Vinson's article seems relevant for considering the domains of learning and which type of learning environment suits each best. Christensen et al. seems heavy on the cognitive or knowledge. What do you think?

Christensen et al. describe tutors as pretty much limited to the wealthy but this concept of live video tutoring looks promising for making tutoring more accessible. Takes out much of the overhead. Reference to the new term "teacherpreneur" in the blog.

This conference on open sourceware for education sounds so much like part of the disruptive innovation that Christensen et al. advocate.

Barbara Treacy, head of ETLO (Ed Tech Leaders Online) told me about this conference she is attending this week. Sounds so much like part of the disruptive innovation that Christensen et al. advocate.

Terrific introduction to the book with key concepts illustrated. The Cliff Notes version ;-)Cris

Christensen and Horn give a succint but well-illustrated explanation of what student-centric education is all about and how they propose that technology can help us achieve it.

I'll offer a few questions for reflection that relate to my main area of interest - what will online learning look like and what pedagogical theories will undergird it?:

1) Many of the examples described in description of "The Future Classroom" (p. 105) sound like independent learning experiences. Is there research that online learning works best when completed independently with a tutor's guidance rather than in a social constructivist model with the creation of a learning community? Isn't there a benefit in a model that combines a learning community and independent, tutor-guided learning? Didn't the one-room school house have both?

2) Christensen, Horn & Johnson (2008) describe a disruptive tool for student-centric learning as "user-developed online tools for learning" (p. 136). It sounds like these tools will offer tremendous opportunities for customization to fit each individual learner's needs by students, their peers, teachers, and parents. Can we harvest this user-generated content so that producing real content for self and others become authentic purposes for learning? Could these become part of a learning objects repository?

3) Does the authors' explanation of why disruptive innovation should first compete against nonconsumption ("Following a Disruptive Pattern," pp. 96-100) explain in part the difficulty we've experienced in trying to encourage teachers to integrate Web 2.0 and 3D Web tools? Will online learning in nonconsumption areas lead the way for the change in culture that we need for the face-to-face learning environment?

Questions about learning styles and how the role of the teacher may change

Reviewer gives a good intro to what is confusing to many people when they hear the term, "disruptive." No spoilers alert here. Reviewer hasn't finished the book yet ;-)

Listen to an interview with the author, Clayton M. Christensen. \nChristensen speaks of multiple intelligences and creating individual pathways to learning. Scroll to middle of page to see "An Interview with the Author" (in orange font). mp3 format Same podcast from McGraw-Hill is available on YouTube.

Authors respond via email to interview questions. Explanation of major term nonconsumption and areas of nonconsumption in education. Exciting description of software platforms that will enable teachers, students, and parents to build customized learning tools.

Discussion of the importance of a strong team to lead disruptive innovation. Reminder that "technology is not the enemy of teachers." Don't miss link to Howard Gardner and Multiple Intelligences theory. Refresher for most but an inspiring one.

Learn more about the response to disruptive innovation in education and Christensen's prior work in business.

Start your reading of this hugely important book and set a goal of finishing up by Thursday, Sept. 25, 8 pm ET, when we will meet in the 3D online, virtual world of Second Life with virtual school leader, Bryan Setser, CEO of the North Carolina Virtual Public School.

Official announcement will be made at the first Star Teacher event on USDLC Star Island on Second Life, Thursday, August 28, at 8 pm ET. Award-winning Flat Classroom Wiki Project Co-Author and Cool Cat Teacher Vicki Davis will share her new cool tools for the new school year.

Here are some resources to explore prior to reading or as you read to extend your thinking and reflection about what you read. Please post questions/ideas/issues that you'd like to discuss so we can create a kind of interactive discussion guide.

Prepare to have your thinking disrupted!