global / globalization

Major questions need to be asked — and addressed — due to these shifts [Christian]

On 03/17/2014, in 21st century, adult learning, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, business, career development, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, emerging technologies, engineering, entrepreneurship, experimentation, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, heutagogy, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, informal learning, K-12 related, leadership, learning ecosystem, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, lifelong learning, marketplaces, new business models, pace of change, professional development, reinvent, robotics, staying relevant, strategy, surviving, the downsides of how people use tech, training / L&D, trends, vision/possibilities, workplace, by Daniel Christian

Excerpts:

If Daniel Nadler is right, a generation of college graduates with well-paid positions as junior researchers and analysts in the banking industry should be worried about their jobs. Very worried.

Mr Nadler’s start-up, staffed with ex-Google engineers and backed partly by money from Google’s venture capital arm, is trying to put them out of work.

…

The threat to jobs stretches beyond the white-collar world. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) also make possible more versatile robots capable of taking over many types of manual work. “It’s going to decimate jobs at the low end,” predicts Jerry Kaplan, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who teaches a class about AI at Stanford University. Like others working in the field, he says he is surprised by the speed at which the new technologies are moving out of the research labs.

From DSC:
After reading the above article — and seeing presentations about these trends (example) — I have some major questions to ask:

What changes do those of us working within higher education need to make due to these shifts? How should we modify our curricula? Which skills need to be reinforced/developed?
What changes do Learning & Development groups and Training Departments need to make within the corporate world?
How should we be developing our K-12 students to deal with such a volatile workplace?
What changes do adult learners need to make to stay marketable/employable? How can they reinvent themselves (and know what that reinvention should look like)?
How can each of us know if our job is next on the chopping block and if it is, what should we do about it?
What kind of future do we want?

These changes are for real. The work of Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee further addresses some of these trends and changes. See:

Addendum:

Also see:

Bill Gates: Yes, robots really are about to take your jobs — from bgr.com by Brad Reed

Bill Gates Interview Robots

Excerpt:

Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates isn’t going to sugarcoat things: The increasing power of automation technology is going to put a lot of people out of work. Business Insider reports that Gates gave a talk at the American Enterprise Institute think tank in Washington, DC this week and said that both governments and businesses need to start preparing for a future where lots of people will be put out of work by software and robots.

Also see:

Make Work More Human — from Harold Jarche

March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day | #DearFutureMom

On 03/17/2014, in global / globalization, health, hearts -- matters of the heart, society, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
A powerful, wonderful piece:

Published on Mar 13, 2014
A heartwarming message from 15 people with Down syndrome to a future mom.

Digital life in 2025 [PewResearch; Anderson & Rainie]

On 03/15/2014, in 21st century, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, Augmented Reality (AR), digital learning, elearning, emerging technologies, future, global / globalization, internet, leadership, learning ecosystem, legislatures / government / legal, political science, robotics, society, by Daniel Christian

Digital life in 2025 — from by Janna Anderson and Lee Rainie
Experts predict the Internet will become ‘like electricity’ — less visible, yet more deeply embedded in people’s lives for good and ill

Report here.

Excerpts from report:

One striking pattern is that these experts agree to a large extent on the trends that will shape digital technology in the next decade. Among those expected to extend through 2025 are:

A global, immersive, invisible, ambient networked computing environment built through the continued proliferation of smart sensors, cameras, software, databases, and massive data center s in a world-spanning information fabric known as the Internet of Things.
“Augmented reality” enhancements to the real-world input that people perceive through the use of portable/wearable/implantable technologies.
A continuing evolution of artificial intelligence-equipped tools allowing anyone to connect to a globe-spanning information network nearly anywhere, anytime.
Disruption of business models established in the 20th century (most notably impacting finance, entertainment, publishers of all sorts, and education).
Tagging, databasing, and intelligent analytical mapping of the physical and social realms

Also see:

The Rise of the Digital Silhouette — from shift2future.com by Brian Kuhn
Excerpt:
Switching gears for a moment… there are some significant benefits to education systems in the ‘Internet of things’ movement. Imagine that students, wearing various data logging technologies, including Google Glasses, interacting with each other, with ‘text books’, human teachers, each other, and other learning resources, along with a host of educational apps, are continuously digitally documented. Imagine that there are ‘intelligent’ algorithms (think IBM’s Watson but even more advanced) that look for patterns, provide real-time recommendations and coaching that adjust the student’s personalized learning plan, directly interacting with and advising the students like a personal learning coach. Imagine that when a report card is due, the student’s ‘digital learning guide’ automatically produces a summative report card complete with a ‘live’ info graphic on the student’s learning and generates it directly in the student’s online learning portfolio and sends an alert to the parents.

National Geographic Thematic Maps Launch in New Google Tool [Howard]

On 03/07/2014, in education technology, geography / geology, global / globalization, Google, by Daniel Christian

National Geographic Thematic Maps Launch in New Google Tool — from National Geographic by Brian Clark Howard; with thanks to Jen Carey for the Tweet on this
Google Maps Gallery brings classic cartography online.

Excerpt:

National Geographic has been producing thematic maps for decades, revealing not just physical features but also location-based details on cultures, history, wildlife, science, and more. Now, a treasure trove of more than 500 of those maps are available online in a new service from Google Maps.

The National Geographic maps can be found in their own section of Google Maps Gallery, which launched officially on February 27. This includes reference maps, wall maps, National Geographic magazine supplement maps, and other creations from over the years, all laid on top of the relevant Google basemaps.

Reflections on “TVs are becoming the next app battleground” [Adler]

On 03/01/2014, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, A/V -- audio/visual, active learning, analytics, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, Australia, Bring your own device (BYOD), changing business models, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, collaboration, communications, communities of practice, convergence, cost of getting a degree, Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, global / globalization, India, informal learning, innovation, intelligent systems, intelligent tutoring, interactivity, internet, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, learning hubs & pods & microschooling, media/film, mobile learning, mobile technologies, MOOCs -- Massive Open Online Courses, more voice more choice more control, motivation, multimedia, Near Field Communication (NFC), New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, online learning, online media, online tutoring, participation, personalized/customized learning, platforms, second screen apps, smart classrooms, smart/connected TV, social learning / networks, social media, streams of content, student-related, technologies for your home, television, by Daniel Christian

TVs are becoming the next app battleground — from by Emily Adler

Excerpt:

The app store phenomenon, centered on smartphones and tablets, has been the biggest story in software for the past five years.

Its next logical destination: the living room, via smart TVs and set-top boxes connected to the Internet.

…

The smart TV app revolution is inevitable: People spend four hours in front of their TVs in the U.S., and 63% of all global ad spending goes to TVs. The old guard, represented by cable and entertainment conglomerates, will not be able to fend off improvements like those that apps are bringing to mobile phones.
.
The smart TV revolution will not just be led by new TVs with built-in Internet connections, it will also result from consumer adoption of less expensive game consoles or set-top boxes like Roku and Apple TV, which transform traditional TVs into smart TVs with access to app stores. At least 20% of U.S. consumers already have their TVs connected in one of these ways.

From DSC:

Keep an eye on the convergence of the telephone, the television, and the computer.
.
Start thinking of ways that you could provide learning/educationally-based experiences with second screen apps. What would that experience look and act like?
.
If such “channels” come to fruition — and happen to coincide with MOOCs and advances in cognitive computing (such as IBM’s Watson) — the word disruption comes to mind.
.
The trick, then, will be to offer streams of content that are relevant, and up-to-date.
.
Such a platform could be used in learning hubs throughout the world, as well as in hybrid/blended classrooms — while also addressing lifelong learners from their living rooms.
.
Such a platform could take Communities of Practice to an entirely new level.

Addendum/also see:

A crowdsourced curated database of the best educational tools and learning apps: GEDB [Robin Good]

On 02/28/2014, in digital learning, education technology, global / globalization, K-12 related, online learning, student-related, teachers, teaching & learning, tools, vendors, by Daniel Christian

The Global Education Database — per the Scoop from Robin Good

Per Robin:

GEDB, the Global Education Database, is a great and extremely useful curated collection of the best apps, web tools, gadgets and moocs now available online for educational purposes. Anyone can register to GEDB and submit any valuable resource or tool by filling out the dedicated form. Submissions are reviewed for factual accuracy and integrity and approved and published within 24 hours. Readers and contributors can in turn rate the review and share it online. This is a great educational resource, simple to consult and well organized. A treasure trove of qualified resources for anyone wanting to teach and learn with new technologies. Free to use. Try it out now: http://www.gedb.org/

From DSC:
I haven’t spent a lot of time on this database, but I was intrigued by their model — i.e. using crowdsourcing to identify some solid possibilities and breaking them out for classroom management, Common Core, computer science, flipped classrooms, general learning, language learning and project-based learning. They also have categories for software, hardware, apps, web tools, MOOCs and more.

Some useful online Bible study sites — from an article by Kevin Purcell

On 02/27/2014, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

Excerpts from The future of serious Bible study must move online — from ccmag.com by Kevin A. Purcell – kevin@kevinpurcell.org

It’s time for Bible study software makers to go online with all their tools using the power of HTML 5 and modern browsers. Until they do, we offer a list of useful online Bible study sites to keep users going until this vision catches hold.

…

Two of my favorites include BibleGateway.com or MyStudyBible.com, which offer nice packages ready for a student, who needs or wants to study the Bible on the Internet. Logos users can log onto Biblia.com and get access to their library online. These will bridge the gap and give us access to our libraries or a simple collection of tools until the software makers catch the vision of the mobile future. But those tools are not enough to do hard-core Bible study online.
…
We mentioned three sites above that let usersdo some limited online Bible study. Here’s a few more:

http://www.biblestudytools.com

http://www.studylight.org

http://www.biblestudy.org

http://www.biblestudy.net

http://www.blueletterbible.org/study.cfm

https://bible.org

http://bible.faithlife.com

From DSC:
I also like YouVersion and would add that to the above list of sites. In the comments section, please let myself and others know if there are other sites that you would recommend for doing online Bible studies.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

On 02/25/2014, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, by Daniel Christian

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV — from biblegateway.com

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Some solid articles/information in the Feb 2014 University Outlook magazine

On 02/22/2014, in change, changing business models, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, higher education, MOOCs -- Massive Open Online Courses, social learning / networks, social media, trends, by Daniel Christian

February 2014 | Vol. 2, No. 1
http://universityoutlook.uberflip.com/i/260407

Technology and jobs: Coming to an office near you
The effect of today’s technology on tomorrow’s jobs will be immense—and no country is ready for it — from economist.com by

Excerpts:

INNOVATION, the elixir of progress, has always cost people their jobs. In the Industrial Revolution artisan weavers were swept aside by the mechanical loom. Over the past 30 years the digital revolution has displaced many of the mid-skill jobs that underpinned 20th-century middle-class life. Typists, ticket agents, bank tellers and many production-line jobs have been dispensed with, just as the weavers were.

…

No time to be timid
If this analysis is halfway correct, the social effects will be huge. Many of the jobs most at risk are lower down the ladder (logistics, haulage), whereas the skills that are least vulnerable to automation (creativity, managerial expertise) tend to be higher up, so median wages are likely to remain stagnant for some time and income gaps are likely to widen.

Anger about rising inequality is bound to grow, but politicians will find it hard to address the problem. Shunning progress would be as futile now as the Luddites’ protests against mechanised looms were in the 1810s, because any country that tried to stop would be left behind by competitors eager to embrace new technology. The freedom to raise taxes on the rich to punitive levels will be similarly constrained by the mobility of capital and highly skilled labour.

The main way in which governments can help their people through this dislocation is through education systems. One of the reasons for the improvement in workers’ fortunes in the latter part of the Industrial Revolution was because schools were built to educate them—a dramatic change at the time. Now those schools themselves need to be changed, to foster the creativity that humans will need to set them apart from computers. There should be less rote-learning and more critical thinking. Technology itself will help, whether through MOOCs (massive open online courses) or even video games that simulate the skills needed for work.

Description:
Smart machines do what we thought only people could do. They include conversational assistants like GoogleNow that know how you work, understand written content and make recommendations based on what you’re doing; advisors like IBM’s Watson that can help clinicians keep up with medical literature and suggest courses of action; software that writes sports stories from box scores; and cars that drive themselves.

Key Issues
1. What are smart machines?
2. How will smart machines impact business, technology, economies and society?
3. What should you do about it?

IBM teams up with AT&T to rule the Internet of Things [Wheatley]

On 02/20/2014, in analytics, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, collaboration, data related items, experimentation, global / globalization, innovation, internet, technology (general), telecommunications, vendors, by Daniel Christian

IBM teams up with AT&T to rule the Internet of Things — from by Mike Wheatley

Excerpt:

In their joint statement, the two companies said they plan to combine their analytics platforms, cloud and security technologies to build smarter cities for us to live in. Specifically, the partnership will see AT&T manage sensor communications and tracking through its global cellular network, whilst IBM will keep a handle on the analytics side of things. The target of their operations, initially, will be the kinds of devices that spew out masses upon masses of Big Data, such as mass transit vehicles, video cameras and utility meters. The goal of this undertaking meanwhile, is to analyze the data collected to identify trends and patterns that”ll help urban planners to regulate the flow of traffic, and to help utility firms to save energy and reduce costs through better management of their equipment.

AT&T and IBM join forces to deliver new innovations for the Internet of Things — from ibm.com
Cities, Utilities and Other Industries to Benefit from Interconnected, Intelligent Devices

Also see:

How MIT plans to educate a billion people by 2021 [forbes.com, Stephen Carson]

On 02/15/2014, in 21st century, education, education technology, future, global / globalization, online learning, open courseware and systems, by Daniel Christian

How MIT plans to educate a billion people by 2021 – from forbes.com, an interview with Stephen Carson

Excerpt:

MIT OpenCourseWare’s goal for the next decade is to increase our reach to a billion minds. By 2021 we want to be the resource to bridge the global gap between human potential and opportunity, so that motivated people everywhere can improve their lives and change the world.

Additionally, we have identified four focus areas with the potential to help us reach our goal:

Sharing OpenCourseWare: making content easy to find and adaptable – for example, through mobile optimization.
Serving key audiences: Through the introduction of new courses and customization to meet the needs of people across a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.
Creating open learning communities: Increasing connectivity between learners, allowing them to interact with one another to increase understanding of the material.
Empowering educators worldwide: Enable educators to bring OpenCourseWare materials into classrooms and to those who don’t have internet access. Provide the educators with the tools that they need to serve students.

Free online university receives accreditation, in time for graduating class of 7 — from nytimes.com by Tamar Lewin

Excerpt:

Just in time for its first graduates, the University of the People, a tuition-free four-year-old online institution built to reach underserved students around the world, announced Thursday that it had received accreditation.

“This is every exciting, especially for the students who will graduate in April, with a degree from an accredited institution,” said Shai Reshef, the Israeli entrepreneur who invested millions of dollars to create the nonprofit university. “This has been the big question for anyone who thought about enrolling. We have 1.2 million supporters on Facebook, I think second only to Harvard, and every day, there is discussion about when we will be accredited.”

Now, with accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, a national accrediting group, Mr. Reshef said, the university will expand significantly. He expects to have 5,000 students by 2016.

Also see:

Excerpts (emphasis DSC):

Two big forces underpin a university’s costs. The first is the need for physical proximity. Adding students is expensive—they require more buildings and instructors—and so a university’s marginal cost of production is high. That means that even in a competitive market, where price converges towards marginal cost, modern education is dear.

…

MOOCs work completely differently. Alex Tabarrok, an economist at George Mason University and co-founder of an online-education site, Marginal Revolution University, reckons the most salient feature of the online course is its rock-bottom marginal cost: teaching additional students is virtually free.

Excerpt:

An 80 page eBook, paperback or hardcover photobook including insights, quotes and articles from industry leaders on the future of mobile technology and how it can change our world.

In addition to most of the original Mobile Trends 2020 contributors, the content is now extended with contributions of some 50 new experts from around the globe who are prominent futurists and trend-predictors and industry leaders.

Learning Ecosystems

March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day | #DearFutureMom

National Geographic Thematic Maps Launch in New Google Tool [Howard]

Some useful online Bible study sites — from an article by Kevin Purcell

Jeremiah 29:11-13

How MIT plans to educate a billion people by 2021 [forbes.com, Stephen Carson]

Free online university receives accreditation, in time for graduating class of 7 [Lewin]

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