A community about to build or rehab a school often creates checklists of best practices, looks for furniture that matches its mascot, and orders shiny new lockers to line its corridors. These are all fine steps, but the process of planning and designing a new school requires both looking outward (to the future, to the community, to innovative corporate powerhouses) as well as inward (to the playfulness and creativity that are at the core of learning).

In many ways, what makes the Googles of the world exceptional begins in the childhood classroom -- an embrace of creativity, play, and collaboration. It was just one year ago that 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the number-one leadership competency in our complex global marketplace. We can no longer afford to teach our kids or design their schoolhouses the way we used to if we’re to maintain a competitive edge. In looking at various exemplary workplaces such as IDEO, Google, and Pixar, we can glean valuable lessons about effective educational approaches and the spaces that support them.

Many charities and individuals are looking for innovative ways to reach donors and manage projects. Good fundraisers include Karaoke Night, a Scrabble tournament, and even a “Don’t Come Event,” where you issue tickets for a fabulous event that’s not actually going to happen.

An even better fundraising idea is 50:50 raffles, where the prize is half the takings. Cookbooks also do well as fundraisers, and novel events such as snail racing are fun and interesting ways to make money.

The University of Akron and The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR) today announced a novel open-innovation agreement to accelerate technology development. The organizations plan to combine their expertise in materials and surface engineering at newly established laboratories in the UA College of Engineering.

According to the Aug. 24 agreement, Timken will contribute resources to establish the Timken Engineered Surfaces Laboratory, which will be located in a new facility currently under construction on the UA campus at the intersection of Wolf Ledges Parkway and Carroll Street. Timken's Gary L. Doll, Ph.D., chief technologist in tribology and next-generation materials, will lead the lab as the newly established Timken Endowed Chair in Engineered Surfaces, beginning Sept. 1.

Promover o desenvolvimento do capital intelectual, gerar conhecimento e transformar esse potencial em bens e serviços inovadores, socialmente responsáveis e aptos a conquistar parcelas do mercado globalizado. Esse é o enfoque predominante na "Nova Competitividade dos Territórios", conceito-tema do XXI Seminário Nacional de Parques Tecnológicos e Incubadoras de Empresas e do XIX Workshop Anprotec, agendados para o período de 24 a 28 de outubro no Centro de Eventos da PUCRS, em Porto Alegre.

Reconhecido como um dos principais pontos de encontro do empreendedorismo inovador, os dois eventos são uma iniciativa da Anprotec (Associação Nacional das Entidades Promotoras de Empreendimentos Inovadores) e do Sebrae, em parceria com o Tecnopuc (Parque Científico e Tecnológico da PUCRS) e a Reginp (Rede Gaúcha de Incubadoras de Empresas e Parques Tecnológicos).

Many entrepreneurs are not prepared for conflict, or actively avoid it. Their vision, passion, and focus are so strong that they can’t imagine someone disagreeing, much less fighting them to the death. But the reality is that startups are composed of smart people, with emotions as well as intellects, working in close proximity under much pressure, so conflicts will occur.

In fact, most business conflict is constructive and should be embraced in steering through the maze of innovation and change that is part of every successful business. Surround yourself with “yes” people, and you may feel good initially, but the brick walls no one mentions will hurt later.

From life-changing technologies that reduce poverty and disease to online volunteerism for busy professionals, the Startups For Good Challenge contestants proved they had more than just a great business idea: They also are working to make a positive impact on the world.

We’re thrilled to announce the eight finalists for the Startups For Good Challenge. These finalists will compete on stage during the Social Good Summit on September 22 for a chance to win $10,000 for their company.

The winner will be selected by judges, including representatives from Mashable, the UN Foundation, 92nd Street Y and guest judge, Yossi Vardi, who has helped launch more than 60 high-tech companies such as ICQ, a popular instant-messaging system.

Like clockwork, new devices and technology come along to enhance and enrich our lives.  Smart phones and tablets are the laptops and PDA’s of our Age.  Small often pocket sized gadgets are more powerful and are capable of accessing so much more  content than was imaginable even a short decade ago.

I was leaving a restaurant recently and I noticed a young family at a table near the door.  As I walked by I glanced over and saw the family happily and most importantly quietly waiting for their server.  The kid wasn’t disruptively playing with utensils testing his parent’s patience, Dad wasn’t breaking his neck to see the game on the various televisions hoisted all over the place, and Mom wasn’t busy wrangling both into having a civilized night out of the house.

Now closing on its second month, the Google+ social networking platform has seen rapid growth — and lots of attention — in its short lifetime. But new research indicates that the lion’s share of Google+ users do not actually pitch in on the site very often, if at all.

Here are some interesting tidbits from data compiled by Bime Analytics, which polled a voluntary sample of more than 10 million Google+ users:

For much of the past 20 years, Wellesley’s Babson College has been ranked the nation’s No. 1 school for entrepreneurship studies. But as America finds itself jostled by a growing tumult of rising foreign economies, Babson is also looking abroad to see if the greatest entrepreneurial energy now lies outside the United States.

Leonard Schlesinger, Babson’s 12th president, is the school’s foremost ambassador. He’s a tall man who waves his hands in bigger and bigger circles the more excited he gets about a topic. But the genial hyperbole is backed by a genuine passion he has for spreading what could be called the gospel of a Babson entrepreneurial education.

Throughout history, a spirit of innovation has characterized the United States of America. From the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the space race to the computer age, Americans have always been innovators. And innovation has always found a home on the American farm.

Take a look at a modern combine or tractor, and you will see American innovation at its best. But innovation on the farm doesn’t end there. It can be found in the seeds farmers plant and in the products they use to protect their crops and nurture their livestock. However, the hallmark of American innovation may well be found in agricultural biotechnology.

There are quite a few motivators for content creation in business. Marketers' goals for creating content can include brand awareness, lead generation, thought leadership, and search engine optimization. The great thing is, remarkable content can contribute to accomplishing all of these goals, and that's why content is one of the core parts of inbound marketing. The key is making sure the content you create is exceptional enough to achieve these goals.

So how do you ensure the content you create deserve an A?

Here are the top five elements of business content that can make it truly exceptional.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (MainStreet) -- Think about this: Today some of the "youngest" entrepreneurs are retirees! They spent their lives in the corporate or academic jungle working for someone else. Then, either due to economic reasons or a burning passion for an idea, they started a business. Years of business and life experience working for someone else does not necessarily translate into being an immediate success as a business owner, though, and it doesn't mean you are -- or will be -- a great entrepreneur, no matter what your age.

My favorite time of year.  The beginning of a new academic year. (By the way, my office is the first bay window on the top floor up on the top right in the picture above -- stop by and visit sometime!)

When I left academics years ago to go into the private sector as a healthcare entrepreneur, I was shocked how much I missed the rhythm of the school year my first couple of years away from teaching.

This year's freshman class has moved into their dorms and are ready for their new beginning.

Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Bill Hagerty announced the state will commit up to $2.25 million for the Jobs4TN Regional Entrepreneurial Accelerators program. The grants will award up to $250,000 to a regional entrepreneurial accelerator in each of the state's nine economic development regions. The Jobs4TN Regional Entrepreneurial Accelerators were announced in June as a part of Governor Bill Haslam's INCITE plan.

Inside the headquarters of networking giant Cisco in San Jose, California, lies a technology showcase where executives can test out advanced technologies like high-definition videoconferencing, a digital avatar named Halie who researches spoken questions, and even a concept dashboard for a car whose mechanical and entertainment systems are fully Internet-connected.

It's called the "executive technology experience room," and the man behind it is David Evans, the company's chief futurist and chief technology officer of its Internet business solutions group. Evans, who built many of the demonstration systems on display and now advises clients on how new technologies could help their businesses, spoke with Technology Review about how these advances could boost worker productivity.

The travel and tourism markets are booming. Revenue is expected to reach nearly $1.4 trillion in 2011. This means the opportunity in the sector will be “the biggest it has ever been.

International trips have jumped 5.5 percent, to 94.7 million; domestic trips have risen 1.2 percent, to 627.4 million; hotel revenues will go up by 4.4 percent, to $114.8 billion; travel agencies will bring in 3.3 percent more revenue, making the total $12 billion; tour operator revenue will grow 5 percent, to $3.7 billion; and even the RV parks and campgrounds industry will experience a 1.5 percent revenue increase, to $4.5 billion.

As the industry increasingly shifts online, opportunities are emerging. The app market, for instance, has swelled from virtually nothing to billions of dollars in just a few years, and smartphone owners love their access to a gaggle of Wi-Fi finders, flight status updaters, local restaurant finders, budget booking assistants, translators and more. Websites offering unique travel-oriented services have made a strong showing, too. They include Wanderfly, a personalized travel recommendation travel engine à la Hunch and Pandora; and GTrot, a site that allows travelers to share their itineraries with friends and get travel advice within their networks. Applications like these will continue to grow, improving the efficiency of the overall industry by improving the connectivity between flights and friends.

Gardening usually conjures up thoughts about planting flowers or growing vegetables. But economic gardening focuses on growing local companies and the local economy. Each type of garden must be sustained. Both take dedication, effort and support. Commitment and passion for your idea must accompany both. And you must be ready for the long haul, because small businesses, like gardens, require a lot of work.

To begin an economic gardening program, one must develop an inventory of community and business assets available. What is the “wealth” in West Virginia? What organizations can you tap into or partner with? Your list of assets should include the Small Business Administration, SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, Women Business Center, your local chamber of commerce and economic development agency. These organizations contain individuals who have skills and expertise in many areas of business. They offer classes, mentoring and community forums to meet with local experts.

Today’s VC Post of the Day is from my partner Seth Levine (Foundry Group) and is titled Should the current market environment change your fundraising strategy? I think it’s right on the money and captures / synthesizes much of the valid advice flying around from VCs and pundits about how entrepreneurs should think about fundraising right now. Do yourself a favor – read it slowly and think about it.

The runner up post of the day is from Bryce Roberts (OATV) titled A Year Ago. It’s a heartfelt reflection from Bryce on living in Silicon Valley for a year after uprooting and moving his family from Salt Lake City.