WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14 2021 EDUCATION, CURRICULUM, AND THE FUTURE

 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14 2021 EDUCATION, CURRICULUM, AND THE FUTURE

This week I’m looking at future jobs and skills.  Yesterday I suggested that whatever the job of the future, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and Creative Thinking will be the keys to future jobs.  The future will be different.  It will require “new” thinking, integrating different technologies together.

 We looked at a few jobs - Organ Creator (creating heart, lungs, kidneys, etc. for transplants when real such organs are in short supply); Augmented Reality Journey Creator; Biofilm installer, Earthquake forecaster, and 3D printing engineer.

Without looking at more potential jobs, let me diverge for a few paragraphs.

PROBLEM-SOLVING

In reality, we all solve problems every day.  From little things - such as the problem of what to have for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; to dealing with short finances; to having better relationships with family, coworkers, people who are hard to deal with.

Step 1: Identify the problem

The problem you are identifying may NOT be the real problem!!  Get to the real problem, the root of the problem.  Fortunately, artificial intelligence may help with problem determination in the future.

(May or may not be relevant).  My check engine light has been on.  I have been to the transmission shop, the local repair shop, and the dealership’s shop.  My car “clunks” when it switches gears.  BUT, the last time it was it, the dealer’s shop fixed the taillight assembly - as they said it was an electrical short.  So, is this a transmission problem, an electrical problem, or a software problem (that was the previous problem)!!!

Step 2: Do your research

Is it a problem or a symptom?  Is this going to be major (and thus require funding, time, staffing, etc.) or minor?  

I have a sliding glass patio door at my apartment. I tried to fix it, but I didn’t understand how this worked, so a maintenance person will come to look it over (and, my assumption - fix it)!!

Step 3: Look for a solution.

Looking back at step 2, there might be multiple ways to fix a problem (from replacing the mechanism that is acting up with a new one.

While I doubt that that apartment maintenance people will put in a brand-new patio door they could!!  (Or a couple of minor adjustments and at most an hour of their time).

Steps 4 / 5 / 6: 

.4 Make a decision (In systems analysis we would weigh the costs and the benefits)

.5 implement the decision (that might mean getting approval from your finance department or management)

.6 Await the results (did it solve the problem?)

*****

Okay - I’m going to be on my soapbox here!!!

I think problem-solving skills are crucial and that experience is key.  In school, I loved story problems in math classes.  What is going on - how do you get from here to there.  In geometry, you were given some facts, details and then you have to reason your way to a solution.  As you got to junior and senior math, the critical thinking process grew more intense and involved.  

How about this?  Lynette takes 4 hours to move the huge lawn (on her own).  It takes Rita 6 hours to move the huge lawn (on her own).  If they worked together how long would it take the two of them to mow the lawn?  (Assumptions might you make?  Such, they might have similar mowers, they don’t get in each other's way.  For the two ladies do they need a break?  (6 hours is a long time with no breaks)

Ron and Paul are big-time adventurers.  Today, they are rowing across Lake Michigan and back to the same starting point.  The wind is at their faces when they start and it takes 6 hours to row across the lake, but coming back when the wind is at their back, it only takes 4 hours.  What is their speed in still water?  (Or Stillwater, Oklahoma, or Stillwater Minnesota!!!)  (Now, what assumptions might you make?  Did the wind remain constant for ten hours?  Are there other factors on Lake Michigan today?  

(Thinking of RP here).  Ron has been a Scout leader.  Something about letting a team of kids figure out how to set up a tent so it doesn’t blow over, start a fire, cook dinner, or pack for a hike into a campsite.  Facing situations and working through them builds your problem-solving skills.  (Again, what assumptions might you have?  Some experienced Scouts?  A good campsite? )

A rocket follows the following formula (formula goes here), but winds off Cape Canaveral can affect how the booster rockets can return to earth.  In addition, the mass (weight) of the rockets can vary by the type of rocket (Mars rockets will have a different thrust than satellite rockets).  Since each booster rocket costs about 60 million to make, reusing the boosters is important.  Develop a formula for predicting the return location based on wind, type of rocket, temperature, and other factors.

***** 

Likewise, critical thinking skills.  A recent phenomenon seems to be escape rooms (I haven’t done one yet).  A team gets locked into a situation and has to find a way out.  TEAMWORK 

So, as we take the next step for the future, the skills of math classes (with an emphasis on story problems and problem-solving) would be part of a curriculum.  And, experiential problem solving  (like the camping situation above).  

A second focus for the future, communications.  If you figured out a solution to cancer and couldn’t communicate it, it really wasn’t a solution.  Yes, artificial intelligence can be part of problem-solving, but teamwork with good interaction is also important.  And, how do you develop teamwork?  That can be a challenge. 

In my recent substitute teaching, I haven’t seen much teamwork.  Now that might be because some of the students are remote and the others are in the classroom.  Last week, I had one period with a 7th-grade boys gym class.  As we got to the soccer field, we divided into two teams. One team and then about four members of that team monopolized the ball and the play.  They didn’t cross boundaries and didn’t allow other boys to play with them.  (I missed having a whistle <grin>) 

More tomorrow!!  What skills will be needed for the jobs of the future?

LOVE WINS!!

HUGS!!

Karen