What and who really drives pedagogic innovation?

Abstract

This article reports on findings linked to the conditions that foster pedagogic innovation in higher education. These emerged from the pedagogic innovators project (#pin), an exploration into the factors that aid and hinder the development of pedagogic innovators. They provide insights into the key factors that push individuals in higher education to innovate in their teaching. The findings of this study indicate that these are strongly associated with the individuals themselves, their attitudes, behaviours and beliefs towards creativity, innovation and the value they place on development as well as their determination to pro-actively experiment on their own and in collaboration with others. The institutional context, culture and availability of resources appears to be perceived of lesser importance. The implications these findings have for how pedagogic innovators work within higher education institutions is explored and recommendations are made that could foster conditions to cultivate and spread pedagogic innovation within and beyond a particular institution.