At the Tech & Learning blog, J. Robinson discusses the distinction between technology adopters and digital disrupters:

When it comes to engaging in innovation with technology, the mindset we take toward technology is extremely important. We can either take a “technology adopter” mindset or we can take a “digital disruptor” mindset. As James McQuivey states in his book, Digital Disruption: Unleashing the Next Wave of Innovation, “Digital disruptors think about opportunity differently.” To the technology adopter it’s always about the technology. How can I use the technology to help me do the things I currently do better? In contrast, a person with a “digital disruptor” mindset sees the technology as the means to engage in entirely new and different possibilities. Which leads me to ask the question:  Which mindset  predominately drives technology policy in your school or district? Is it a “technology adopter” mindset  or a “Digital Disruptor” mindset? –

Great points. Whether educators focus on new ways of doing the same things or doing something completely new, students are always going to be biased towards doing something new. There are two reasons for this. First, students have a generational advantage and are likely always to be ahead of teachers when it comes to technology adoption. Second,and more important, it’s all new for students, anyway. They don’t have tried and true models that they want to reinforce with new digital tools. They are developing their models as they go.

Students are the original disruptors. We can all learn a lot from them.