Dear WinkWorld Readers,
As some of you know, I am on the South Dakota Board of Regents, and in that role, I read and think a lot about the rapidly changing needs of society and higher education. Our future seems to be accelerating. Fast change is inevitable.
In the last 6 months I have read lots of articles about the future, but two books, in particular, really ring true for me: First, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari, and second, Ten Lessons for A Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria.
Our grandson, Luke, age 22, is an avid reader and has read much on this topic also. In fact, he has been reading Harari for months and encouraging me to do so, too. I finally took his advice. I am now a new fan of Harari, as I have been of Zakaria.
It’s true: Luke and I really do not know the future, but in what follows we attempt to capture our learning by highlighting 5 categories of change, which will affect universities, students, and all of us.
First, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, and to be ready, universities need to focus on:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Sciences
Machine Learning
Engineering
Biotech – Bioengineering
Agriculture – Precision Ag
Machines which augment humans
All things cyber and digital
Math – Chemistry – Physics
Business/Economics/Entrepreneurial
Second, HEALTHCARE, and to be ready, universities need to focus on:
Preventative Medicine
Medical Devices
Medical AI
Telehealth
Nurses and Doctors
Third, the ENVIRONMENT, and to be ready, universities need to focus on:
Climate Sciences
Environmental Engineering
Sustainability
Fourth, EDUCATION, and to be ready, universities need to focus on:
Readers/writers/thinkers/educators for the future
Emphasize STEM and STEAM
Relearning
Arts – History – Humanities
(STEM = Science, technology, engineering, math)
(STEAM = Science, technology,, engineering, arts, math)
Fifth, SOCIAL SCIENCES, and to be ready, universities need to focus on:
Diversity/Inclusion
Social Justice
Demographic Changes
Title IX/Feminism/Cultures
Thank you, Luke Wink-Moran. What a great time we had reading, thinking, and writing about these two books. We look forward to your input on our delicate, fragile new ideas.
at 3:01 pm
Thanks Joan and Luke! Looks like these 2 books will have to join my library. Have either of you watched the Netflix special documentary, “The Social Dilemma”? It is a MUST SEE.
at 4:45 pm
“The Social Dilemma” on Netflicks. A MUST-see: As long as you put it that way, Sharon, I will definitely watch. Thanks.
Thanks for the resource.
at 3:33 am
Joan…
very interesting! and good on Luke for reading these.
as gov’t-history major, i’d include these categories for obvious reasons…Victor Davis Hanson, classicist and all-round smart guy, should be on anyone’s reading list…
Mobridge-Pollock, undefeated, so far in fb! play Thomas More on Thursday…
h
at 11:35 pm
Vicor Davis Hanson: Thank you. Will check him out for sure. Always love to hear from you, Harry.
Joan
at 1:23 am
Catching up on some old Wink Worlds. Good thoughts here Luke & JW. What a world we are going to live in post-pandemic. So many changes in education. Distance learning for the masses was unthought of just 10 months ago, yet here we are. My Henry, a senior, has schooled virtually his entire senior year, along with everyone else in our neck of the woods. All of the fun things seniors do are put aside this year.
Along with all of the other changes we are all facing, students are adjusting, adapting and embracing the new learning platform. Loving it, not so much, but living it. Connections are being made virtually. Friends are keeping in touch. Some teachers are reaching out and making learning engaging, and also are keeping it real- they know the struggles that the students are facing.
Next year as Henry goes off to college, we don’t know what the scene will look like, but we know he will be able to adapt to either virtual or in person world.
at 1:39 am
Always great to hear from you, Chris. Thanks.