How are we preparing our students for the digital economy that is not their future, but their present?
How do we create the compelling argument that this is important, that this should be a priority in our school system?
~~~~~~~~~~
Walmart is mere months away from replacing their warehouse workers with drones and robots.
Automation is not new. We have had the “robots are taking over the world” narrative in our minds for decades.
Have we become desensitized to it?
Because now they really are.
The extent to which robots are able to do menial jobs has grown exponentially, and artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction – it’s commonplace.
But when robots can do standardized work, it creates new opportunities. New opportunities for creators, for coders, for those educated to take advantage of these new opportunities.
How are we embracing the opportunities robotics will bring to our economy? In Ontario alone, we will have a deficit of 76,300 digital economy jobs by 2019.
Or are we just going to continue to blame corporations for embracing the technology available to them?
If we create standardized students, they can easily be replaced.
If we create unique individuals with the skills and competencies to rise above the menial and embrace new opportunities, we will be enabling our communities to continue to grow and prosper in our changing world.
As a parent, do you ask your school how your child is being prepared to thrive in the digital economy?
~~~~~~~
LEARN HOW TO LEARN
~~~~~~~
Featured image shared by Robin Zebrowski under a CC-BY-2.0 licence.
References:
Technology Has a Language. It’s Called Code.
Are Robots Going to Steal Your Job? Probably.
3 of the World’s Top 10 Employers are Replacing Workers With Robots
What If? OPSBA 2009
A Vision for Teaching and Learning in a Digital Age OPSBA (2013?)
Robot-Proof: How Colleges Can Keep People Relevant in the Workplace by Joseph E. Aoun
Canada’s Digital Talent Strategy March 2016
Michael Geist: Digital Canada 150
Automation isn’t new, so what’s the big deal? by Jacob Morgan
Awesome resource Donna, thank you 🙂