Nature of The Threat

“So make no mistake: Our future is on the line. The nation that out-educates us today is going to out-compete us tomorrow. To continue to cede our leadership in education is to cede our position in the world. That’s not acceptable to me and I know it’s not acceptable to any of you. And that’s why my administration has set a clear goal: to move from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math education over the next decade.”
- President Obama



The topics that President Obama will discuss at his Facebook townhouse meeting are explored in Critical Thinking 3.0. What does the president know that you don’t know? How is this connected to the countries in Europe filling for financial assistance from the EU to avoid a government bankruptcy? The answer is connected to President Obama’s recent position on cutting the American government spending budget. What does President Obama see over the horizon that Ireland, Portugal, and other European bailout countries didn’t see coming?
Why is Obama beating the education drum so hard? Why did the President tell the Republicans that investments in education and innovation are not up for debate during the recent budget battle? Something is happening on a global scale that will overshadow the destruction the American economy felt during the most recent financial crises. The President has been dropping sound bites in the airwaves. Who is listening to these warnings? Obama is determined to get the word out and this is the reason why Facebook is being used as a platform for his townhouse meeting. There is a chance that the president may not outright say what’s creeping over the horizon. The situation is critical. I’ve been following this quiet storm the president is watching every sense election day. This is the reason why I use his words in this book to introduce the chapters. I am trying to make the link for you. The monster lurking near our borders doesn’t look or smell anything like a typical monster. It is easy to overlook what this monster has in mind for the American economy. Will America take this acute threat for granted? Welcome to the 21st century. The threats we face aren’t found in typical combat situations. These threats have a global reach and are moving quickly toward their target. We will not have John Wayne or Ronald Reagan to take us into the world of make believe where reality is conveniently forgotten until the next election cycle. Our bank accounts will get hit. The future of our kids will be on the line. This situation will require critical thinking. Get your copy of Critical Thinking 3.0 as we began the battle for the best minds and solutions for the 21st century.

information overload

There is a necessity to stay current with the information surrounding your profession or specialty. The average student has access to a great deal more information in comparison to 10 years ago.  Managing the flow of information can be a daunting task.

Information Overload Cartoons

Global aid and Bill Gates

Non formal educational opportunities can be identified on a variety of fronts. This post brings awareness to some of the global ramifications of this recent financial downturn. Global aid is usually the first initiative to feel the heat when finances are tight. Why is this subject important? Medicine for AIDS, Malaria, and excess to clean water are being threatened by this financial downturn in many countries around the world. The most obvious hard hit places are developing economies.  Educate yourself about this pressing issue. Bill and Melinda Gates discusses global aid and other important issues relevant to this topic.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/business/2009/davos/7861073.stm

The new administration

Will the inauguration of President Obama deliver needed change to the educational system in America? Will the necessary tools be provided to schools in order to compete in the global market? Do we have the necessary infrastructure in place to deliver help needed to the educational system in America? How will the new administration prioritize their responsibilities?

Obama Team and technology

President Elect Obama has his radar set on improving the quality of education in America. He is viewing technology as an important component in this process. The President Elect is quoted as saying that "...every -American household should have broadband access-." The Obama team is even looking forward to create a “Chief Technology Officer” position to help facilitate these changes. These are some big ideas, I hope the finances are directed toward these areas which desperately need improvement.

Universal Broadband to Impact US Economy

How will digital tools be used?

How we prepare for the 21st century will be determined by how digital learning tools are used to communicate,inform, and create information. Non formal learning is happening all the time. How we transform perspectives and educate adult learners using digital tools will require research. I'm thinking about creating a short instructional for individuals that find themselves stranded at an airport. This will be an example of how quickly instructional material can be created and targeted to add value.

Technology and blended learning

Obtaining an advance degree is a tall task, but acquiring a degree online is an interesting experience. Technology is only a tool, but it is changing how we spend our leisure time and prepare for careers. The digitization of society is forcing citizens to constantly reevaluate or update career skill sets. Determining which skill sets are important takes time and research. The blended learning concept seems to be the e-learning platform of choice among adult learners seeking continued learning. Many adult learners prefer to combine traditional learning components with the convenience  of online learning. This is a popular choice because it helps students with to managing job and family responsibilities.