tkt8763-01: Hughes Audio

[Pat McIntyre <patmci@ayrix.net>]

Dr. A,
You should know that you will educating my family as well as myself this
summer.  I plan to trick or bribe my children into listening to Jim
Rohn.  Also my husband will be required to make time to listen to the
Bob Hughes audio.  David, my husband, has worked for the Miss Employment
Security Commission for 33 years from the ground floor jobs up to Chief
of Programs and Methods.  When we talk about technology he talks about
technology like touch screen kiosks that the local employment offices
invested in because at that time (10 years ago) most Mississippians
(populace "from the neck down") could not cope with keyboards.  Ten
years ago 71% of MS school children were on free or reduced lunch.  I
don't know how much that free lunch figure has changed.  Now employment
offices are investing in networked pcs for the populace that has had
training in schools to deal with keyboards, internet, etc.  However,
there is still concern that a tremendous part of the MS's population can
not deal with pcs.  I believe we will see a change in that as technology
plans are implemented around the state.

It is always comforting when someone who obviously has done his homework
like Bob Hughes, confirms what teachers have been saying these last
years.  Students are coming to school less prepared and with more
baggage.  My soap box is that, "Dr. Spock was wrong and he is dead." 
But that's another can of worms.

I have wondered for a long time, especially since the stockmarket has
made even more millionaires, how we the middle class would fair.  I have
never really thought about how technology knowledge would split the
haves and the have nots.  Most definitely Mr. Hughes has left me with
much food for thought.

I really appreciated the specifics on how he sees workers in the
future.  Of course these are current students who manage to be prepared
technologically.
	Will need much more technological training to succeed 
	Will work with much more flexible time frames
	Will communicate from anywhere in the world
	Will see work force downsized as computers are utilized as "cognitive
 magnifiers"

I especially liked the ending when he said that we are at a point in
time when everything will change and we need to let all kids have that
opportunity.  I think about my parents during the '60s and '70 when the
world stood on its ear and became a different place.  It makes me wonder
about the people around me who are struggling against change. "The only
thing consistent is …..Change."
******* TKT 8763 Seminar in Planning for Instructional Technology  *******
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