What Knowledge is of the Most Worth?,Yong Zhao, Ph. D University Distinguished Professor Director, US-China Center for Research on Educational Excellence College of Education Executive Director, Confucius Institute Michigan State University zhaoyomsu.edu,What knowledge is of most worth? -Herbert Spencer, 1859 http:/www.gutenberg.org/files/16510/16510-h/16510-h.htm,It must not suffice simply to think that such or such information will be useful in after life, or that this kind of knowledge is of more practical value than that; but we must seek out some process of estimating their respective values, so that as far as possible we may positively know which are most deserving of attention.,Our first step must obviously be to classify, in the order of their importance, the leading kinds of activity which constitute human life. They may be naturally arranged into: those activities which directly minister to self-preservation; those activities which, by securing the necessaries of life, indirectly minister to self-preservation; those activities which have for their end the rearing and discipline of offspring; those activities which are involved in the maintenance of proper social and political relations; those miscellaneous activities which fill up the leisure part of life, devoted to the gratification of the tastes and feelings.,The global: Globalization,As electrically contracted, the globe is no more than a village. Marshall McLuhan, 1964,“Honey,” I confided, “I think the world is flat.” Thomas Friedman, 2005,1492: about 3 months,2009: about 13 hours,1858: 17 hours,Glory to God in the highest; on earth, peace and good will toward men.,2009: less than 1 minute,1927: $65 (about $1,000),2009: about $0.02,3 minute phone call,By almost any economically relevant metric, distances have shrunk considerably in recent decades. The shrinking globe has been a major source of the powerful wave of worldwide economic integration and increased economic interdependence that we are currently experiencing. But the full implications of these developments for all aspects of our lives will not be known for many years. -Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the U. S. Federal Reserve 2006,World Population Distribution,World Wealth Distribution,World Tertiary Education Enrollment,Royalties and License Fees Exports,Toy Exports,Diversity,多元,http:/www.worldmapper.org/,Its a Big Job to Make the Mini: Global Supply Chain,Yao Ming and Herbert Hoover: Global Trade of Talents,Today, Indian engineers make $7,500 a year against $45,000 for an American engineer with the same qualifications. If we succeed in matching the very high levels of mastery of mathematics and science of these Indian engineers an enormous challenge for this country why would the worlds employers pay us more than they have to pay the Indians to do their work? They would be willing to do that only if we could offer something that the Chinese and Indians, and others, cannot. -New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce (2007). Tough Choices or Tougher Times,When I was growing up, my parents told me, “Finish your dinner. People in China and India are starving.” I tell my daughters, “Finish your homework. People in India and China are starving for your job.” -Thomas Friedman, 2005,Over 10 million jobs lost due to automation in last 10 years,Outsourcing Automation,A New Hope,The eBay Phenomenon: Expanded Market,Virtual marriage & 2nd Life: Socializing virtually,Anshe Chung has become the first online personality to achieve a net worth exceeding one million US dollars from profits entirely earned inside a virtual world. -Business Week, May, 2006,Gold-farming and digital produce: Digital farmers market,Real-money trade of virtual items (RMT) “I estimate the total worldwide RMT volume to reach 2,090M” Virtual Economy Research Network: http:/virtual-economy.org/blog/how_big_is_the_rmt_market_anyw,YouTube and podcasting: Everybody a Broadcaster,Framework for 21st Century Learning (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2007),Core Subjects (English, reading or language arts, World languages, Arts, Mathematics, Economics, Science, Geography, History, Government and Civics) and 21st Century Themes (Global awareness, Financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy, Civic literacy, Health literacy) Learning and Innovation Skills (Creativity and Innovation Skills, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills, Communication and Collaboration Skills) Information, Media and Technology Skills (Information Literacy, Media Literacy, ICT Literacy) Life and Career Skills (Flexibility & Adaptability, Initiative & Self-Direction, Social & Cross-Cultural Skills, Productivity & Accountability, Leadership & Responsibility),The European Parliament and the Council of European Union (2006) key competences necessary for personal fulfillment, active citizenship, social cohesion and employability in a knowledge society,1) Communication in the mother tongue; 2) Communication in fore