Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns

Clayton M. Christensen · Curtis W. Johnson · Michael B. Horn

Jun 2008 · McGraw Hill Professional

About this ebook

Selected as one of the "Best Books on Innovation, 2008" by BusinessWeek magazine

Named the "Best Human-Capital Book of 2008" by Strategy + Business magazine

A crash course in the business of learning-from the bestselling author of The Innovator's Dilemma and The Innovator's Solution...

"Provocatively titled, Disrupting Class is just what America's K-12 education system needs--a well thought-through proposal for using technology to better serve students and bring our schools into the 21st Century. Unlike so many education 'reforms,' this is not small-bore stuff. For that reason alone, it's likely to be resisted by defenders of the status quo, even though it's necessary and right for our kids.
We owe it to them to make sure this book isn't merely a terrific read; it must become a blueprint for educational transformation."
--Joel Klein, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education

“A brilliant teacher, Christensen brings clarity to a muddled and chaotic world of education.”
--Jim Collins, bestselling author of Good to Great

According to recent studies in neuroscience, the way we learn doesn't always match up with the way we are taught. If we hope to stay competitive-academically, economically, and technologically-we need to rethink our understanding of intelligence, reevaluate our educational system, and reinvigorate our commitment to learning. In other words, we need “disruptive innovation.”

Now, in his long-awaited new book, Clayton M. Christensen and coauthors Michael B. Horn and Curtis W. Johnson take one of the most important issues of our time-education-and apply Christensen's now-famous theories of “disruptive” change using a wide range of real-life examples. Whether you're a school administrator, government official, business leader, parent, teacher, or entrepreneur, you'll discover surprising new ideas, outside-the-box strategies, and straight-A success stories.

You'll learn how

• Customized learning will help many more students succeed in school
• Student-centric classrooms will increase the demand for new technology
• Computers must be disruptively deployed to every student
• Disruptive innovation can circumvent roadblocks that have prevented other attempts at school reform
• We can compete in the global classroom-and get ahead in the global market

Filled with fascinating case studies, scientific findings, and unprecedented insights on how innovation must be managed, Disrupting Class will open your eyes to new possibilities, unlock hidden potential, and get you to think differently. Professor Christensen and his coauthors provide a bold new lesson in innovation that will help you make the grade for years to come.

The future is now. Class is in session.

Ratings and reviews

When children enter any educational environment they proceed on the foundations from which they have received at home. This book advised of a study that exists that shows that intelligence and financial status are lower on the totem pole than just talking to your baby. This study really struck me as something that should be emphasized in our society, especially with the broad use of smart phones. I know we can't tell parents what to do, but we can certainly talk about it whenever we get the chance. I plan on discussing this with our mayor (Indianapolis) to see if we can get a public service announcement broadcasted on a regular basis to encourage young, and old parents to talk to their babies.

America must change from a nation that stamps out identical students to one that addresses the learning styles of each, argues Cristensen, author of 'The Innovator's Dillema'. then authors are dreamers, no doubt about it, but that doesn't make them wrong.

I have not read this book yet but I plan on reading it this summer!

About the author

Clayton M. Christensen is the Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. He is author or coauthor of five books including the New York Times bestsellers The Innovator's Dilemma and The Innovator's Solution.

Curtis Johnson is a writer and consultant who has served as a college president, head of a public policy research organization, and chief of staff to governor Arne Carlson of Minnesota.

Michael Horn is the cofounder and Executive Director, Education of Innosight Institute.