Consequently, states, districts, schools, and teachers take different approaches to academic integration, and some approaches are more successful than others.
There seems to be an opportunity here for educators across America to collaborate, devise plans, and create standardization of best practices that work for academic integration.
Second, some CTE career-cluster areas have average automation risks that are low: Education & Training, Health Sciences, Information Technology, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mat
If there is any truth to this, then I guess we have chosen wisely. The global shift of education from in-person to online during the pandemic still warranted a high need for educators, so I believe it is a protected field of work from automation.
Other CTE career-cluster areas have automation risks that are high: Architecture & Construction, Hospitality & Tourism, Manufacturing, and Transportation, Distribution & Logistics.
I'm genuinely surprised that hospitality and tourism are among CTE areas that have a high risk of automation. To me, this industry has friendly, welcoming, and entertaining human interaction at its core. How do these elements get passed along through automation?
Can contemporary CTE shield students against risks posed by automation?
It's difficult to assess and prepare for the risks of something that hasn't been fully developed yet. In theory, sure we should be better prepared for automation. It seems likely that we will have time to adjust, prepare and integrate these new technologies. Like the idea of autonomous vehicles was meant to drastically change the car industry, these things take time to make a significant impact.
the generative artificial intelligence behind ChatGPT can write nearly flawless computer code for a certain syntax-based statistical package commonly used among policy-researcher types
ChatGPT writing nearly flawless code is an impressive outcome of AI. We need to consider what is more valuable in the current climate, an AI code writer that's been around for less than a year or do we value a programmer with years of experience? Unfortunately, when it comes to the bottom line the outlook isn't great for many comm tech roles.
These skills include things like two-way communication, critical thinking, creativity, planning, management, and problem-solving. These are transferable skills, not technical skills. Career and technical education courses and programs need to equip students with both.
This is the advantage we as educators in tech fields have when contrasted with "academic" curriculum educators. We can offer technical skills along with the transferable skills.
Is AI going to gut the kinds of jobs that CTE will prepare students for, or is CTE a key to preparing students for an AI-infused future?
I believe a little bit of both will be happening. So many artisan-based and craft-based skills have already been replaced by mass production. Adapting and integrating new technologies is really the only choice for some tech fields.
It’s always been important to get these things right, but the arrival of ChatGPT means it’s now more important than ever
"Get these things right" is a difficult idea to grasp when we have yet to discover all of the capabilities of AI. As with many things involving technology, retrospect is the greatest vantage point.
Today’s “career and technical education” is yesterday’s “vocational education,” though not really.
I think this quote speaks to the idea of things constantly evolving and changing.
To what degree can automation affect the career outcomes of graduates of CTE programs?
I believe that certain parts of jobs could be replaced. There is also potential to create opportunities elsewhere in the workforce as new tools emerge.