EdRoboTech.com: Recent Episodes
Edward Robinson
Why You Matter; And Why It Matters... By Edward Robinson It's The EdRoboTech.com Podcast Series for Friday March 23, 2018.
This is Episode 34.
I'm Edward Robinson!
Have you ever come to work, and solved a problem, that saved the day? Did you have people counting on you to perform, and looking to you for help, guidance, or support? That's a good feeling. That feeling says,"You are needed. You are important. You are a mission critical part of this operation". Isn't it great when you come through with a great idea, that saves the day? Yes, it truly is. People admire that person. They may emulate you. Some may even envy you.
But, on the other hand, have you ever felt that the whole operation could go on without you? That you don't matter? That someone else has all the answers, and you are just a part of the crowd?
I want to let you know that especially in schools, there are many people who make a difference each school day. If you are one of those people, you may not always be noticed as a winner, or as an awesome contributor. But, when each member of the school district does their job effectively, wonderful things can happen. It is important to know that your contribution sometimes may go unnoticed. But, it is still very valuable. Think, for example of a 300 year old tree. You may eat lunch next to that tree, but never see the root structure that supports it and keeps it healthy and strong.
Being a support to students who need encouragement is not only admirable, but it is vital. Let's talk about Encouragement:
Teachers need encouragement, so that they can know and remember what is important about themselves as individuals, and what they became a teacher to do in the first place. They need to be there for their students. Students need encouragement, because sometimes they are going through a tough time. They may try to understand tragedy, and pain, and need leadership to inspire them to be their best selves. They need to know that it is going to be alright, and that the sun will come up tomorrow, like the song, of that name, in the play called Annie. Parents need encouragement, because they are trusting their precious children with educators throughout each school day, hoping that they will return to them no worse for wear, hopefully with positive experiences and knowledge from the school day. They need to know that schools will be a safe, learning zone, for their children. Administrators need encouragement, too because they need to make decisions to protect all the people who visit, attend, work, at school campuses. They may have to make decisions and choices to protect staff and students that are dynamic, or decisive, at times, to protect lives.
Encouragement makes you feel more capable to succeed. Encouragement lets you know what's possible. Inspiration is the wind beneath your wings. Inspiration is motivation to do something meaningful or constructive. School safety is very important.
But, there are behaviors that we can do to keep our schools safe:
Metal detectors in schools will likely expose concealed weapons. Safety drills: shelter in place, lockdown, evacuation, and/or perimeter drills School security guards can keep schools safe, if they are administered wisely. Keeping unauthorized persons off campuses will also help.
People need to know that things can be alright again. Education must continue, but it is smart to make wise improvements that will insure safety, improve morale, and keep the job of the K-12 schools happening: literacy. And in our present society Technology Literacy is very important.
Not just knowing how to read, write, add and subtract, etc. But knowing how to utilize computer programs and applications effectively, so that our learners will function effectively in an emerging digital world that requires those skills. Thanks so much for clicking in, and we'll see you online!
Student Loan Debt Is Hindering Graduates From Succession In Their Profession By Edward Robinson
It's The EdRoboTech.com Podcast Series, called "Ed Is Better With Tech", for Friday, March 16th, 2018.
I'm Edward Robinson!
An increasing number of Student Loan Debtors, many who are graduates who hold Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, or Graduate Degree, are not finding the promised career employment in their field of study.
Because of this they are left to accept lesser paying, lesser quality employment, that is often outside their careers.
Let's face it... The longer a person works outside their careers, the less money they can earn, and the greater likelihood that they will never work in their field of study and field of choice.
Why?
Because employers search for a work history that agrees with the:
certifications degree programs degrees
that the candidate studied.
It seems to come up as a red flag when the person has little to no experience in a new field, even with the degree.
Less money from work, and maturing student loans means the increased possibility of bad credit.
Also:
More bills from education debt Higher education related fees Higher interest rates Capitalization of debt even while on forebearance, deferment, etc. Higher Debt to Income Ratio
Higher Debt to Income Ratio--- Is easy to explain when you realize how these student loan debts increase because of interest, fees, and capitalization of borrowed money.
The debt spirals out of control, often while the student/graduate is applying for that career job. Taking jobs outside their field makes the student/graduate waste time and potential income, by settling into jobs that don't correlate with their chosen field. Employers and Recruiters share much of the blame, when they resist non- traditional hires. Meaning, hiring a candidate who is, for example, African- American male, for a position that is typically filled by a White Male.
Non-traditional hiring is the natural process when more people go to college, and study for careers in non-traditional, or emerging fields.
For example, with STEM Education, we are training our employable population for fields that never existed before. Since no one ever held some of these new jobs, who is to say who would be the ideal candidate, and what they would look like?
Women are capable of filling STEM roles as well. Why would employers want to resist hiring a capable candidate for a Science/Technology role, simply because of gender? Students attend college under the premise that when they come out, they will find and fill better career-quality positions.
These students have made the committment to:
Attend school Borrow money in the form of Guaranteed Student Loans Attend Class Completed coursework with a favorable grade
Now they want the job opportunities promised them at the outset. Any less would seem to be false advertising.
There should be a path toward achieving the "yes", that allows that student whopassed his/her classes to get the "dream job" without the typical excuses thatare given. This will also build our economy, filling those jobs in STEM-relateddisciplines that reportedly go unfilled, because of the lack of qualifiedcandidates. (Robinson, 2018)
Working outside of one's field of endeavor, is a disappointment.
Let's find a way to hire the qualified candidates with a college degree,but few experiences in the workplace. That is leadership. If more employers demonstrated greater leadership in terms of hiring non-traditional hires, for example African- Americans and Women, there would be less of a need to talk about Student Loan Debt Forgiveness, because many more graduates would be working in their fields, contributing to commerce, contributing culturally, and paying taxes, as well as achieving while contributing to their chosen career.