What is innovation and what is history- History Fair Help

National History Day 2010 Theme:
INNOVATION IN HISTORY: IMPACT AND CHANGE

Remember innovative is synonymous with
new, and the context sets the stage.
Once an appropriate topic has been
identified, the crucial first step in any
research project is to learn about the specifics of the topic. What was
the innovation called? When was it adopted or developed? Who was
involved, or, in other words, who were the innovators who created,
designed, or implemented the innovation? What did the innovation
look like, how did it work, and what previous ideas, objects, actions, or
institutions did it replace? What benefits did it provide, and to whom?
How was it received?

What is “Innovation”?
The initial challenge for students participating in National History Day is to
make sure they choose a topic that demonstrates the theme. Innovation,
by definition, involves some sort of change, but not all changes are
innovations. As students select their topics, they need to ask themselves
whether their topic is indeed an innovation. What is it about the topic
that is new and different, and is also the result of human ideas or actions?

What is “in History”?
Capturing the “in history” part of the theme is critical for a National
History Day project. While it is tempting to focus entirely on the specific
innovation, exploration of the “in history” part of the project takes
students into the exciting realm of analysis, of exploring questions of
“why?” and “so what?” This is where students look at how the topic fits
into historical context, why the innovation was important or significant,
and what it left as its legacy.
An examination of historical context begins with looking at why this
innovation came about when and where it did. Establishing historical
context means showing what economic, political, social, technological,
cultural, religious or other circumstances existed before, and perhaps