The Skills Gap

The Skills Gap

After watching the 60 Minutes report, discuss the following:

Despite the fact that the U.S. has a very high unemployment rate, there are some career areas where there are thousands of jobs available that can't be filled.  Why is this?

What can be done - who, according to the video, should have a greater role in this?

60 Minutes: "The Skills Gap"

March Of The Machines

March of the Machines

Technology is making our lives simpler, and helping industry to be more efficient, but is it at the cost of our jobs?

Everyone thinks about "what they want to be when they grow up". Do you have to take another look at what you've planned, or start thinking of a new career, because of advances in technology? If you think about it, it's a good thing that we've rolled out the ACP program, because it's important to be aware of what your talents, skill and abilities are, and how they align with what's waiting out there in the world.

What is the job market going to look like when you look for that first job?

Discuss this idea. I've just given you a couple of questions to get the thought process going.

60 Minutes: "March of the Machines"

The Making Of A Vine Celebrity

The Making of a Vine Celebrity

There has NEVER been a time in the history of the planet when people had the ability to become instant "celebrities" as you can today. Think about it: Philip DeFranco, Rhett and Link, Justin Bieber - a person can be "discovered" instantly, just by posting a video - even a SIX SECOND video.

Read this article about a current Vine "celebrity", named Jerome Jarre. Take a look at the videos that are linked in the article also:

"Jerome Jarre: The Making of a Vine Celebrity"

Not only has this guy become famous in an instant, it looks like he's not just a "flash in the pan" because is seems as though he understands how to use social media apps to promote himself and other things around him. [Update: He and everyone else IS a "flash in the pan" as far as Vine is concerned - since they're pulling the plug on Vine!]

Had you heard of Jerome before reading the article? What do you think of what he's done on Vine?  What do you think about this kind of opportunity with mobile apps, such as Snapchat? Can anybody do it? Will such fame last, and is it something that can be made into a legitimate business?


HERE is his YouTube channel.

The Data Brokers

The Data Brokers

After watching these 60 minutes videos, discuss how you feel about the business of selling private information:

1. Should it be legal? People willingly put there information into questionnaires and online surveys, so marketers or "data brokers" are just using information that people have put out on the internet.

2. What, if anything, should be done about the practice? 

3. If you've filled out a survey or shared personal information with a company, did you have any idea that they'd be able to sell your information?

4. From the second video, what do you think about the steps the woman takes to protect her privacy?

Link: "The Data Brokers"


Link: "How To Defend Your Privacy Online"