Trends Impacting School Libraries The Info Needs of the DotComs & Ferals AISWA Annimac Workshop 11 March 2005 Futurist

Are we experiencing the same world as our students ?

Role of Teaching : Michael Gurstein IT Education Futurist Canada Not to replace our basic set of skills - 3 Rs - but to add a set of complex / conceptual skills. We must also know how to manage construct deconstruct information and knowledge at a conceptual level.

Michael Gurstein, ICT Education Futurist, Canada So we can make sense of what we are doing with ITs So we can control ITs and how they structure our relationship with others and with the physical world Young are developing such skills spontaneously and intuitively

Michael Gurstein, ICT Education Futurist, Canada We need to catch up or get out of their way or help them systematize what they sense.

What does this mean for libraries ? First - the bigger picture …

Rate of Change  10 minutes - new technology  10 days - new product / service  10 seconds - new web site Change we experience in one day Our Grandparents had in one year Younger means faster

Driving the speed of change Technology : by % of job types do not exist now because 80 % of technology has not been imagined yet

Likely jobs in next 10 years : Director of Emerging Thought Chief Human Zookeeper Creative Undertaker Thought Jockey Chief Imagination Officer Hacker Relations Manager Human Interface Manager * Valuer of Intangible Assets * * Exists since 2003

Values & attitudes From : Masculine old paradigm - Logical  wealth driven  problem focussed  existing processes  competitive To : Feminine new paradigm - Intuitive  values driven  create goals  innovate processes  cooperation Huge Paradigm Shift in

Huge paradigm shift An Example To create change : Masculine old way Feminine new way - by using fear - use hope - using desperation - use inspiration - go for win-lose - go for win-win

Multiple Intelligences : Eight 1. Linguistic - language 2. Logical mathematical - number / reasoning 3. Spatial - physical relationship 4. Bodily kinaesthetic - body & movement 5. Musical - music 6. Interpersonal - people relationships 7. Intrapersonal - self aware 8. Naturist - nature / spiritual relationships = Masculine - traditional classrooms = Feminine - business & virtual worlds

Generations Baby Boomers yrs b 1945 – 60 Generation X – 75 DotComs 15 – – 90 first wired gen Ferals – now fewest - half GenX

Boomers : ( ) married/divorced empty nesters retired/ part timers downsizing everything set relationships sense of community material status identity from job medium term planning travellers; homebodies seek new safe experiences security conscious health conscious defer to authority love/hate change.  GenXers : ( ) single childless multicareers, SOHOs mobile nfa renters Net dating global orientation: no commitment materialism assumed identity ephemeral short term planning varied lifestyles: wired risk takers quick decisions environmental values, personal journey deference to heroes expect, accept change.  DotComs : ( ) temporary pairing group socialising no careers, own path parental home Net relationships global identity non consumers identity from activity immediacy wired multichannelled multiactions planetary mission group focus temporary deference need, welcome change.  Ferals : ( ) momentary relationships no patterns future jobs not important parental home global limitless relationships global no boundaries identity global commitment on consumers; global values identity from self values very immediate & long term wired into global village unlimited channels unlimited expectations planetary mission self & global group foci no deference momentary respect per need are change, live change ignore resistance 

Baby Boomers Married or divorced Empty nesters Retired or part time workers Downsizing lives Set relationships Sense of community Material status Male Identity from job Medium term planners Travellers or homebodies Seek new safe experiences Security conscious Health conscious Defer to authority Love / hate change

Single Childless Net Dating Mobile No Fixed Address Renters Varied lifestyles Global i.d. Materialism assumed Short term planners Multi careers SOHO Risk takers Fast decisions Environmental values Personal journey Defer to heroes Expect accept change Generation Xers 30 – 45

DotComs 15 – 30 Temporary pairing Group socialising No careers Own path Parental home Global I.d. Net relationships Non consumers I.d. from activity Wired Immediacy Multi channeled Multi actions Planetary group mission Temporary deference Need & welcome change

Ferals 0 – 15 No patterns Wired into global village Global momentary limitless relationships Global i.d from self values Parental home Future jobs unimportant Planetary mission Non consumers Unlimited mind channels Very immediate & long term views No deference Respect when needed Live change & ignore barriers

Summary : Trends  huge rate of change  technology driven - unimagined  major shift in societal values  unknowable workforce requirements  relationships focussed curricula  individual responsibility  individual pathways  young drive change  young will create their VR world

thank you