I once heard a statistic that stated 80 percent of the jobs in the future don't even exist yet. That is a shockingly high number. New professions are being created because of how rapidly technology is changing and shaping our lives. I can’t imagine my elementary school grandparents saying they want to work at Amazon or Google or code for TikTok or Snapchat. I also can’t imagine what they would say if they were in my classroom: students interacting with a smart board, educators looking at AI for help, or the 1:1 student-to-chromebook ratio. Technology is everywhere in education and is growing at an exponential rate. After reading research on the topic of education technology and its future use, I was pulled in several directions. I worry that our current students may struggle to succeed without the use of technology and I also fear what will happen if there is too much.
The first research I browsed through was called Speak Up. The Speak Up surveys are an annual initiative organized by Project Tomorrow, a nonprofit group focused on promoting innovative uses of science, math, and technology resources in K-12 schools. These surveys provide a platform for K-12 students, teachers, parents, and administrators to share their views on key education issues, particularly around the use of technology in learning. I read a lot about the recent rise in AI and its role in education. According to the 2024 Emerging Views on the Potential Value of AI within K-12 Education research, 80% of teachers and admin are interested in learning more about the potential role of AI within education. However, only 51% said they need information to protect student data while using AI, (Speak up Data Findings - Project Tomorrow, 2023). I find it shocking that only 51% of teachers need that. I know educators have a big responsibility without the use of AI however, student data must be protected. At my school, there is a very small list of websites students can use, and an even smaller one of students may have accounts on. See the infographic above for stats on what educators need to use AI.
While looking through the research, I was disappointed to learn that the infographics from before 2021 were no longer available. I would have loved to read the “Ten Things Everyone Should Know about K-12 Students’ Views on Digital Learning” from 2013. It is probably because those 10 things are now obsolete since the pandemic. In graduate school, to get my MAT, I spent 6 weeks “at” an online school. It was 100% distance learning year-round. I can not remember what learning management system they used, but I thought it was really cool! Of course, it was nothing compared to Zoom or Google Meets of today.
Another research survey I read through was The Horizon Reports, published by EDUCAUSE. EDUCAUSE releases their annual Horizon Reports, offering updated insights based on current research and expert panels. EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit organization that works to advance higher education through the use of information technology. One statistic 1 found compelling was, “Since 2015, negative public perception about higher education and the value of a college degree have grown. Young people are uncertain that a degree will help them secure well-paying jobs and are put off by the debt they would accumulate by attending college.” It goes on to say, “Institute leaders might need to rethink what teaching and learning looks like better attract retain and serve students, (2024 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Teaching and Learning Edition). My husband agrees with this statement, but it’s hard for me to understand. How can you get a well-paying job without a degree? Neither of my parents have a 4-year college degree, and they’ve struggled all their lives to be financially stable. The jobs of tomorrow are
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| image source: projecttomorrow.com |
The first research I browsed through was called Speak Up. The Speak Up surveys are an annual initiative organized by Project Tomorrow, a nonprofit group focused on promoting innovative uses of science, math, and technology resources in K-12 schools. These surveys provide a platform for K-12 students, teachers, parents, and administrators to share their views on key education issues, particularly around the use of technology in learning. I read a lot about the recent rise in AI and its role in education. According to the 2024 Emerging Views on the Potential Value of AI within K-12 Education research, 80% of teachers and admin are interested in learning more about the potential role of AI within education. However, only 51% said they need information to protect student data while using AI, (Speak up Data Findings - Project Tomorrow, 2023). I find it shocking that only 51% of teachers need that. I know educators have a big responsibility without the use of AI however, student data must be protected. At my school, there is a very small list of websites students can use, and an even smaller one of students may have accounts on. See the infographic above for stats on what educators need to use AI.
While looking through the research, I was disappointed to learn that the infographics from before 2021 were no longer available. I would have loved to read the “Ten Things Everyone Should Know about K-12 Students’ Views on Digital Learning” from 2013. It is probably because those 10 things are now obsolete since the pandemic. In graduate school, to get my MAT, I spent 6 weeks “at” an online school. It was 100% distance learning year-round. I can not remember what learning management system they used, but I thought it was really cool! Of course, it was nothing compared to Zoom or Google Meets of today.
Another research survey I read through was The Horizon Reports, published by EDUCAUSE. EDUCAUSE releases their annual Horizon Reports, offering updated insights based on current research and expert panels. EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit organization that works to advance higher education through the use of information technology. One statistic 1 found compelling was, “Since 2015, negative public perception about higher education and the value of a college degree have grown. Young people are uncertain that a degree will help them secure well-paying jobs and are put off by the debt they would accumulate by attending college.” It goes on to say, “Institute leaders might need to rethink what teaching and learning looks like better attract retain and serve students, (2024 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Teaching and Learning Edition). My husband agrees with this statement, but it’s hard for me to understand. How can you get a well-paying job without a degree? Neither of my parents have a 4-year college degree, and they’ve struggled all their lives to be financially stable. The jobs of tomorrow are
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| image source: ChatGPT |
technology jobs. The World Economic Forum lists “cognitive skills at the top of the list of those deemed to be of greatest importance for workers in 2023. Analytical thinking is considered to be a core skill by more companies than any other skill … . Creative thinking comes second, ahead of three self-efficacy skills – resilience, flexibility and agility; motivation and self-awareness; and curiosity and lifelong learning – which recognize the importance of workers' ability to adapt to disrupted workplaces, (Masterson, 2023). These skills can be strengthened with technology however, I feel they need to be taught and refined through higher education. I asked ChatGPT to create an image about the future of education technology and the above image was created with this caption, "A futuristic classroom with advanced education technology. It showcases a dynamic learning environment where students use tablets, interactive whiteboards, augmented reality, and more." Sans the 2 robots and wormhole in the ceiling, it looks a lot like today's classrooms.
Learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing higher education today by watching this EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Teaching and Learning Edition video.
In the 2024 Generative AI in K–12 Education: Challenges and Opportunities report by Common Sense Media, they report, “The most commonly reported uses of generative AI were for getting information (53%) and brainstorming (51%), (Common Sense Research, 20204). As an educated adult, I am embarrassed to say I, too, need AI's help sometimes to help brainstorm ideas. I know life without AI is doable, just like life without the iPhone happened, however, because we tie ourselves to tech so much, are we condemning our thinking skills to death? Masterson said that “Businesses surveyed deemed no skills to be in net decline, but some companies judge reading, writing and mathematics; global citizenship; sensory-processing abilities; and manual dexterity, endurance and precision to be of declining importance for their workers,” (Masterson, 2023).
video source: YouTube.com
In the 2024 Generative AI in K–12 Education: Challenges and Opportunities report by Common Sense Media, they report, “The most commonly reported uses of generative AI were for getting information (53%) and brainstorming (51%), (Common Sense Research, 20204). As an educated adult, I am embarrassed to say I, too, need AI's help sometimes to help brainstorm ideas. I know life without AI is doable, just like life without the iPhone happened, however, because we tie ourselves to tech so much, are we condemning our thinking skills to death? Masterson said that “Businesses surveyed deemed no skills to be in net decline, but some companies judge reading, writing and mathematics; global citizenship; sensory-processing abilities; and manual dexterity, endurance and precision to be of declining importance for their workers,” (Masterson, 2023).
Sources:
“2024 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Teaching and Learning Edition.” EDUCAUSE Library, 13
May 2024, library.educause.edu/resources/2024/5/2024-educause-horizon-report-teaching-and-learning-edition. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024.
“Common Sense Research.” Common Sense Media, 2024,
www.commonsensemedia.org/research. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.
Masterson, Victoria. “Future of Jobs: These Are the Most In-Demand Core Skills in 2023.” World
Economic Forum, May 2023, www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/05/future-of-jobs-2023-skills/. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
“Speak up Data Findings - Project Tomorrow.” Project Tomorrow - Preparing Today’s Students to
Be Tomorrow’s Innovators, Leaders and Engaged Citizens, 25 Feb. 2023, www.tomorrow.org/publications/speak-up-data-findings/. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on so much research! I agree that it's disappointing Project Tomorrow removed their old infographics. Up until about a year ago you had access to everything. There is value in comparing the concerns around technology from a decade ago until today. We can see what issues haven't been resolved yet and think about where we need to go next.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post on how technology has affected education and the way we receive it. As you mentioned, the EDUCAUSE 2024 Horizon Report states that “young people are uncertain that a degree will help them secure well-paying jobs . . .” I 100% agree with this. I have nephew who’s in his senior year of high school. When I asked him about his plans after graduation, he said he probably won’t go to a 4-year university. He doesn’t believe he will need a formal education for the career he wants (film editor). He may be right as the internet provides many resources outside of formal education to learn and practice new things. But I, like you, feel that while technology has helped streamline education, making it more efficient, we still need a formal timeframe/number of courses to take in order to measure how much a person knows about a subject. However, the reality is that 4-year universities may become a thing of the past in years to come. We may progress to only needing certain certificates that can be obtained online, given the nature of jobs I foresee in the future.
Great post!
~Alisha