Jacksonville Goes to College Week

Jacksonville Goes to College Week
October 9 – 15, 2011

Creating a multicultural mindset of attending
college does not start in middle or high school, but
manifest itself at the primary and elementary levels.
Statistics show that two thirds of current and future
jobs will require a college degree, at the minimum
a Bachelors.

The U.S. Department of Labor finds that 62 percent
of all U.S. jobs now require two-year or four-year
degrees. Careers are being created resulting from
the integration of technology, growing each year
as the speed and intelligence of microprocessors
grows. How can a person compete with just a high
school diploma when there is a major talent shift
from low-skill jobs to more complex knowledge jobs
across the country? Even governmental sentiments
are geared to improved education,
“America needs to provide a complete and competitive
education for every child from cradle through career”
Higginbottom, H. Director of Domestic Policy.

Throughout America’s history each succeeding
generation is better educated and better prepared
for future careers than the previous generation
(www.acteonline.org/). When looking at the
educational paradigm shift, high schools working
in preparing students for high tech, knowledge
management careers. Because of the changes in
falling manual labor jobs, dwindling careers
where labor was once performed in the fields and
factories affect the skill level and knowledge
level of workers. There is a great discussion
on the direction of college attendance and the
change in curriculums that are College Prep, the
elimination of vocational education in high
schools and the closing of Skill Centers.

The direction in educational circles is guided
by business, industry, medicine, science and
incorporation of Knowledge Management skills
whether technical, medical, educational,
research and even Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics (STEM ) are guiding learning in
public and higher educational circles.

KM (knowledge management) comes from acquiring,
managing and sharing information. Students are
learning how to acquire, interpret, and apply
knowledge to higher order thinking skills. This
is common place in higher education where research
based learning is performed. While teaching
Educational Technology (Edu Tec 250) at Edward Waters
College I integrate project and knowledge management
in my curriculum to empower students and guide them
to learn how to manage information, work collaboratively
and share resources. If students do not learn these
skills as they progress from elementary, middle and
high school they will be challenged in higher education
with the amount of information that is necessary to be
processed and applied in productivity.

Educational research shows that much of students work
is invisible (mental processing) and sometimes
a challenge to measure with traditional assessment tools
because processing goes on inside students heads and on
multiple levels of comprehension, awareness and processing.
If you have students that do not have a foundation of
previous (older) knowledge it is harder to process and
apply new knowledge. "Knowledge workers are going to be
the primary force in careers and how businesses are
successful” (Allan Alter 2005, cioinsight.com/).

Public school educators are learning from higher educators (college/university) the importance of (KM) in growing
careers that teaching students to manage data, interpret
information, and analyze statistics. Business leaders are
learning that their informational infrastructure will be
managed by people who have been prepared in high schools
and higher educational institutions.

Allan Alter has stated, "They (knowledge managers) are
the key source of growth in most organizations.”
In relevancy to this DCPS has shown its commitment to
guiding students to higher education stating, “Duval County
Public Schools serves approximately 125,000 students. The
school district is committed to providing high quality
educational opportunities that will inspire all students
to acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to
succeed in a global economy, and culturally diverse world
(DCPS web site).

This is something that cannot be developed rapidly in
higher education, it has to be nurtured as students progress
from primary school to high school. Look at the development
of Apple, Microsoft, Google, and even Facebook. All started
by young entrepreneurs that embraced knowledge management
and development. There are options for students who do not
have the aspiration or aptitude for college and their needs
should be met as well to be successful and contributory to
society.

Schools districts should not turn a deaf ear, nor
ignore students who do not want to attend college, their
educational preparation is just as vital to society.
Elementary schools such as Andrew Robinson Elementary with
the theme “College Preparation” as a guide; classrooms
display college/university banners, teacher talk about
their educational experiences in college, guest speakers
are invited to talk to students (Jacksonville Giants,
Jacksonville Jaguars) and mentors/role models
(Dr. Johnny Gaffney, City Council) are sought to
inspire the desire to work to graduation from high
school and onward to college.

This week of October 9th to October 15th designed
to engage families, communities, school staff, and
students in activities that promote college admission
and success. Educators, politicians, law enforcement,
parents, clergy, and community stakeholders must work
together to empower students with the academic as well
as strong social disciplines to attend higher and
vocational education becoming successful graduates.

It takes a village to raise leaders nurturing success
in all our children.

Jacksonville National College Fair
Sat, October 15
Prime Osborn Convention Center, 9 am. to 1 pm.,
Admissions is FREE, parking is $5.
Students in grades 8-12 are encouraged to attend
with their families and bring pens to fill out
admission forms.