Preparing Students for Work at the Human Technology Frontier - Implications for Teacher Education
Abstract: Without question, the U.S. workforce will need a new set of skills and competencies to succeed in the future work environments at the Human-Technology Frontier and to maintain global leadership in the 21st century. What does work look like at the Human-Technology Frontier, and what are the skill sets workers will need to succeed in those work environments? This paper shares lessons learned through interviews conducted by NSF’s STELAR Center of business and industry leaders leading technological advances in space travel, defense, and high tech industries – describing what we can expect of work environments at the Human-Technology Frontier and the skills, knowledge and attributes needed of workers to succeed in those high tech environments. Grounded in the Psychology of Working and Social Cognitive Career Theory it describes how the ITEST program supports STEM career development. The paper ends with what K-12 teacher preparation programs need to include to prepare youth for success in work at the Human-Technology Frontier.