Discussion of Key Terms

Discussion of Key Terms
Key terms are the words and phrases that were used in the search for literature concerning cultures of innovation and the role of educational technology in creating and advancing cultures of innovation. The literature reviewed consists of books, journal articles, reputable websites and web pages, scholarly theses and other dependable sources of information. The definitions and applications of the keywords and key terms used are supported by authoritative sources.

Educational Technology
While both educational and technology have commonly understood definitions, the phrase educational technology is more than just education and technology and has multiple interpretations and applications (Miyazoe, 2008 ). For the sake of this literature review, the most recent definition provided by the Association for Educational Communication & Technology (AECT), published in 2008, will be used. The summary of that definition is “the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources” (Januszewski, Molenda, & Association for Educational Communications and Technology, 2008, p. 1 ).

Organizational Culture
Culture is traditionally a sociological term that describes a shared set of values, rules for behavior and expectations and activities that are also learned and shared through activity within the culture (Dubina, 2016 ). An organizational culture is a subset of the larger social culture that exists within an organization such as an educational institution, and describes what is expected from the members of the organization as well as what the members can expect from the leadership of that organization (Chen, Huang, Liu, Min, & Zhou, 2018 ; Dombrowski et al., 2007 ; Gonzales & Storti, 2019 ; Kunnari & Ilomäki, 2016 ; Matthews & Brueggemann, 2015 ; Zhu, 2015 ).

Innovation
Innovation is commonly defined as an idea, solution, methodology, or technology that is new, or is perceived to be new (Kunnari & Ilomäki, 2016 ). Innovation is often used interchangeably with invention, but this muddling of terminology weakens the importance of innovation. An invention is the “identification and documentation of an idea that has the potential for commercialization” (Dombrowski et al., 2007, p. 28 ) whereas an innovation is a tangible product that offers an entirely new way of analyzing a problem, or resolving a concern, or offering new abilities previously not possible (Lai-DuMone, 2018 ; Marshall, 2013 ; Naiman, 2014 ; Serdyukov, 2017 ).

Innovators
In the context of this paper, innovators are described as individuals operating within a culture of innovation, whether as students in a classroom or individuals in a collaborative group (Chen, Huang, Liu, Min, & Zhou, 2018 ; Dubina, 2016 ; Heinis, Goller, & Meboldt, 2016 ; Matthews & Brueggemann, 2015 ; Zhu, 2015 ). Innovators are skilled in their areas of exploration (Beghetto, 2005 ; Heinis, Goller, & Meboldt, 2016 ; Matthews & Brueggemann, 2015 ), creative in problem-solving (Dombrowski et al., 2007 ; Dubina, 2016 ; Keinänen, Ursin, & Nissinen, 2018 ; Matthews & Brueggemann, 2015 ), and respond well to the accountability of a group and of leadership (Dubina, 2016 ; Matthews & Brueggemann, 2015 ).

Culture of Innovation
A culture of innovation is an environment where the innovators, members of that culture, are expected to think freely and with imagination, to use their skills and expertise to address an issue or goal without preconceived notions of what can or should be done, and willing to take risks of failure and make the decision to move forward with a plan (Beghetto, 2005 ; Dubina, 2016 ; Januszewski, Molenda, & Association for Educational Communications and Technology, 2008; Kim, 2018; Lai-DuMone, 2018; Matthews & Brueggemann, 2015; Naiman, 2014). The environment is full of resources, educational technologies and the free use of the tools required to take member creativity and turn it into innovative reality (Gonzales & Storti, 2019; Heinis, Goller, & Meboldt, 2016; Matthews & Brueggemann, 2015). Also required in a culture of innovation is leadership that rewards the innovative process, ensures that tools and resources are available, and also holds the innovators accountable for the use of their time and resources (Dubina, 2016; Matthews & Brueggemann, 2015).