There ought to be jobs, send in the jobs

Internet Strategies for Education Markets: The Heller Report, Nov, 2002

The NCLB emphasis on quality teaching and professional development, student assessment, and data management, and Reading First's literacy mandates will also offer opportunities for growth and employment. Positions will range from specialized researchers such as 'psychometricians' who can help with scientifically-based research to the project managers who help develop and implement Learning Management Systems for school districts, to reading specialists who can help guide curriculum development. In general, those with technical skills such as back office technology, engineering and programming, will still find there's work to be done. But they'll probably see more companies trying to outsource technology development rather than hiring people full time, according to Protsik. Of course, this offers more opportunities for those who are willing to sign on for high-end contract work on short-term projects.

We Have Seen the Future -- and it is Us

As far as the companies who come out winners, it depends on the sector. Weiss continues to believe print publishers such as textbook companies will "walk away with the entire bundle", including instructional materials delivered to students by CD-ROM, DVD, the Internet and, of course, books. He says book publishers, both basal and supplementary, make lots of money because print remains the country's primary medium of instruction. Still, he predicts a coming together of print and technology, with some companies currently thought of as 'straight tech' companies including print items along with their CDs, and publishers who have delivered their products solely in print now making textbook content available on interactive CD and over the Internet.

Protsik believes that e-learning companies specializing in high stakes testing, curricular alignment, and management solutions will have a leg up in the market. "Companies who find the pain and help schools deal with it will always succeed," Protsik guarantees. He sees a growing interest in wireless solutions -- with the proviso that the products solve a real problem in the classroom. For instance, Protsik points to Wireless Generation, makers of an early reading assessment tool, as a product that has lots of potential (Wireless Generation is the winner of this year's prestigious EdNET 2002 Rookie of the Year Award; see ISEM, October 2002.)

Weiss says he's been conducting searches for companies producing testing and assessment materials, and he predicts a rapid acceleration of these companies, accompanied by a plethora of instructional materials for that market. He's less sure about distance learning, and suspects that despite the hype, this one will be very slow to market in K-12.

Location, Location

Weiss explains that he's done recent job searches all over the country, which means no one geographical location is out of play -- still, a willingness to move is extremely important in this economy. Life's all about trade-offs, Protsik argues, saying that many candidates still come in with unrealistic expectations about matching old salaries, perqs and so forth, at a time when the market is flooded with talented people looking for work.