Invention or innovation?

We hear the word ‘innovation’ used a lot today, but it is often used to mean different things. In this activity, students clarify their understanding of innovation by exploring how it is different from invention. The YikeBike is used as an example, but the activity can be easily adapted to use other examples that have particular relevance or interest for your students.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

• identify characteristics of inventions and innovations

• discuss and support their view on whether the YikeBike (or another example) is an invention or an innovation.

Download the Word file for:

• introduction/background notes

• what you need

• what to do.