clay christensen

reading innovative uni


p. 35 is describing Harvard in beginning years as totally student focused.
instructors didn't necessarily know more than student. lived with them. sounds like mentor alongside...

chart p. 43-44: decreased focus on students

p. 48. 3rd goal.. freedom of choice of curricula
earlier:innovation was to offer gen Ed
and more.. go back to 48ish

this is 1865.. and Clay writes..
he (Eliot) could already see that this freedom of curricular choice,

would create a kind of intellectual free market, one stimulating of excellence in all disciplines, in cluding those with the potential to directly influence societal welfare.

p. 53. curricular choice also kept political tensions at bay.. when living per choice... like perpetual beta.. no one has to set curricula via admin
also induces a rateyourprofessor set up

perceived risks of pe choice: 1) coherence for students 2) breadth of Ed 3) depth of topics

a business-style assessment of ourselves creation..impractical and undesirable in higher Ed... k-12 as well

time was ripe with Lincoln's talk of freedom. while very few wanted to stick with prescribed curricula.. most loved option...choice... dang

Eliot's patience... 30 hrs later.. 1899, Harvard got rid of last required class

1890.. other unis still had 80% of student courses pre determined.. decade later down to 30%

huge part of innovation, freedom, learning, is being original.. so kept from copying other unis.. ESP European ones ( sounds like walk on... make it your own..use what you have

commingled students.. so not staunch into pre req courses

p. 56... interesting.. where art ands science meet.. but don't let them take over ?

p. 60.. was choice for kids to attend class until one parent found out his kid was in Cuba rather than class. so started taking roll... dang

p. 62.. no no .. Eliot now turning... deciding Harvard has the clout to set curriculum for secondary schools.. ugh

child whose whole soul is on fire...let's not crush it. p. 76
we pay price for our consumption

p. 92. Lowell at Harvard... using merit badges (via idea from athletics to up engagement) was willing to risk potential Downsides.. such as drop in collegiality and intrinsic motivation to learn..... (dang) for the sake of greater academic excellence