Transcript Work in the Information Society: Past as prologue to the

Work in the Information Society: Past as prologue
to the future in understanding our
transformational times
Marcie Boucouvalas, Ph.D.
Professor & Program Director, Adult Learning & Human Resource Development
Virginia Tech Graduate Center/National Capital Region USA
April, 2010
Iasi, Romania
WELCOME
HOME
Bene ai
venit
acasă
http://lunaroutpost.com/gallery/index.htm in Public Domain
SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
CHANGE
Alteration or modification; shift, transition,
passing from one state to another; becoming
different
TRANSFORMATION
Restructuring
SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
Restructuring of society, especially underlying
societal structures & institutions
Societal Institutions
Provide stable infrastructure
Most affected by social transformations
Not specific concrete institutions but the
concept from a sociological lens such as
education, religion, work, the family,
etc. (we will focus on work and
education)
ADAPTATIONS CALLED FOR ON THE
PART OF INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
Adaptation: Response to a force or
pressure that is causing change
reducing one’s ability to successfully
function unless one adapts.
Adaptation: An essential
ingredient in surviving & thriving
It is not the most
intelligent or
strongest of the
species that survive
but the ones who
can adapt the best
~ Charles Darwin
Importance of Lifelong Learning
In times of change learners inherit the
earth while the learned find themselves
beautifully equipped to deal in a world
that no longer exists ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
Complementary to Adapting:
Ability to change environment
Margaret Mead … writing in 1974
..for the first time in history we know we
are in a transformational period as
substantial as the Copernican &
Industrial revolutions. As a species we
have the power to shape the outcome
& recognize counter forces (paraphrased)
SOCIAL
TRANSFORMATION
Technology as Catalyst
In the “Information Society”
Information & Communication Technologies
…but technology has always
been a catalyst throughout
human history for societal
transformations
Let’s journey back in history …
1 Million Years Ago
Primitive Human
Animal
Human
Duration: 970, 000 years
Homo Sapiens:
develop language
(sound to meaning),
Technology? Use of
fire; invention of
stone tools
Ability to Change & Control,
rather than merely
respond & adapt to
environment
30, 000 Years Ago
Archaic Human
Stationary
Nomad
Duration: 18,000 Years
Follow natural
migration of wild
herds, rather than
stalk single animal
Technology?
Development of
more refined tools
(harpoon, spear)
Ability to change & leave
environment; emancipate
oneself & migrate
12,000 Years Ago
Tribal Villager
Nomad
Village
Agriculture
Duration: 5,000 Years
Agricultural Revolution
From hunter-gatherers
to farmers
Beginning of Settled
Communities
Technology?
Domestication of
Plant & Animal
Ability to cooperate with
nature & cycles;
Beginning of social
organization & group life
7,000 Years Ago
Civilization
Tribal
Civilized
Culture
Duration: 4,000 Years
Organization of city &
development of
architecture, art, etc.
Manorial(life) to Mercantile
(money) Economy
Development of 2 classes:
ruler & ruled
Technology? Extract metal
from ore: metal tools &
weapons (end of Stone Age)
De-emphasis on biological
survival; shift to cultural &
social development
3,000 Years Ago
Axial Human
Outer
Inner World
Duration: 2600 Years
Spiritual nature of
humankind stressed
Bodily activities
repressed to reach
goal of purification
from animal nature
Church came into
prominence
Shift to world dominated by
religion and primacy of
spiritual nature
400 Years Ago
Mechanical Human
Inner
Outer World
Duration: 400 Years
Copernican Revolution (1500s)
Industrial Revolution (1700s)
“Enlightenment” Era
Emphasis on Outer World
& mechanical, material,
technological progress
Change from village to
centralized industry
(concept of labor force)
Technology? Machine
Shift to world dominated by
intelligence & primacy of
scientific method
New Transformation in Process
Synthesis of Inner &
Outer Worlds
Information Rich Society
Learning Society?
Duration: 50 years in
process
Exploration of the frontiers
of outer space and inner
space of human
consciousness;
Integration of “eastern” &
“western” worldviews
Shifting paradigm
(scientific/spiritual view of
world)
Technology? From ICTs to
Biotechnology &
Nanotechnology
Shift from industrial to
information (learning?)
society & planetary/world
culture??
Industrial vs. Information Society
Production of Goods & Services
Industrial
(Advent of machine)
Greater material production; design & division
of labor force
Information
(ICTs + Biotechnology & Nanotechnology)
Greater production & transmittal of information
distributed instantaneously around globe,
higher speeds, lower costs
Labor Force? Reconceptualization!
Societal Structures Transforming:
Selecting Work & Education for Discussion
Work: What do we mean by “work” &
“workforce”?? How has it changed
throughout history. What about the future
of work?
Education: How has term “educated”
changed throughout history? What do we
mean by “education” now …and in the
future? What does that mean for preparing
the “work force”?
CONCEPT OF WORK
Former historical times: Leisure time
heralded by aristocracy; those who had to
work pitied, scorned, or spurned.
Pre-Industrialized Non Market Cultures:
Work NOT separate sphere of life
Move to Industrialized: Work is necessary
but not necessarily avenue of fulfillment
Present to Future: Meaningful work sought.
Can we restore it to “human dimensions &
meanings? Applebaum (1992). The Concept of Work
Work? The Labor Force?
Changing: Way people are working &
relationship between individuals &
organizations
Telecommuters, new business ventures and
professions, rise of free agents (“most
significant transformation since [leaving] the farm for
the factory”)
“Citizens abandoning one of Industrial
Revolution’s most enduring legacies—the
job—and are forging new ways to work”
Pink (2001, pp. 10-11)
New Kind of Workers? Labor
Force?
What is our responsibility to help prepare
these new workers … OR
Will they prepare us
…for the future?
CONCEPT OF EDUCATION
Earlier Times: Educated individual?
Liberal Arts
Rise of Professional Schools: Emphasis on
Practical Application
Looking to the Future: State specificity of
knowledge (ability to enter & exit the
relevant state of consciousness at will)
Preparing a Work Force for an
“Information Society”
Liberal Arts + Practical Knowledge & Skills
Development + Self-Knowledge of one’s
Ways of Knowing and Levels, States, &
Structures of Consciousness =
Potential to
Cultivate a Flexible Worker
UNESCO: Greater framework
Conceptualization of Learning: Skills
Development + learning to think &
know, learning to be, live together, and
change.
World Assemblies:
World Summit on the Information Society
Global Assemblies on Education (4 during 2009)
World Summit on the
Information Society
Aim-Build an inclusive information society
(marginalized, indigenous, disabled);
success stories shared on web portal
www.itu/wsis/index.html
e-learning, e-governance, e-health, ecommerce, e-business
Follow-up: 10-14 May 2010
UNESCO EDUCATION
ASSEMBLIES
Concern with embracing a broader
perspective on the meaning of learning
& recognizing connection with the world
of work as well – hosted 4 Assemblies
Higher Education (July, Paris) & Adult
Learning (December, Brazil) witnessed
similar theme: transformation
The Future?
Concept of humankind being
transformed
Technological enhancements?
Fusion of body with technology?
Implications for leadership?
Some Challenging Thoughts
Melding of biology & technology?
Nanotechnology & enhanced humans
a la Kurzweil
Different kind of digital divide between
“have’s” and “have-nots”?
“Black Swans” a la Talib: Changes neither
predictable nor expected—great impact
in history
Kurzweil’s Model
Understanding Our
Transformational Times
Remember Margaret Meade …convinced
that as a species we have the power to
shape the outcome & recognize counter
forces…
..beyond skills development: learning to
think & know, learning to be, live
together, and change (UNESCO-DeLors)
Mega Challenge?
“If we fail to understand that …society
indeed pregnant with the new social
order and mistake the creative forces
for threats to our well-being, we could
respond defensively and end up …with
a miscarriage”
Willis Harman (1978) Stanford University, Center for Study of
Social Policy, futures researcher
Together as Planetary Citizens
What are we doing OR
Could we do to
Embrace these Challenges?
What other challenges
abound?
Thank You! Va Multumeic!
QUESTIONS?
Întrebări?
COMMENTS?
Comentari?