This blog post is in response to the Innovator’s Mindset Blog Hop activity tonight inviting people to post about a personal definition of innovation as a kickoff to the book study.
As I pondered what I might write about tonight, I decided to consider two different angles that come into play in my view.
On the personal front, I believe innovation is connected to curiosity, creativeness and play. You react to new ideas, readings, questions, prompts, devices etc. Giving yourself permission to play, explore, take risks and let the mind wander in a boundless way is key. Through the act of play, new ideas are built and remixed. Sometimes, there is that unannounced AHA moment – something ‘concrete’ to try perhaps on your own or in your classroom. Be purposeful about this – the more you engage in play and creativity, innovative ideas will become more plentiful.
Personal innovation is one thing, but I believe it really comes alive when you can exist in a culture of innovation — a culture where: people wonder, conversation is encouraged, new ideas are received without judgement, open sharing is a norm and one suggestion or question leads to a new interpretation.
Nurture yourself by surrounding yourself with those who will contribute to your innovative energy — in all aspects of your F2F and online endeavours, take risks and think outside of the triangle!
~Mark
Image via Flickr creative commons license
Check out what other Ontario bloggers are saying about innovation:
Amit Mehrotra, Stacey Wallwin, Jennifer Casa-Todd,
Paul McGuire, Tina Zita, Donna Miller Fry, Patrick Miller,
Michelle Parrish, Jason Richea, Jancey Clark, @PeelASP,
Check out more at OSSEMOOC!
~ Mark's Musings ~ blog.markwcarbone.ca 
I like the connection between play, curiosity and innovation. Play allows us to make mistakes, it seems them as part of the process which I think both a personal innovation and a culture of innovation require. Thanks for sharing!