Planning f or the Future Planning f or the Future Through Professional Through Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

Career/ Technical EducationLif e Af ter High School

What Does the Future Look Like?

• Airborne NetworksInternet in the sky to let planes fly safely without ground controllers.– Methodology hasn’t changed in a half century.– Fleet up from 175,000 (’95) to 240,000 (’16)– Hours up from 28 million to 33 million flight hours per year

• Quantum WiresPower transmission wires spun from carbon nanotubes that can carry

electricity farther and more efficiently.– Make a wire with so little electrical resistance that it doesn’t dissipate

electricity as heat.

• Silicon PhotonicsOptoelectronics make the material of computer chips emit light thereby

speeding data flow.

– One hair-thin glass fiber can carry as much data as thousands of copper wires.

– But copper still rules in computers.

– $1.8 billion spent on research.

• MetabolomicsA new medical diagnostic tool for spotting diseases earlier and easier. The

analysis of thousands of molecules (i.e. sugars, fats, etc.) that are the products of metabolism.

– Researchers are searching for the signature of particular diseases like

autism and Huntington’s disease. – $255 million will be spent on this research by 2007.

• Universal MemoryThrough nanoelectronics, nanotubes make possible ultra dense data storage units

netting a storage capacity of 10 billion bits of digital information on a silicon disk the size of a CD.

– Within 20 years we will be able to store the content of all DVDs ever made on our laptop or store a digital file containing every conversation we ever had on our PDA.

• Bacterial FactoriesPharmaceutical companies are overhauling a microbe’s metabolism to yield cheap

drugs.– Scientist are mass producing compounds in specially engineered bacteria that will

allow treatment for disease. (i.e. compound in a weed in China)– The 500 million people afflicted with malaria this year (almost a million children 0-

4 in Africa alone) may have the opportunity to be treated for as little as a quarter where before the costs were out of reach.

• Environmatics (Environmental Informatics)Computer forecasts enhance farm production and species diversity.– Determine where devastating fungus infections may strike crops– Use website info about the flowering date of crops.– Weather forcasting

• Cell Phone VirusesTelecom companies catch bad code through the air and secure computer systems.– Integration of cell phones into every phase of our daily life make them perfect carriers for digital

diseases.– $900 million will be spent on mobile security by 2008.

• BiomechatronicsProsthetic devices are being transformed to mate robotics with the human nervous system creating a

new generation of artificial limbs. Combine with tissue engineering to create limbs of hybrid materials. (war/disease)

– 1993 – 10,000 lower body, 105,000 upper body– 2003 – 8,000 lower, 125,000 upper body– 5-7 years – Spinal cord injury patients will walk again

Where Are We Now?

• Speed of change– Caterpillar (a large supporter of CTE)

• 2537 patents in the last 5 years

• Skills needed by business– Technology– Ability to adapt to changing customers– Employability skills– Ability to improve image

Technology

• Everyone must know their way around a computer because it is a common tool.

• Everyone must practice continuing education, much of which will be through technology.

• Everyone must understand that change is constant.

Customers Are Changing

• Global

• Consolidating

• Smart

• Sophisticated

• Expectations are higher that every before.

Employability Skills

• Normal– Dress

– Resumes/cover letters

– Etiquette

– Image

– Teamwork

– Speech

– Work ethics

• New– Internet usage

– Ethics

– Professionalism

– Cultural awareness

– Code of conduct

– Hostile work environment

– Behavior on the road

– Promotion expectations

Improve Image

• How can employees reduce negativity?– Realize that perceptions are reality. Example: 21st

century technicians are always dirty, below average intelligence, nothing more than a toolbox, not paid well, etc.

– Participate in marketing campaigns that counter leading misconceptions.

– Incorporate messages about technology, career paths, growth, work environment, and pay.

Improve Image By Changing Career Values• High School

Graduates– Money

– Variety

– Fun/rewarding

– Flexibility

– Challenging environment

• Post High School Workers – Growth opportunity

– Challenging environment

– Rewarding/feeling valued

– Job security

– Comfortable environment

Where are we now?

• Alabama Unemployment – 4.7%– Nation – 5.4% unemployment

• Alabama Growth Rate – 1.9%– Nation – 4%

• 42 or 67 counties lost population over past four years. Those who leave are usually ambitious and capable.

• Anomaly – Corporate and Income Tax Growth – up 9.5%

Professional Development Will Help

Us Get There

Professional development is important at all levels.– Teachers

– Local Administrators

– State Staff

• Dawn Morrison – how to use the state professional development plan to implement high quality professional development in your system.