Trends in Information Technology Careers and Education

1
Trends in Information Technology Careers and
Education

• Michèle Royer, PhD
• National Workforce Center for
• Emerging Technologies
• WA Center of Excellence for IT
• Bellevue Community College

2
Presentation Outline

• Trends in IT Careers and IT Skills
• The Changing World of Work
• Net Generation
• Changing World of .edu
• Conclusions

3
IT Employment Projections

• IT employment in 2004 was 17 higher than in 1999
• Of the 10 fastest growing jobs through 2014, 5
  are IT jobs
• Network System and Data Comm. Analyst
• Computer Software Engineer, Applications
• Computer Software Engineer, Systems Software
• Network and Computer Systems Administrator
• Database Administrator
• Data based on US Bureau of Labor Statistics

4
Employment Shift

• Majority of IT-related jobs require a Bachelors
  or higher degree
• IT departments are shrinking
• Entry-level technical jobs are being outsourced
• Increased requirements for IT literacy in
  non-IT jobs (including digital media skills)
• Employment growth in IT management
• Growth in IT roles and jobs in business and
  functional units
• Data based on Gartner and other industry research

5
The Maturing of IT
6
Technology Emphasis on

• Mobility, connectivity and remote access
• Integration of multiple technologies and
  platforms
• Computing and data warehousing distributed
  environments
• Information management, access and visualization
• Information and system security
• Technology-supported collaboration and
  communication at a distance
• Integration of different media formats and
  applications

7
Integrating Business, Management and Technical
Skills

• Understanding business goals and applications
• Understanding business processes and workflow
• Managing the complex IT environment (user,
  projects, teams, change, sourcing, 3PPs)
• Working with non-IT professionals
• Working in a collaborative and virtual environment

8
College Response to the Employment Shift

• Offer advanced programs targeting business
  applications or niche technical skill areas
• Develop specific business domain informatics
  programs (e.g. Health Informatics, Business
  Intelligence)
• Integrate business, management and communication
  skills in IT programs
• Infuse IT literacy skills in all programs
• Offer strong internship programs

9
Biotech/Biological Research (Bioinformatics)
Pharmaceutical Research (Clinical Trial
Data)
Development of Devices and Drug Delivery Systems
Healthcare Delivery (Therapy/Diagnostic
Management)
Healthcare Information Management (Medical
Informatics)
Population/ Public Health Informatics
Information Representation and Interaction
Information Systems and Smart Devices
Data/ Information Repositories
Data/ Information Processing
10
Presentation Outline

• Trends in IT Careers and IT Skills
• The Changing World of Work
• Net Generation
• Changing World of .edu
• Conclusions

11
Mobile and Collaborative Workplace

• Beyond the traditional office
• Anywhere, anytime connectivity
• Portability of devices
• Collaboration across distances and organizations
• MS Vista collaborative environment
• Web-conferencing

12
Information and Technology Infusion

• Technology-enabled business processes
• Increased access and management of information
• Support all aspects of the business
• Complex visual interfaces to information

13
Rapid Changes

• Multiple jobs and careers throughout their
  lifetime
• Continuous changes in technology tools and
  processes
• Self-initiated learning
• Continuous learning
• Just in-time, just enough learning

14
New Work Skills

• Beyond IT literacy
• Comfort with technology
• Information management
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Ability to learn new skills, technologies and
  processes
• Technology-enabled communication and team skills

15
Presentation Outline

• Trends in IT Careers and IT Skills
• The Changing World of Work
• Net Generation
• Changing World of .edu
• Conclusions

16
The Net Generation

• GenI, GenY, DGen, Net Gen, Millenials, EchoBoom,
  Digital Natives
• Born after 1980
• Marc Prensky (Digital Natives, Digital
  Immigrants)
• http//www.marcprensky.com/writing/
• Pew Internet and American Life Project
• http//www.pewinternet.org/
• Jim Carroll
• http//www.jimcarroll.com/articles.htm

17
Teens and Technology Pew Internet Report 2005

• 87 of teens 12 to 17 use the internet
• 51 of teen internet users go online daily
• 81 play games online
• 76 get news online
• 43 buy online
• 31 get online health information

18
Teens and Technology Pew Internet Report 2005

• 45 of teens have cell phones and 33 are texting
• 75 of online teens use IM
• 32 of all teens use IM every single day
• They use email to talk to old people,
  institutions, or send complex instructions to
  large groups
• They use IM to send text, links, photos, music
  and videos
• They spend 10 hrs/wk with friends in person and 8
  hrs via technology

19
Net Gen Digital Tools

• Email, IM, Chat rooms, Cell phones, Blogs,
  Webcams, Camera phones, TV, Internet, mp3,
  Podcasts, Vodcasts, Wikis, Digital video cams,
  Gaming consoles, Digital music, PDAs, Online
  gaming, Digital photos, Simulations, Massive
  multiplayer games, Online reputation and rating
  systems, Virtual worlds, Multimedia, Smart
  phones, Moblogs, Mods, Avatars, File sharing,
  Streaming media, Laptops, Virtual communities

20
Net Gen Interaction with Technology

• They are technology natives
• Expect technology and anywhere, anytime
  connectivity
• Depend on multiple technologies
• Eager to experiment with new technologies
• Use technology to form social and professional
  networks

21
Net Gen Interaction with Information

• Rely on the net as information source
• Constant access to media and information
• Rely on peers for information ratings
• Hypertext minds - Non-linear thought process
• Highly visual
• Share information openly

22
Net Gen Communication

• Multiple, overlapping communication processes
• Instant communication
• Prolific communicators
• Broadcast personal information to the world the
  Me generation
• Worldwide social networks
• Fluid, interactive, media-rich communication

23
The Gaming Environment

• High speed, highly changing, complex environment
• Customizable and adaptive
• High stimulation and interactivity
• Instant feedback and frequent rewards
• Highly visual
• Media-rich and diverse

24
Net Gen Goes to College EDUCAUSE Study 2005

• 96 of seniors and freshman own computers, 56
  own laptops, 14 bring them to classes
• 90 of students have access to broadband
• Students use computers on average 11-to-15 hrs/wk
• 90 own a cellphone
• 38 own a digital music device

25
Net Gen Expectations towards Education

• Choose what kind of education they buy, and what,
  where and how they learn
• Adaptive, responsive and learner-centered
• Technology and media in the classroom
• Interactivity and a rich and diverse learning
  environment
• Collaborative learning
• Modular and customizable education

26
Presentation Outline

• Trends in IT Careers and IT Skills
• The Changing World of Work
• Net Generation
• Changing World of .edu
• Conclusions

27
The New World of College

• New college writing requirements include
  multimedia literacy
• Publishing lectures and curriculum on the net
• Incorporation of new technology tools in the
  learning process
• Increased collaboration through technology tools
• Blurring of the lines between in and out of
  classroom learning

28
eTools

• Podcasts
• Blogs
• Wikis
• Social networking and virtual communities
• Digital simulations and games
• Resource Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other
  Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will
  Richardson

29
Selecting your Technology
30
Challenges

• Access to technology tools
• Technical support, resources and standards
• Bandwidth
• Training of teachers
• Diversity of students in
• Access to technology
• Comfort and proficiency with technology tools
• Identifying faculty innovators

31
Finding a New Teaching Model

• What is the role of the teacher when information
  can be accessed through the net? When the
  students know more about the technology tools
  than the teachers?
• What is the role of the classroom when learning
  can be acquired anytime, anywhere?
• Which technologies will you allow into your
  classroom? Which ones will you use to support the
  learning?

32
Presentation Outline

• Trends in IT Careers and IT Skills
• The Changing World of Work
• Net Generation
• Changing World of .edu
• Conclusions

33
Conclusions

• IT employment is still strong but shifting to
  higher-level skills and to IT business and
  industry-specific applications
• IT skills and tools are being integrated into a
  wider range of non-IT jobs
• These changes impact not only college IT-programs
  but all program areas

34
Conclusions

• Digital natives will accelerate the changes in
  work and education environments
• Virtual and collaborative processes, and etools
  need to become an integral part of the teaching/
  learning process
• Faculty need to reassess their role as content
  and expertise providers

35
QUESTIONS?

• Michèle Royer mroyer_at_bcc.ctc.edu
• http//www.nwcet.org/