The 60-Year Curriculum: New Models for Lifelong Learning in the Digital Economy

by Chris Dede (Editor), John Richards (Editor)

The 60-Year Curriculum explores models and strategies for lifelong learning in an era of profound economic disruption and reinvention. Over the next half-century, globalization, regional threats to sustainability, climate change, and technologies such as artificial intelligence and data mining will transform our education and workforce sectors. In turn, higher education must shift to offer every student life-wide opportunities for the continuous upskilling they will need to achieve decades of worthwhile employability. This cutting-edge book describes the evolution of new models—covering computer science, inclusive design, critical thinking, civics, and more—by which universities can increase learners’ trajectories across multiple careers from mid-adolescence to retirement. Stakeholders in workforce development, curriculum and instructional design, lifelong learning, and higher and continuing education will find a unique synthesis offering valuable insights and actionable next steps.

168 pages, ebook

Published March 31, 2020

Reviews

[Jennifer DeJonghe · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the book 100 Year Life, I was intrigued by this book that seemed to be an investigation of the educational needs of a generation expected to live 100 years. In 100 Year Life, Scott and Gratton discuss lifelong education and the idea of a "multi-stage life" where we continually reinvent ourselves and our careers over time. So I thought this would be a great follow-up.

However, the 60-Year Curriculum is frustrating to read. Each chapter is by a different author(s) and the quality is uneven. Most chapters are written in dense, dry, nearly unreadable academic prose. Few practical solutions are shared and those aren't well fleshed out here, (credentialing, targeting adult learners, "design thinking" for curriculum design, etc). The book does raise good questions about unknowns (generative AI) and frustrations (higher ed is notoriously inflexible), but I was hoping for more possible solutions/ concrete ideas.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uneven quality in chapters, but the strong ones make it a worthwhile read.