaborate, access worldwide resources, and find new and interesting ways to communicate in one easily accessible place. Teachers around the world have found innovative ways to use Twitter as a teaching tool, and we've shared many of these great ideas here with you. Read on, and we'll explore 60 inspiring ways that teachers and students can put Twitter to work in the classroom."

How online educators are changing education

"The Open High School of Utah is putting the focus where it should be - on the student. Our mission is to facilitate lifelong success by meeting the needs of the 21st century learner through individualized, student-centered instruction, innovative technology, service learning, and personal responsibility. "

"ollect ideas, discuss and vote. That's how tricider works. Your team will make decisions faster without meetings or calls. Innovative solutions arise because everyone can contribute ideas and vote. Whether with friends or clients: taking advantage of all the opinions and ideas to find the best solution has never been easier."

"Establish a common language for teaching effectiveness with an online training and assessment system and use innovative software tools for classroom walkthroughs and evaluation management."

We often read that there are 4 C's in a true 21st century education: critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation. The iPad is a success at engaging individual students in critical thinking and creativity, but how about collaboration? After all, tablets are consumer products, designed to be used by one person at a time, not by teams of students. It's up to teachers and instructional technologists to figure out how best to deploy them in the classroom in a way that supports project-based learning and fosters teamwork. We asked several teachers involved in iPad initiatives which apps they've had the most success with on the collaboration front. Here is what they told us.