Contact North examines the topic of innovation in teaching, which they define as “doing something differently that leads to major changes in how students learn, resulting in better learning.” They suggest that the point of innovation is not innovation in itself but “that innovation addresses some challenge or problem.” Successful tips for designing an innovative course include identifying the challenge to be solved, connecting with peers or students who have addressed similar challenges, and building evaluation and adaptation into the design from the start. Technology, when applied appropriately, “can be extremely valuable in enabling instructors to teach not only differently, but better.”
http://contactnorth.ca/tips-tools/how-to-design-innovative-course