On Schools becoming irrelevant – what do…
On Schools becoming irrelevant – what do you think will the next generation of academic institutions evolve into?
I think corporations will become schools. Mentorship and training will be the next phase of learning. We already see a bit of it in call centers where new employees go through a 2 week training program.
I think elementary and high schools will still be there – people need to know basic communication and mathematics. College, however, is in question.
Right now, college culture is still important for employers. They prefer to hire employees coming from a familiar background – not really because of the education but more for the upbringing. How were kids molded? What work ethics and philosophies do they represent? Those are the questions that are asked.
But if you can establish a work ethic and culture even without colleges, what would happen to the traditional academic institutions? If a large company like Google or IBM decide to offer 2-year community college-type centers, the big universities are going to be in trouble.
What do schools need to do? They should start focusing on essential habits training. Focus on creating an excellent students – molded with high caliber, tough attitude development training. Get them used to the hard stuff. When they face the real work world, everything will feel much easier.
I think those institutions that provide case studies (like AIM) would be essential. Resolution of real life situational problems are what is needed. Socialization and sharing of different solution perspectives will be valued.
The traditional technical training will become obsolete. Corporations will teach the technical stuff. Internet will provide the rest of the information.
Schools will provide the basics first. Later on, they would develop and enhance work habits.
That’s my guess.