ABSTRACT
Summary: With rapidly growing participation in online learning, educators are developing strategies that expand upon early attempts to replicate the traditional classroom environment, or digitize print-based texts, quizzes, and other resources. As the technologies advance, opportunities arise to tap the distinctive capabilities of these environments for nurturing critical thinking, creativity, and innovation. While some characteristics of the online world might appear to hinder these efforts, others may actually help create an environment that promotes attitudes and behaviors thought to be related to innovation, such as risk taking and willingness to challenge or defy norms. This chapter examines the evolution of online learning environments, their psychological, social, and cognitive characteristics, and how these environments may contribute to innovation education.
