Focus Forward:

Leadership, Education, Technology, and the Future of

OUR Economy

Jeffrey Piontek

WE FACE A WORLD ON THE MOVE

Attraction & Generationshttp://www.strategy-business.com/li/leadingideas/li00113

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/16/mckinsey.html?page=0%2C1http://institute.adecco.com/FeatureArticles/Articles/Pages/2008_02_Europes_Looming.aspx

Generation Motivators

Veterans Value Respect, part-time hours, temporary employment

Baby Boomers Feel needed, be part of a team, training, flexible retirement options

Generation X Immediate feedback, flexible work environments, results focused

Generation Y Mentors, work with bright people, learning opportunities, work/life balance

Purpose of Education

Back to basics (politicians)

Three overarching basics of education:Economic

Cultural

Personal

Education and the Economy

Role of Education Any conversation about education must be tied

into the economy Growth, development and sustainability

Cultural Aspects of Education

Education has a fundamental role in the culture of our students

The aspects/understandings of their identity Empathy

Personal and People

It is about your own individual hopes dreams, aspirations and desires

Many students drop out because of standardization of education

Tied to engagement Personalize education

Schools of Hope Sociologist Anthony Campolo’s “test”: Complete

the sentence, “I want my child to be….”

In Japan, mothers say, I want my child to be….…successful.

In America, mothers say, I want my child to be…….happy.

Right answer? I want my child to be…… good.

(Cf. research on independent school grads by Douglas Heath: Schools of Hope; and Lives of Hope)

Where’s the Focus?

The U.S. has a science and math pipeline problem: It begins in elementary school, as early as kindergarten.

“In China, Bill Gates is Brittany Spears. In the US…

….Brittany Spears is Brittany Spears, and that is our problem.” (Tom Friedman, The World Is Flat)

Technology Transforming Education

New delivery systems

New tools

New Outcomes for teaming and technology goals Robotics and “Rube Goldberg” competitions

Robotics!!

Communication Skills for the 21st C.

Annual Gallop Poll on What Americans Fear Most:

Public Speaking

Chronic Illness

Snakes

Death

21st C. Schools Ongoing emphasis on writing skillfully Renewed emphasis on public speaking

The Adoption Curve*

EarlyMajority

LateMajority

Early Adopter

Innovator Late Adopters

* Based on work by Everett Rogers, Jon Preddie, and others.

The Adoption Curve*

EarlyMajority

LateMajority

Early Adopter

Innovator Late Adopters

* Based on work by Everett Rogers, Jon Preddie, and others.

20% 20%60%

Accept a change, no matter what

Reject a change, no matter what

Wait and see

A Whole New Mind ~ Daniel Pink

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

~ Albert Einstein.

Is Einstein right?

A Whole New Mind ~ Daniel Pink

Left-brain dominated schools and economy Left-brain analytical thinking

Economy and Society based on analysisRewards

Disruption in our schools

A collection of things we use in the world but aren't allowed in school

What are we really preparing our students for when we can't tell a school from a prison?

What kind of work are we preparing our students for?

Desk Outside SchoolDesk Inside School

Social MediaWorld of

Work and Life

Vs.

School

Social Networking

Futile attempt to ban high school students

- the most socially networked group of humans on planet –

from doing what they do.

"We (teachers) must prepare learners for their future, not for our past.”

David Thornburg

Thank You