This week I am very disappointed with the updates in my feeder. I have actually discarded some of the blogs that have not had very much change and replaced them with new blogs that I have found through the educators I am following on Twitter. One such blog from those I added was on a new tool that I am going to try. Kind of a cool concept around sharing files without uploading or downloading. Check it out and give it a try.
During this week I am attending the National Council of Deans of Technology in Toronto with representatives from Post Secondary institutions across the country. It was very interesting that one of the topics at this meeting connected nicely to a blog I found from one of the people I am following in Twitter. Basically the issue is the lack of foundational learning in the courses required for technology options. We spoke about how the lack of these courses when students reach the cross roads of deciding what they will do for their future and how this takes many choices away from them. Even with the required courses, we are finding that the students are still not properly prepared to enter College. I totally agree with Noel Hulsmen that these choices in high school, that translate into limited options for post secondary education, will start to have a negative affect on Canada.We need our youth to gain skills required for the workforce of the future.
One of the presentations at the conference was around the lack of IT professionals going forward and the prediction that there will be a shortage of 106 Thousand people to fill positions by 2020. I think their math is off a little but they of course present the information that they want you to see. What interested me is in part of the presentation they were speaking to the need of creating a positive Digital Citizenship for all students. This topic did raise an eyebrow or two and some interesting discussion. It was very apparent that most of these Deans had never even given the subject a second thought. What is funny about this is how much they use digital communication as the number of ipads and cell phones was staggering. No one could go an hour (myself included) with out checking e-mail, twitter, and who knows what else. They all use it without a second thought of what they are sending out to the World.
I am enjoying my new twitter account and find that when I have a thought and I now want to tweet about it. I am struggling a little as I transition from using the tool as an outlet for my ideas and transition so it becomes more of an input for the numerous ideas flowing by. I am following 16 people now and being followed by 8. I laugh at myself when I am excited by an additional follower.
Have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving
Jeff
Jeff's Blog by Jeff Murrell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Enjoyed the post! The number estimated for IT shortage is realistic and close to home. Check out Information Technology Skills Shortage Requires New Breed of Worker (http://www.obep.ca/pub/Information-technology-skills-shortage-requires-new-breed-of-worker.html). Personal experiences, however, has let me wonder if it is a lack of IT professionals or actually a lack of experienced or competent IT's. With the fast paced world of technology some IT's have forgotten to keep updated within their field (again, just personal experiences). There is a high turnover rate for ITs in some departments (again personal) because of the lack of ability to asses and resolve tech issues quick enough. With that being said – I do have to give credit to any who are ITs - any career in the technology aspect gives a new meaning to life-long learning. If others are interested in the IT world - check out Twitter and follow @complete_it_pro .Again, thanks for the insights…from one follower to another.
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