Did You Know? ('cause I sure didn't)

As I watched this video, my initial reaction was much the same as I imagine many of classmates. The United States is going to hell in a handbasket. The world is rapidly changing and we are ill-equipped and in denial. China and India (or the artificial intelligence robots) will be running things sooner than later. Like the Roman Empire before us, the United States century-long strangle hold on the world will shortly come to an end. Of course, this the unstated goal of the video. The creator, as evidenced by the music, created a gravity to the situation. He also attempted to oversimplify a profoundly complex topic by stating naked, unsupported, (and, by the way, unsubstantiated) facts and leaving the viewer to infer the consequences.

Maybe I will try to infer something different than what he wanted me to. We cannot assume that we know the outcome of these changes to the world. We will not know the effect of these facts for years. The very nature of these rapid changes necessitates a level of uncertainty. Does it all look good for the United States if we continue our slow adjustment to these lightning changes? No. Should we assume the extinction of America like we are a nation of dinosaurs just waiting for the meteor to come and block out the sun?.... If we resign ourselves to the sheer magnitude of educated young adults being turned out in India and China, then any attempt to mobilize and better educate our students would be futile anyways. Their superiority in numbers could not be overcome. Fortunately, in today's world, unlike the feudal fief or factory floor, size does not necessarily matter.

More than anything else, I believe that preparing students for the 21st century, means a reaffirmation of what today's educators agree are the most important things that we should be teaching them. The things that we all agree are not measured on standardized tests. Students need to become problem-solvers. They must be literate, critical thinkers who can work with others and articulate their substantiated opinions both verbally and in writing. Secondary to this is any training in practical technology. Once we acknowledge that 1) technology evolves at an ever increasing rate and 2) students exposure and competency with regard to technology comes from their personal lives, we can feel more comfortable focusing on skill-building. What the inclusion of technology in classrooms does tell me, however, is that more than ever we must shed the pressure to cover a set list of content curricula. Rather, content curriculum should be the vehicle by which we encourage and foster critical thinking and skills in technology. That is how we will prepare today's students for tomororow's world.