3:17 Dr. Bob Hoffman introduces the education panel, then talks about the role of education in regional economic development. There's a gap in training and retirements..
Not enough students are taking math and sceince classes. Knowledge doubles every 16 months. China is creating 100 new universities. International students are coming to America for technical and scientific educations but not staying. By 2015, 80 percent of workers will be working, but 80 percent of technology will be new.
Collaboration will be the key, between schools, two-year colleges, universities and businesses. He praises the two year schools for their nimbleness.
Graduation rates have to improve although Southern minnesota's graduation is higher than some other parts of the state. More partnering with high school for postsecondary education. Most of the jobs in the futre will involve producing goods and services that are not yet been invented. These facts are others like them inform the state's STEM program.
Dr. Terry Leas begins by saying that everyone agrees that education is the one social elevator. Why do so few employers use colleges and universities to serve them needs. Traditionally schools offered programs and classes to reflect their own needs rather than their communities. That's changed, Outreach is geared to reflect the needs of employers and companies. Online enrollments allow enrollements that are more convenient for students' needs. Partnerships are also blossoming at Riverland.
Colleges and universities are also reaching out to communities of color and underserved populations. He cites several programs that Riverland has developed that are targeted toward Latinos. Older citizens are also being approached. Partnerships with K-12 schools reach out to second-language learners.
Barb Embacher talks about her work as an educator. We need to shift our expectations of schools, shifting from a teacher-centered education to a system that teaches students crticial thinknig skills necessary in a Google-universe. Change needs to be researched based because the stakes are so high: make a mistake, and it's the lives of students that are messed up for years to come. Challenges include the needs of immigrant children.
Embacher works for a unique partnership between the Mankato school system and the Mankato Chamber of Commerce. It addresses the needs of students to understand the job market and the nature of careers. It's hard to figure out what the careers of the futures will be, but they know that the students will need to be innovative, critical thinkers, and to be able to work with a diverse population.
Valarie Pace,IBM, talks about the change in the understanding of technology and technical skills. Today, third graders are expected to be able to keyboard (I wish I'd learned LOL). We need to raise our expectations of what we require.
Scheduling is an issue. School work should be seen as the students' job. Students lose a lot over summers; switching to a 45/15 schedule might overcome the loss. We need to have the political will to compete in a global setting. Every single youth needs to be able learn and contribute for the country and economy to thrive.
We need to be more efficient in education deliven . We need to address technical skill sets for incumbent workers.as well as traditonal students. We need to address need of underserved.
Rene Lara, legislative action specialist at Education Minnesota, says that looking at education from a purely economic perspective, it is the biggest employer in SE Minnesota after Mayo. Education should thus be a leader in the local Chambers of Commerce. Sure it's tax money but the investment is local and the schools bring in educated people from elsewhere. He jokes about political leadership come from the schools, noting Robin Brown and Tim Walz's profession.
Health care costs are an economic issue for education; a measure to create a statewide insurance pool for educators in all districts passed the legislature but was vetoed. Lara won't say by whom, since he "doesn't want to get political." The crowd chuckles. He mentions the needs for additional funding for the schools.
A man notes the shortage of science teacehrs, and suggests that merit pay should implemented to solve the problem. He says that Education Minnesota is resistant. Valarie Pace talks about ways that IBM partners with area schools to bring its emplyees' expertise into the classroom. Embacher thinks business-education partnerships are a solution.
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