"I'm even starting to wonder if there is a future for futurists?" Dr. Tomorrow, Futurist

No one ever said painting a clear picture of the future of education would be easy. But we're going to try. For this 50th edition of nextSteps we contacted several people and resources to try and shed some light on where education is headed in the next five to 10 years. While we can't be assured the projections will come true, we can't be assured they won't either. Here's what we came across: 

Frank Ogden, otherwise known as futurist Dr. Tomorrow, says education will change more in the next 10 years than in the last 100. 

"Cyber education will move in rapidly because of the vast amount of resources now being gathered and programmed to provide cyber-ed at a fraction of the cost of present methods," he says. "Consider education say, via a private CNN (or others), 24-hour a day satellite-delivered (direct or via cable or DSL) channel carrying almost everything taught today by a teacher." 

Think that sounds a bit far-fetched? Well, consider this article from the Feb. 14, 2001 issue of the Vancouver Sun: "The B.C. education ministry is reviewing a new type of education that could revolutionize the way students are taught in this province. It's virtual-schooling, which enables students to attend cyber-schools through their computers, working at their own pace, in their own homes. 

"I believe that for the past decade we have been entering the dawn of the end of the Age of Credentialism." Dr. Tomorrow

"The cost of their education is significantly lower than in regular schools, especially in B.C., where students generally have contact with only student counsellors and those who mark their work." 

Dr. Tomorrow also believes that this new method of "instant" accessibility to knowledge will revolutionize all education. "I believe that for the past decade we have been entering the dawn of the end of the Age of Credentialism," he says. "Things are moving too fast to be taught. Just in time (JIT) learning is going to do to traditional education what JIT did to the North American car industry when Japan introduced it to their auto assembly lines." Essentially, JIT uses robots to do the work people used to do. Construction companies in Japan are now using this technique as well meaning labor costs are cut and work can be completed 24 hours a day. 

The move to more computerization and rapid increases in information technology may also require a redesign of some school programs, Dr. Tomorrow says. "Any job schools are presently training students to enter will most likely be gone before they graduate. This is all very complex and changing as we write. I'm even starting to wonder if there is a future for futurists? Trying to track and maintain a trend over 10 or even five years no longer is the possible goal it was in the past." 
 
  Article Excerpts from www.nextsteps.org. View the full article by clicking here

Many opportunities await the future labor force

The signs are everywhere. And not just those posted around the city announcing "Help Wanted." Already we're hearing the cry from numerous industries that there is, or soon will be, a shortage of workers. 

As the general population ages, and as technology changes, these shortages likely will remain, meaning many opportunities lie ahead in the labor market. But just how will that change the world of work? 

"Jobs are going the way of slavery, indentured service and child labor." Dr. Tomorrow, Futurist

While many "traditional" work opportunities are likely to remain for a while, just how long remains to be seen, says Frank Ogden, otherwise known as futurist Dr. Tomorrow. 

"Jobs are going the way of slavery, indentured service and child labor," he says. "Any job that can be done by a robot will be done by a robot. Seen a car factory floor lately?" 

That doesn't mean there won't be work to be done, or shortages of skilled workers, Dr. Tomorrow adds. "But it will be done by task forces that rise and fall as the project opens, expands, achieves its objectives, retracts and winds up. The classic example is a movie. 

"There will be a shortage, almost a continuous shortage of 'the right people,' those with an open mind, self-activators and a species hungry for change. They will always be in demand. Hence, will be paid like baseball players. Remember, these types face no obstructions to these fields except knowledge." 

  Article Excerpts from www.nextsteps.org. View the full article by clicking here

Job searches to become more individualized

Where will I find a job? How will I go about finding it? I know what kind of job I want, now what should I be looking for? 

All good questions. But given the state of constant change in our society and economy, definitive answers are hard to state. Here's a look at what some are predicting lies ahead for those looking for work, conducting research on companies to work for, going for interviews, and those wondering what a typical workplace might hold: 

Frank Ogden, otherwise known as futurist Dr. Tomorrow, believes resumes are a thing of the past. "Now employers want to know what you can do tomorrow, not what you did yesterday," he says. "Diplomas and degrees are now by definition 'historical artifacts.'" 

Career counsellors from the Calgary Youth Employment Centre, however, believe the ordinary paper resume will, for the most part, remain a key ingredient to applying for a job (see this month's Hot Tip). And no one will deny the growing use of the internet by employers for recruiting purposes and beyond. 

Article Excerpts from www.nextsteps.org. View the full article by clicking here