Tech and Education
Saw this one through a Google Alert:
Microsoft tech guru emphasizes education
Business expert speaks to parents and students
I’ve had the opportunity listen to Bob Lokken speak a few different times and I have never heard him NOT talk about education. And ever since Microsoft’s acquisition of Proclarity he’s even more fired
up about it.
From the Idaho Mountain Express:
“Like water is to agriculture, education is to technology,” Lokken said.
Like tech in this town there is no shortage of opinions on what changes should happen to our education system. Bob is not the only “tech guru” to speak passionately about education. Any business owner who has tried to higher software engineers in this town ends up being very frustrated.
Rick Ritter with TechConnect has said that he’s ready to drive to Redmond with a sign that says:
“Looking for programmers who like to Mountain Bike and are tired of the commute”
Obviously there is more that could be done at the primary education level as well as at the collegiate level. But where do you start? How do you fix a system that has gotten to where it is because of decades of neglect?
As Krissa has pointed out I am very impatient. I want the most bang for my buck and to me that seems like focusing at the collegiate level to keep the college grads BSU turns out employed here. I think we need to do a better job of matching CIS and IT students from BSU with local companies. Get them involved early and I think they are more likely to stick around.
Why the emphasis on college students? We have a two year window (if that) in order to convince Microsoft to stick around. The key to that will be Microsoft’s ability to grow here, which means hiring people. And it’s a lot easier to hire people who live here and want to live here than it is to convince someone to move here.
I know this is a rant and I don’t have any answers but education is something we haven’t hit on yet. What do you think?
What about attracting talent? (which is what Rick’s comment actually referred to).
Education is (and can be) a long ardous process. It takes time.
I guess that’s what makes this whole thing so difficult is that there is not one answer.
Like Lokken points out it’s hard to attract people to move here when Idaho’s education system is seen as sub par when compared to the rest of the country.
The education system is painfully slow to change, so painful that most people don’t even try. But without a well educated workforce it’s hard for local companies to compete. If local companies can’t compete on a national and international level it makes it harder to attract out of state talent.
I’m getting dizzy. We’re fighting a war on multiple fronts with scarce resources (aka engaged citizens).
I agree with Tac that the education system is painfully slow to change, so how does a system that turns like the Titanic keep up with an industry that turns on a dime?
I’m continually frustrated with higher education. I’m in the process of getting my BBA in CIS, and for the most part it’s been a lackluster experience.
I’ve applied all over this valley, with companies of all sizes, but most require something that BSU’s CIS department isn’t teaching, and I don’t have experience with - .NET.
Maybe this sounds petty and minor, but when this point was brought up in my PHP class by multiple students, the response by the professor was along the line that you have PHP experience, so you should be able to convince the company that you can learn .NET. Mmm, not so much.
Now I’m not whining, really I’m not. My point is whether our education system is teaching what is needed by employers. From what I’ve seen and experienced it’s hit and miss.
One second thought, maybe the problem is my resume sucks.
Bob Lokken rocks! Tac, thanks for reminding us —
When we had those industry forums, where we got local entrepreneurs, execs & mad scientists in 6 difference “core competence” areas - one question these quasi-focus groups were asked was about recommendations for state policy.
I remember certain people being utterly baffled that at least 4 of the 6 groups said education. K-12 education! “But what does THAT have to do with growing tech?” was the reply… (Sigh.)
I still remember Lokken getting on his chair and saying those words.
(Makes a good quote to use, isn’t it? There’s another from the former chair of the US House Cmte on Science, Sherwood Boehlert: “For 21st century jobs, you need a 21st century system of education.”)
As for a 21st century education system… you’d all weep in envy if you saw what other states are doing… I see awesome models that we could steal, er, adapt. Ping me if you want to know more.
Ok, but regardless of getting the education system up to par or turning out an educated workforce - if the graduates find a better paying job outside of Idaho, what then? Wages have to be competitive.
And, what do companies do in the mean time? It takes at least 4 years to get a degree.