#1 - Welcome
This is the perfect time to launch a project thoroughly examining the connection among learning, work, society, and technology.
First and foremost, if you’re reading this blog right now, thank you! I’m thrilled (and a bit nervous) to have the opportunity to launch this newsletter and this brief introductory post will give you an idea of what I’m setting out to do. I’d be honored to have you join me on this journey and hope you leave each post inspired to pick up something new yourself.
Now, what journey did you just sign up for exactly? In 2020, work and learning were disrupted for so many people as worldwide COVID-19 lockdowns and mitigation efforts took root. Many thousands of people were furloughed or lost their jobs entirely because of the pandemic. Workers in essential in-person sectors had to rethink their professions on the fly to keep our sputtering systems from collapsing altogether. Office workers and students shifted to remote work and remote education, becoming overnight experts in Microsoft Teams, and “Zoom” became a ubiquitous noun (“Honey, I’m on a Zoom right now,”).
As the most severe restrictions begin to wane, work and learning will inevitably change yet again, but it likely won’t be an exact return to the pre-pandemic paradigm. Therefore, this is the perfect time to launch a project thoroughly examining the connection among learning, work, society, and technology as the world careens toward what is often referred to as “the future of work.” Learning itself, and the evolving means by which we learn, will be vital to this effort.
The word “learning” may evoke the cliché images of schoolhouses and bustling university campuses, whiteboards and overhead projectors, and 35 pupils crammed into desks diligently scribbling on worksheets and notebooks while the teacher delivers a carefully crafted lesson. However, the focus of this newsletter won’t be the traditional education system.
What I really want to dig into is the learning that happens after K-12 and after a college student hangs up the cap and gown for the last time. For all intents and purposes, the formal education process is officially complete, but what comes next as these individuals enter the workforce, start families, cultivate communities, and set out to become fully fledged productive members of society? I realize life isn’t linear, nor is it always fair or predictable for that matter. Our ability to learn from our history and experiences helps us cope with the discordant nature of life and, properly utilized, allows us to improve our condition and quality of life.
Amassing a library of skills, understanding, and knowledge can also be key to succeeding in any workplace at any phase of a career. In a world grappling with the implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and rapid technological advances, employers will increasingly require a more agile workforce capable of adapting and reskilling just as quickly as the landscape shifts. In the public policy space, this challenge is often bundled into conversations about the future of work.
While the specific policies, mechanics, government programs, and institutions necessary to build the workforce of tomorrow are still actively up for debate, one thing is clear to me: The learning process begins with the individual. No matter which proposals are ultimately adopted, it will always require some degree of motivation and effort on the part of the student to truly learn a new skill and have it stick beyond rote memorization for a multiple-choice exam.
Should you subscribe to this newsletter, you will encounter two types of posts:
I’m going to practice what I preach and chronicle my experience right here as I blaze new trails and try to learn new skills! There’s certainly no shortage of learning platforms available online—many of them free of charge, or at least free-to-start—so I will document what it’s like learning skills through apps, online programs, and many more. To be clear, don’t expect strict product reviews with a ranking out of 5 stars or anything like that. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey! And I don’t expect it to be successful every time…
Musings and analysis as I study the past, present, and future of work, why we work the way we do, our relationship with work in the United States, the concept of lifelong learning, the ebb and flow between education and the workforce, and similar topics. This could possibly come in response to the writings of others on these subjects. You’ll have to come along for the ride to see what this section evolves into.
Once again, thank you for your readership! Be sure to mash that subscribe button to get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.