This presentation was conducted as a webinar with the Oregon State Cooperative Extension field, regional, and county leaders.
The presentation was conducted with the goal of discussion what our workforce should look like in the future.
1. Skills for the Future Knowledge Worker
#KnowSkills
Oregon State Extension Field Based Leaders
Webinar
January 2014
@aafromaa
aadrian@extension.org
slideshare.net/aafromaa
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2. ECOP sponsored study: Data Collection
Reviewed 372 Extension job postings for
required and preferred skills or attributes
49 Extension Director/Administrators identified
important skills and/or attributes in survey
Focus groups (8) with highly effective
Extension professionals (33) identified by
Director/Administrators
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3. ECOP sponsored study:
Differentiated skills and attributes
Skill: a learned power of doing something
competently; a developed aptitude or ability
Attribute: an inherent characteristic; a word
ascribing a quality
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5. Institute for The Future 2020 Knowledge
Work Skills Report http://www.iftf.org/futureworkskills
Signals methodology—
An extension of decades of practice aggregating
data, expert opinion, and trends research to
understand patterns of change.
Signals of new products, technologies, practices,
policies, and disruptions that can be scaled and that
have greater implications are considered in drawing
forecasts.
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6. Six drivers of disruption
rise of smart machines and systems
globally connected world
superstructed organizations
new media ecology
computational world
extreme longevity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kabanski/914928023
7. Sensemaking
Determine the deeper meaning or significance of what is
being expressed
rise of smart machines and systems
http://www.flickr.com/photos/btrayner/259804265/
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8. Social Intelligence
Connect to others in a deep and direct way, to sense and
stimulate reactions and desired interactions
rise of smart machines and systems
globally connected world
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordigraells/475843606/
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9. Novel Adaptive
Thinking
Proficient at thinking and coming up with solutions and
responses beyond that which is rote or rule-based
rise of smart machines and systems
globally connected world
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/49191352/
10. Cross Cultural
Competency
Operate in different cultural settings
globally connected world
superstructed organizations
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cognizant-worldwide/8589181792/
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11. Computational
Thinking
Translate vast amounts of data into abstract concepts and
to understand data based reasoning
new media ecology
computational world
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/8690960990/
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12. New Media
Literacy
Critically assess and
develop content using
new media forms, and
to leverage for persuasive communication
new media ecology
superstructed organizations
extreme longevity
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13. Transdisciplinarity
Understand concepts and have knowledge across multiple
disciplines
computational world
extreme longevity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonnygoldstein/4378439971/
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14. Design Mindset
Represent and develop tasks and work processes for
desired outcomes
Drivers of disruption:
computational world
superstructed organizations
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/6828102552/
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15. Cognitive Load
Management
Discriminate and filter information for
importance, and to understand how
to maximize cognitive functioning
using a variety of tools and
techniques
Drivers of disruption:
superstructed organizations
computational world
new media ecology
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16. Virtual
Collaboration
Work productively, drive engagement, and demonstrate
presence as a member of a virtual team
globally connected world
superstructed organizations
http://www.flickr.com/photos/john-norris/3494842764
18. Skills needed for 2020 knowledge worker (IFTF)
Sensemaking
Social Intelligence
Novel Adaptive Thinking
Cross Cultural Competency
Computational Thinking
New Media Literacy
Transdisciplinarity
Design Mindset
Cognitive Load Management
Virtual Collaboration
19. Attributes for 21st Century Extension Professionals
ITFT Identified Skills
Sensemaking
Social Intelligence
Novel Adaptive Thinking
Cross Cultural Competency
Computational Thinking
New Media Literacy
Transdisciplinarity
Design Mindset
Cognitive Load Management
Virtual Collaboration
20. References
The 21st Century Extension Professional (the ECOP sponsored study) Webinar
and Slideset https://learn.extension.org/events/1073
Skills for 2020 Knowledge Workers http://www.iftf.org/futureworkskills
Other recommended readings:
Global landscape http://www.iftf.org/our-work/global-landscape/work/
People and Technology http://www.iftf.org/our-work/people-technology/
Harold Jarche’s blog: http://www.jarche.com/
Ongoing finds in connected organizations http://www.scoop.it/t/connected-communities
Ongoing finds in personal learning http://www.scoop.it/t/approachtolearning
21. Skills for the Future Knowledge Worker
#KnowSkills
@aafromaa
aadrian@extension.org
slideshare.net/aafromaa
Creative Commons License
Skills for the Future Knowledge Worker
by Anne Mims Adrian is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
3.0 Unported License.
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22. Discussion
What are some points of either report or both
reports that stand out?
What are forces that the future of Extension and
land-grants?
What should Extension focus on that will make
us successful in the future?
How do those focus areas affect our work
force?
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24. Focus Group (33)
Effectively engages others
Flexible to changing needs/adaptable to
changing circumstances or opportunities
Good communicator/listener
Excellent organizing skills
Positive outlook/optimistic
Strong knowledge base/subject matter
expertise
Passion for Extension and helping others
26. Job Postings (372)
Technology was a very frequently mentioned required skill.
Social media, however, was only mentioned 10 times, always as a preferred skill.
Most commonly identified learned skills as priorities.
Interpersonal skills or attributes ranked much lower.
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27. Skills for 21st Century Extension
Professionals
Organizing skills
Excellent knowledge base/subject matter
expertise
Effective written and oral communication
Understands how to be an effective team
player
Effective teacher
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28. Attributes for 21st Century Extension
Professionals
Engaging personality
Listening skills
Flexible, adaptable and willing to change
Positive outlook/optimistic
Passion for Extension and helping others
High personal standard of excellence
Operates with minimal guidance
Editor's Notes
Conduct an evidence-based study to identify important characteristics of evolving 21st Century Extension professionals to inform our hiring, professional development, educational and support systems.
We expect that study results and conclusions will help us more rapidly move our Extension programs into the 21st Century.
Expected Outcomes:
A clear understanding of the expectations of modern Extension professionals.
Enhanced hiring processes facilitated by better identification of 21st Century Extension attributes in applicants.
Better design and effectiveness of orientation and staff development programs for new and current employees.
Improved job satisfaction leading to better retention of new hires.
Informed academic programs who develop enhanced educational experiences focused on important characteristics of 21st Century Extension professionals.
A clear understanding of the expectations of modern Extension professionals.
Enhanced hiring processes facilitated by better identification of 21st Century Extension attributes in applicants.
Better design and effectiveness of orientation and staff development programs for new and current employees.
Improved job satisfaction leading to better retention of new hires.
Informed academic programs who develop enhanced educational experiences focused on important characteristics of 21st Century Extension professionals.
An independent, nonprofit strategic research group.
In this report, they found 6 drivers of disruption and 10 skills needed for 2020 knowledge workers.
IFTF is an independent, nonprofit strategic research group.
In this report, they found 6 drivers of disruption and 10 skills needed for 2020 knowledge workers.
Extreme longevity - Increasing global lifespans change the nature of careers and learning
Rise of smart machines and systems - Workplace automation nudges human workers out of rote, repetitive tasks
Computational world - Massive increases in sensors and processing power make the world a programmable system
New media ecology - New communication tools require new media literacies beyond text
Superstructed organizations - Social technologies drive new forms of production and value creation
Globally connected world - Increased global interconnectivity puts diversity and adaptability at the center of organizational operations