TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021 - The employment future.

 TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021 - The employment future.

So, yesterday, I told the story of the Animal School - where all the animals put something into the curriculum.  And, a story of how I thought more IT in Business should be part of the MBA program at a previous university.

SO, Karen, what are your views on the K-12 curriculum?

****

I’m glad you asked!!! <grin>!!

****

Let’s approach this from the other end.  What do kids need to succeed in tomorrow’s world?

That, of course, requires a crystal ball - but my crystal ball is polished and ready (especially when tied with Google!!!).

*****

Tomorrow’s world will be even more computerized than today’s world.  Artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented reality, natural language processing, on-the-fly language translation (move over Tower of Babel”), computer vision, and more.  

We already are on the verge of autonomous vehicles (“self-driving cars”).  We have robotic vacuums.  In warehouses, robotic arms grab and move items to conveyor belts (to packing stations where computerized analysis shows (Amazon) how to box the items efficiently and effectively with the least waste.  

Computers are on that threshold of “knowing” of “learning”.  Chess-playing computers regularly beat humans.  

**********

An analysis from LinkedIn:  

(https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/future-of-recruiting/2018/12-jobs-you-will-be-recruiting-for-in-2030) 

Some 85% of the jobs that today’s students will be doing in 2030 haven’t been invented yet. The big question for talent acquisition teams everywhere: What will those jobs be?

Let’s look more at their list:

-1. Organ Creator!!!

“The shortage of transplantable organs will, eventually, lead scientists to create organs and body parts.”  The skills come from these fields: molecular biology, tissue engineering, or biomedical engineering.

WOW - to create new lungs, kidneys, hearts, etc - where, although transplants are available, the need for such organs will outstrip the supply.

-2 Augmented Reality Journey Builder

First - I say “Huh?”  What is an ‘augmented reality journey builder”?  This is a very advanced gamer concept.  

The link says, “The AR journey builders will, “design, write, create, calibrate, gamify, build, and personalize the next generation of mind-blowing stories”.  I haven’t been to Alaska - but when such augmented reality journeys are available, I can go and THINK I WAS REALLY THERE.  I don’t know if this means that if a Grizzly Bear catches me, that I will sense his (or her) teeth in me, and pass out from the pain - but I think it is suggesting such journeys.  

The augmented reality techniques of today will be so antiquated that developers will laugh at them.  The pain, pleasure, reality of such journeys will be so believable that you can tell your friends about your Alaska (or Mars) trip with such fervor that they will “know” that you have been there.  (Aside - I’m not sure if this is good or bad - but such augmented reality journeys may involve sexual encounters, or murders, or other evils)

3.  Biofilm installer.  (Another brand new concept to me)

The link says, “Biofilms — collections of microbial cells attached to wet surfaces — are icky, sticky, and tricky. They are literally the slime and pond scum and the source of 80% of microbial infections. But they are also a remarkable tool for sewage treatment, oil spill cleanup, and generating power. “By coating certain surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen of homes, they will become key tools for environmentally friendly buildings”. You (at least in theory) retrofit buildings such that microbes can attack mildew or ‘eat’ garbage!! A background in molecular biology and human engineering and reconstruction will be required.  (Note - a slight modification of the microbes that eat garbage can eat human flesh - so be careful!!!)

4. Earthquake Forecaster.  Sure??  But, just look at weather forecasting over the past fifty years.  I used to kid that my new job was going to be a weather person as I could be wrong 50% of the time and still employed - BUT - that is no longer true.  Weather forecasting can get down to the block where you live and tell you when the rain will start, how heavy it will be, how much wind will be with it, whether it will have hail (and what size hail).  Yes, we have devices that ‘sense’ potential earthquakes - but to really get to a pinpoint forecast is in the future. Geology, geophysics, and sciences will be needed.  (That is before the artificial intelligence groups take this job over)

5. 3D Printing Engineers.  This one can go all over the map.  You lost a hand in an accident?  No problem, we’ll print you a ‘new hand’ (maybe even without arthritis or carpal tunnel symptoms).  Need to build something quickly - design the edifice, load up your mega-3D printer, and press ‘GO’.

Did a tornado or hurricane go through an area?  Did a hospital get knocked down - time to build a ‘quicky’ medical center with 3D printing!! 

*****

Stopping for today, but with an analysis.  In terms of basic K-12 education, the concept of STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics” seems to be right on!!!  

I think (opinion) that the three most important things to learn are: problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative thinking.  (That may imply that we have to change our educational processes!!!)

WOW - let’s think of (say) 1890 - before cars, televisions, radios, television, computers, internet, space travel - and a century later - 1990 where almost everything from 1890 has changed.  My guess is that the next 100 years (from 2021 to 2121) will see EVEN MORE CHANGES - and intelligent, problem-solving people will do it.  (And, in my humble opinion, there will need to be bioethicists - so we don’t create monsters we can’t control!!!)

But, even with that - LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!

Karen