Rethink the way we learn and work

As we look to the year ahead, I'm hoping it will be the year we decided to take bold steps toward moving our educational systems into the 21st Century. We have been blessed with very, very good schools at all levels in this region for decades. Yet, if we are being honest, we have to accept that the model we have relied on over this time is working for some but failing to prepare many to succeed at life and work in a global economy. We have very caring and dedicated teachers and administrators who are doing all they can, but the system itself has not kept pace with the realities these young people will be challenged with in the years ahead. Rather than making continued tweaks and fixes, I hope the leaders of our region and state will work to rethink the entire model. Our goal should be to prepare young people to be confident, resilient, collaborative, productive members of our communities. Education should not be seen as a finite process which ends with a diploma or a degree, but a lifelong process. We are not teaching students how to be adaptive learners to succeed in this quickly changing world. Thus, more young people report being stressed, having issues coping with difficult situations and staying motivated. Sadly, in the US there continues to be a rise in youth suicide.

If we were to take bold steps to rethink what public education could be in preparing people for life and career success it would be a tremendous way to attract and retain people to our region. Families would seek this place out for its innovative approach to learning. It would differentiate us and make us a destination for those who seek something more for their children. There is no question that the strength of our public education system is key to economic development and the future.

In the same way, our organization has been advocating that our region's companies rethink their culture and how they engage with their employees and the community at large. The skills necessary to thrive in tomorrow's economy can be learned and shared. The sooner we begin this process, the quicker we will realize results. The millennial generation just recently overtook the baby boomer generation as the largest workforce group and they are looking for a different experience in the workplace.

Technology is not going to slow down in how it impacts our lives. The pace of change is only going to accelerate. If we are not equipped to co-create across old boundaries, bring new perspectives into the discussion and develop the next generation of leaders we will not succeed. But if we can create a culture that values innovation, collaboration and taking educated risks our potential is unlimited. We aren't there yet, but I'm inspired by the growing number of individuals having similar conversations about our need to adapt to this new way of acting.

So I resolve in 2016 to be open to new ideas, to listening, learning, and advocating for this region to be on the driving end of change rather than left behind.

' Mark Nolte is president of the Iowa City Area Development Group. Comments: MNolte@icadgroup.com