How is it that so many young professionals today are telecommuting, job-sharing, working from home - or for that matter working wherever and whenever?

A few years ago 10,000 people worked for IBM in their Chicago office. There used to be a clear sense of schedules, reporting lines and physical space. Today there are only 3,500 people based from Chicago. And, 80% of them work from home!

It's clear that young people today will be facing a new world of work. New ideas about what actually defines a "job" will continue to evolve. Beyond the "basics," students will need 21st century skills to survive and thrive in a world that is still being developed and designed. They will have to know how to think critically, apply knowledge to new and evolving situations, be self-directed and self-managed, analyze information, understand new ideas, communicate effectively, solve problems and make decisions. And they will have to do much of this using new and evolving technology tools!

As a result, educators have to prepare our students to enter this new world of work in the 21st century. The 13th Annual Governor's Education Summit, hosted by the Michigan Foundation for Education Leadership and the Education Alliance of Michigan, will begin to discuss this important issue. This exciting event will take place on Tuesday, March 4th at the Lansing Center. For more information about this event, visit www.mfel.org.

Contact: Traci Riehl, Executive Director
Michigan Foundation for Education Leadership
(517) 281-3157
RIehlTraci@mfel.org
www.mfel.org