Dear Parents, Students and Teachers,
In my monthly, five-minute STEM Skill Step Up Letter, I give hints like the following on improving critical cognitive and technical skills for young adults. I will also respond to questions that you submit. To do so, subscribe to the newsletter by emailing me. I will respond to questions on the Play-Ed Corporation Facebook page when appropriate.
Careers
in STEM Disciplines
Over
thirty years ago, when I was a high school student, I took my first computer
programming course. The school used neither Macs nor Windows, both of which had
just been invented, and computers were not user friendly. We learned the
relatively easy Basic language. I enjoyed the course primarily because I like
mathematics, but I was frustrated by all the errors I made inputting the code
for my programs. I also wondered whether I would ever use my programming skills
because I was not seriously considering an engineering degree.
As I often remark to family now, who would have thought how critical programming skills would become. More importantly, who would have ever thought that using computers would be rendered so much fun that youngsters seem to regard them more as toys than as tools for serious work? Even coding is much more enjoyable thanks to the ever-increasing supply of user friendly programs, not to mention the virtually universal connectivity to the internet, where needed assistance is only a few clicks away.
Without question, the internet in specific and digital technologies more generally have transformed our lives in many ways. One profound change relates to careers. Digital technologies have spawned a variety of cross-disciplinary fields blending traditional physics, math, chemistry, and biology. In the process, digital technology has also created jobs that would have been difficult to envision even ten years ago, virtually eliminating others.
This newsletter introduces some of these fields. To help children prepare for the future, I recommend that parents discuss the options, encouraging children to explore further through internet searches. Based on the interests their children express, parents can help the former select courses in school and explore extracurricular exploration options.
Careers
Data Workers
The connectivity of many technologies to the internet referred to as the internet of things has generated an inordinate amount of data that businesses, governments, and researchers would like to use to make better- informed decisions. This desire portends continued increasing demand for what I term data workers. Included in this group are data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers. Whereas data analysts primarily manipulate and use data, data scientists analyze it and conduct studies using it. Data engineers basically acquire the data, cleaning it and organizing it for use by data scientists and analysts. Data workers require varying computer science and statistical skills depending on their specific job roles.
Application Developers
With the proliferation of Android, Apple and other mobile devices, the need for developers has predictably skyrocketted. Though application programming is intimately related to pc programming, they are not the same. Furthermore, as mobile technologies continue to evolve, the languages and tools available continue to increase. Anyone aspiring to a career as a developer should not only invest considerable time in learning several languages but also be an avid and able learner. Application developers are constantly exposed to new tools and languages.
Web Programmers
As the internet continues to develop and evolve, demand for programmers continues to surge. Those specializing in front-end technology basically design and code the interfaces for users. Front-end web developers typically use HTML/CSS and various versions of Java Script. Back-end developers write the code used to communicate with servers the world over that deliver the web pages you view in your browser. Back-end developers typically code in Ruby, Python, and Java.
Social Media Marketers
As social media like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter command larger and larger audiences, companies and governments have recognized the value of connecting more directly with their customers and constituents. Social media marketers specialize in developing and managing these connections. They are often involved in content generation and collection and analysis of data on user responses to websites. Not surprisingly, social media marketers should master traditional marketing theory and practice, hone writing skills, and develop some coding skills. Students interested in this career might also consider studying online marketing analytics, which involves collecting and analyzing data from the web. Google Analytics Academy, linked below, offers excellent free training. Students can also earn the Google Analytics IQ (Individual Qualification) free of charge.
As I often remark to family now, who would have thought how critical programming skills would become. More importantly, who would have ever thought that using computers would be rendered so much fun that youngsters seem to regard them more as toys than as tools for serious work? Even coding is much more enjoyable thanks to the ever-increasing supply of user friendly programs, not to mention the virtually universal connectivity to the internet, where needed assistance is only a few clicks away.
Without question, the internet in specific and digital technologies more generally have transformed our lives in many ways. One profound change relates to careers. Digital technologies have spawned a variety of cross-disciplinary fields blending traditional physics, math, chemistry, and biology. In the process, digital technology has also created jobs that would have been difficult to envision even ten years ago, virtually eliminating others.
This newsletter introduces some of these fields. To help children prepare for the future, I recommend that parents discuss the options, encouraging children to explore further through internet searches. Based on the interests their children express, parents can help the former select courses in school and explore extracurricular exploration options.
Careers
Data Workers
The connectivity of many technologies to the internet referred to as the internet of things has generated an inordinate amount of data that businesses, governments, and researchers would like to use to make better- informed decisions. This desire portends continued increasing demand for what I term data workers. Included in this group are data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers. Whereas data analysts primarily manipulate and use data, data scientists analyze it and conduct studies using it. Data engineers basically acquire the data, cleaning it and organizing it for use by data scientists and analysts. Data workers require varying computer science and statistical skills depending on their specific job roles.
Application Developers
With the proliferation of Android, Apple and other mobile devices, the need for developers has predictably skyrocketted. Though application programming is intimately related to pc programming, they are not the same. Furthermore, as mobile technologies continue to evolve, the languages and tools available continue to increase. Anyone aspiring to a career as a developer should not only invest considerable time in learning several languages but also be an avid and able learner. Application developers are constantly exposed to new tools and languages.
Web Programmers
As the internet continues to develop and evolve, demand for programmers continues to surge. Those specializing in front-end technology basically design and code the interfaces for users. Front-end web developers typically use HTML/CSS and various versions of Java Script. Back-end developers write the code used to communicate with servers the world over that deliver the web pages you view in your browser. Back-end developers typically code in Ruby, Python, and Java.
Social Media Marketers
As social media like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter command larger and larger audiences, companies and governments have recognized the value of connecting more directly with their customers and constituents. Social media marketers specialize in developing and managing these connections. They are often involved in content generation and collection and analysis of data on user responses to websites. Not surprisingly, social media marketers should master traditional marketing theory and practice, hone writing skills, and develop some coding skills. Students interested in this career might also consider studying online marketing analytics, which involves collecting and analyzing data from the web. Google Analytics Academy, linked below, offers excellent free training. Students can also earn the Google Analytics IQ (Individual Qualification) free of charge.
Disciplines
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
I think of AI as teaching machines to think, learn or behave. While the concept of AI itself is not new, recent advances in psychology and technology have caused the field to proliferate into a number of subspecialties including Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Robotics. Machine learning involves developing algorithms allowing computers to teach themselves from data sets. Natural processing aims to teach computers to understand and read human languages, and robotics strives to teach machines human behavior. AI integrates knowledge from computer science, statistics, psychology, and linguistics, to mention but a few fields.
Synthetic Biology
This field essentially exploits genetic engineering technologies that have been used for decades to grow pest-resistant crops and produce insulin and other medical products using microorganisms by standardizing and mechanizing the process. Synthetic biological techniques are already being used or are likely to be used in medicine, oil exploration, materials development, and agriculture.
Environmental Science
For well over twenty years, scientists and governments have become increasingly concerned about man’s impact on the environment. Recent issues range from depletion of the ozone, to global warming, global pollution, depletion of fossil fuels and super-resistant viruses. Responding to this concern, many universities now offer majors in environmental science and engineering. Research in environmental science integrates knowledge from ecology, physics, chemistry, geology, oceanography and limnology (the study of fresh- water bodies).
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
I think of AI as teaching machines to think, learn or behave. While the concept of AI itself is not new, recent advances in psychology and technology have caused the field to proliferate into a number of subspecialties including Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Robotics. Machine learning involves developing algorithms allowing computers to teach themselves from data sets. Natural processing aims to teach computers to understand and read human languages, and robotics strives to teach machines human behavior. AI integrates knowledge from computer science, statistics, psychology, and linguistics, to mention but a few fields.
Synthetic Biology
This field essentially exploits genetic engineering technologies that have been used for decades to grow pest-resistant crops and produce insulin and other medical products using microorganisms by standardizing and mechanizing the process. Synthetic biological techniques are already being used or are likely to be used in medicine, oil exploration, materials development, and agriculture.
Environmental Science
For well over twenty years, scientists and governments have become increasingly concerned about man’s impact on the environment. Recent issues range from depletion of the ozone, to global warming, global pollution, depletion of fossil fuels and super-resistant viruses. Responding to this concern, many universities now offer majors in environmental science and engineering. Research in environmental science integrates knowledge from ecology, physics, chemistry, geology, oceanography and limnology (the study of fresh- water bodies).
Joseph Gabriella, Ph.D., MBA
Founder and CEO, Play-Ed Corporation
Author Profile
Dr. Gabriella is an accomplished scholar and businessman. Ivy-league educated, he has served as a lecturer or professor at universities in the U.S., Japan, and China. Currently, he resides in Japan, where he is a senior manager and active consultant. A former high-school math teacher, Joseph is passionate about teaching critical STEM skills to future generations through his company, Play-Ed Corporation.
Dr. Gabriella is an accomplished scholar and businessman. Ivy-league educated, he has served as a lecturer or professor at universities in the U.S., Japan, and China. Currently, he resides in Japan, where he is a senior manager and active consultant. A former high-school math teacher, Joseph is passionate about teaching critical STEM skills to future generations through his company, Play-Ed Corporation.
STEM Lessons
Each week, I will provide one STEM challenge problem for students to solve. Then, through a virtual lesson, I will review key concepts from the problem, respond to questions, and teach students various learning strategies, problem-solving methods, and types of thinking. I will also furnish opportunities for participants to learn from one another. Finally, I will collect feedback from students for use in improving the lessons, making them more fun and didactic.The purpose of this extra-curricular training is to guide students in the application of STEM subjects to real-world problem, thereby preparing them for future careers.
Uncle Joe's Tutoring
For a nominal fee, I will set up four, 30-minute online sessions with students to tutor middle-school and high-school math, science and English each month. Students will participate in sessions with up to four others depending on scheduling. While I plan to tutor as frequently as possible, I also use tutors I have trained, usually career teachers or university instructors. Students will have access to discussion forums where they can pose questions to other students and to me. To maximize learning, I strongly encourage students in the same class to register together.Contact Dr. Joseph Gabriella at jgabriella.played@gmail.com to register.
© 2017 Joseph Gabriella, Ph.D., MBA. All rights reserved.
