Education researchers and theorists have been espousing a student-centric approach for decades -- what has changed is that technology is finally reaching the point where it offers a viable alternative to the top-down, teacher-centric technology of classrooms.

Learner-centered education is quite different than learner-directed education, and not all subjects and contexts are applicable to the latter. Teachers will still be critical to successful education, but will need new skills to decentralize their "learning management" process.