A Call to Consciousness for the Education Sector: We are ensuring that the current generation of students will hit the brick wall of NOT having the understandings and skills it will need!

An interesting exchange I had with a colleague this morning on Facebook:

Brad Spirrison

https://www.nytimes.com/…/opin…/while-you-were-sleeping.html?
"Education needs to shift 'from education as a content transfer to learning as a continuous process where the focused outcome is the ability to learn and adapt with agency as opposed to the transactional action of acquiring a set skill,” said EDU expert Heather McGowan.“Instructors/teachers move from guiding and accessing that transfer process to providing social and emotional support to the individual as they move into the role of driving their own continuous learning.'"

Opinion | While You Were Sleeping

Technology is advancing by leaps and bounds.

nytimes.com

Mark Gura GREAT article recommendation, Brad. That the Education Sector (or at least some of it) is FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGING that it is working at full speed to ensure that the current generation of students hits the brick wall of NOT having the understandings and skills it will need when it needs them (throughout their lives), is, indeed, a startlingly wonderful turn of events! There has been some good reporting on this over the past year (much of it notably in Education Week)! .... The article you share here (LOVE Friedman's mind, by the way), states "Star Wars technology is coming not only to a theater near you, but to a job near you. We need to be discussing and adapting to its implications.." and further reports about a new program intended to strongly address this situation... "IBM designed Pathways in Technology (P-Tech) schools, partnering with close to 100 public high schools and community colleges to create a six-year program that serves large numbers of low-income students..." - I am encouraged to read Friedman's 'call to consciousness' about this situation and I very much appreciate that some forward thinkers see responding to it as an important thing to do! However, while I see the problem and I think Friedman's writing here helps to frame it properly, having just heard about the P-Tech school program, my initial take is to be very doubtful about it... this, I base on having seen numerous such programs in the past. NOTE to self: Find out much more about this program!!!

Brad Spirrison Nice sequel to Thank you for Being Late. Makes for a fascinating trilogy

 

Mark Gura I agree... Here's the Cliff Notes version for those so inclined https://youtu.be/nuF2JKeM2CYManage

Thomas L. Friedman: "Thank You for Being Late" | Talks at Google

youtube.com

Mark Gura FYI: Friedman is cruising at 50,000 feet... Here's a closer to the ground view of the same phenomenon reported at, say, 20,000 feet and intended for those who will get their hands dirty a bit in addressing it...
https://www.edweek.org/.../schools-and-future.../index.htmlManage

Special Report: Schools and the Future of Work - Education Week