Lifelong Learning the key to survival in the 21st Century Global Economy Martin Bean General Manager Education Products Group Microsoft Corporation

If there’s one thing we know for sure………

Students today can't prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend on their slates which are more expensive. What will they do when slate is dropped and it breaks? They will be unable to write! From a Teachers Conference 1703

Students today depend on paper too much. They don't know how to write on a slate without getting chalk dust all over themselves. They can't clean a slate properly. What will they do when they run out of paper? From a Principal's Publication in 1815

Students today depend too much upon ink. They don't know how to use a pen knife to sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will never replace the pencil. National Association of Teachers Journal 1907

Students today depend upon store bought ink. They don't know how to make their own. When they run out of ink they will be unable to write words or ciphers until their next trip to the settlement. This is a sad commentary on modern education. From Rural American Teacher 1928

Students today depend on these expensive fountain pens. They can no longer write with a straight pen and nib. We parents must not allow them to wallow in such luxury to the detriment of learning how to cope in the real business world which is not so extravagant. From PTA Gazette 1941

Ball point pens will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices and throw them away. The American value of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Businesses and banks will never allow such expensive luxuries. From Federal Teachers 1950

So what about students of today ?

Who are they ? Most have never known a world without: the net cell phones digital music video on demand IM

Most have never known a world without:

the net

cell phones

digital music

video on demand

IM

Today’s Student The average teen has been online for nearly 5 years and spends over 9 hours per week online Send and receive email (84%)* Surf just for fun on the internet (66%)* Do research for school (64%)* Visit social networking sites (49%)* Teens average over 100 contacts in their buddy lists The fastest growing segment of computer users today in the US is 5 – 7 year olds 96% of US students say school is important to their success… only 20% believe it is meeting their needs. * Alloy College Explorer (2006)

The average teen has been online for nearly 5 years and spends over 9 hours per week online

Send and receive email (84%)*

Surf just for fun on the internet (66%)*

Do research for school (64%)*

Visit social networking sites (49%)*

Teens average over 100 contacts in their buddy lists

The fastest growing segment of computer users today in the US is 5 – 7 year olds

96% of US students say school is important to their success… only 20% believe it is meeting their needs.

What do they want from an education ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o

what do they want ? values priorities likes hates autonomy authenticity connecting & sharing creativity individuality constant stimulation friends, friends, friends fun music real time interaction self presentation devices/phones identities cool stuff friends like new stuff complexity bad design cost things that get in the way of expression

Digital Lifestyle Digital Workstyle

Students say…. “ Dude….I have no idea what that means, it’s just my life.”

“ Dude….I have no idea what that means, it’s just my life.”

The Crisis of Two Worlds A U.S. Case Study

U.S. Workforce Crisis In a survey of U.S. manufacturers, 90 percent of employers reported moderate to severe shortages of skilled workers. Estimated 300,000 skilled IT jobs that have gone unfilled over the last decade because there was no one qualified to fill them. Challenge for Microsoft, where at any given time we have between 3,500 and 4,500 open positions in the U.S. Wish list of skills required to meet future needs Technical skills Strong computer skills

In a survey of U.S. manufacturers, 90 percent of employers reported moderate to severe shortages of skilled workers.

Estimated 300,000 skilled IT jobs that have gone unfilled over the last decade because there was no one qualified to fill them.

Challenge for Microsoft, where at any given time we have between 3,500 and 4,500 open positions in the U.S.

Wish list of skills required to meet future needs

Technical skills

Strong computer skills

Education is Everything The jobs of the future will need to be filled by “knowledge workers” who have specialized skills and training.” We need to provide opportunities for workers to receive postsecondary education and training opportunities. Over 90% of the fastest-growing jobs in the U.S. require at least some postsecondary education. Sixty three percent of the fastest growing jobs require a college degree. Meanwhile, only about thirty percent of our population possesses a college degree.

The jobs of the future will need to be filled by “knowledge workers” who have specialized skills and training.”

We need to provide opportunities for workers to receive postsecondary education and training opportunities.

Over 90% of the fastest-growing jobs in the U.S. require at least some postsecondary education. Sixty three percent of the fastest growing jobs require a college degree.

Meanwhile, only about thirty percent of our population possesses a college degree.

Our Collective Challenge Need for highly educated and technically proficient workers to fuel our economy US is demographically overshadowed by India and China Need to adequately educate our citizens for new types of work Education in math and science is key to maintaining a competitive workforce in the global economy

Need for highly educated and technically proficient workers to fuel our economy

US is demographically overshadowed by India and China

Need to adequately educate our citizens for new types of work

Education in math and science is key to maintaining a competitive workforce in the global economy

Thomas Friedman summed it up best… Globalization is a reality Competition is global We work in a turbo-charged environment Business goes where the “talent is” Lifetime employment has been replaced by life employability Thomas Friedman: “The World is Flat”

Globalization is a reality

Competition is global

We work in a turbo-charged environment

Business goes where the “talent is”

Lifetime employment has been replaced by life employability

Implications for Educators

A changing education landscape 55% of employers prefer traditional degrees over online ones (vs. 96% previously) 62% of Chief Academic Officers rated learning outcomes same or superior to face-to-face (vs. 57% in 2003) Federal student-aid available for distance-learning institutions as of February 2006 3.2M students took at least one online course during 2005 (vs. 2.3M in 2004) * Source: McKinsey analysis Growing market Increasing credibility Removal of regulatory barriers

55% of employers prefer traditional degrees over online ones (vs. 96% previously)

62% of Chief Academic Officers rated learning outcomes same or superior to face-to-face (vs. 57% in 2003)

Federal student-aid available for distance-learning institutions as of February 2006

3.2M students took at least one online course during 2005 (vs. 2.3M in 2004)

Growth of digital, non-traditional student 2-year/associates For Profit Large public Liberal arts/general Private research Top research Top liberal arts Total Traditional vs. non-traditional students, Total, 2005 Millions; Percent Traditional Non traditional 14 * Source IPEDS and McKinsey

Considering better cost alternatives Enrolling for more on-line courses or full degrees Juggling work and study Going where the business is Demanding relevance and a better sense of progression Where does this leave our students?

Considering better cost alternatives

Enrolling for more on-line courses or full degrees

Juggling work and study

Going where the business is

Demanding relevance and a better sense of progression

Are We Ready to Shift? Source: ISTE National Education Technology Standards for Teachers (USA) Traditional Learning 21 st Century Learning Instructor Centered Student Centered Single Media Multimedia Isolated Work Collaborative Work Information Delivery Information Exchange Factual, Knowledge-Based Learning Critical Thinking and Informed Decision Making Push Pull

Your future customer Graham Age 13 “ I like my phone and my iPod the most. Cause I'm always talking to people. I can talk on the phone and play videogames at the same time. I haven't learned how to listen to music, be on the phone and play, but I will someday.”

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.