Technology & Learning - October 2007 - (Page 26)

A Disturbing Mosaic (D-NV), is a legislative response to “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” and Innovate America is a powerful step toward preserving the nation’s “brainpower advantage.” Companies are also doing their part in the legislative arena. Cisco, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Networking Academy this month, marks the occasion by inviting an academy graduate and educator from each of the 50 states to a Washington, D.C., event with the mission of getting best practices in front of Congress. More Challenges The National Academies’ 2007 study “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” considers the scenario of a non-competitive U.S. by the year 2050. The vertical figures on the left represent national economies in billions of U.S. dollars. job market make in-depth proficiency in particular digital tools crucial. Autodesk does business in 42 countries, with 60 percent of that business outside the U.S. And in some nations such as Malaysia, Mailhot says, certification in tools like Autodesk’s Revit, Inventor, and CAD “are woven into the country’s DNA” and mandatory for employment. 21st-Century Skills Beyond subject-area expertise, 21stcentury skills are also embedded into training. Cisco relies to a great extent on a blended distance learning program, including videoconferencing and online assessment. Both Cisco and Autodesk also feature communities where participants can connect online. Says Mailhot, whose annual Autodesk University networking event draws more than 8,000 architects, educators, and businesses, “Employers now are looking for new hires who can collaborate, think critically, solve problems, and work as part of a global community.” A responsiveness to the needs of 26 | www.techlearning.com business has traditionally been the major defining characteristic of voc ed and career training, as opposed to the “purist” approach of the core curriculum. Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, whose Innovation America initiative includes a call to establish regional councils and other networks to support business needs, believes it’s time for us to “look beyond those old divisions.” Kane agrees. “There needs to be a market-driven model for what to teach. Let’s look at what the student, the economy, and the country needs to succeed.” Legislating Change Recent heartening news domestically comes in the form of a fresh bucket of funds for STEM research. In August, Congress authorized $43.3 billion for the next three years to the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science Act. The America COMPETES Act, introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Harry Reid Despite such hopeful signs as COMPETES, there remain significant barriers to systemic reform efforts such as the drive to integrate applied and career skills into core curriculum. Perhaps surprisingly, major obstacles prove to be well-meaning parents and community members and the oftenstaid policies of higher education. “Parents have fond memories of the way things were when they were in school,” says Kane. “I built a shoebox when I was in school so why shouldn’t my son? School’s not like that and society’s not like that anymore.” Breaking down the wall of entrenched college and university practices is also a formidable challenge. Tech-savvy professors such as Iowa State University’s Scott McLeod see issues such as outmoded publishing paradigms, a lack of familiarity with basic production software, and discomfort with blogging and other Web 2.0 functions as a serious culture clash between traditional higher ed practices and the new digital world. “What must a student think,” says McLeod, “of a professor who’s completely ignorant of the technologies they use everyday?” The lack of articulation between http://www.techlearning.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technology & Learning - October 2007

Technology & Learning - October 2007 Editor’s Desk News & Trends Product Guide Reviews How Fast Is Fast Enough? Cover Story: Career Education in the Digital Age Getting It Wrong Higher Ed Point of View How To Bottom Line What’s New Emerging Tech

Technology & Learning - October 2007

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