Ongoing concerns for all industries and the professions they support are skills replenishment and the retention of institutional knowledge. Golf is no exception.
As children, we’re frequently asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But how will kids looking to develop skills in an age of AI answer this question? Not everyone has the brains or innate talent to excel in every field, so why consider investing resources to become a computer programmer, a marketing expert, an author or writer, a legal assistant, a teacher, a financial advisor, a graphic designer, a musician, an accountant, a translator, a pilot, a secretary, a radiologist, a nurse or doctor, or a PGA professional (Lessons for the Jetson’s), and so on, when AI is set to bring extraordinary abilities to all these professions and more?
Consider for a moment how AI has been performing exceptionally well in a range of fields and the rate at which it’s becoming smarter (AI Passes Tests)! This has introduced a degree of uncertainty about what the future holds, making some higher education choices seem risky. Compounding the issue is that when students seek advice, they often find their parents or counselors ill-prepared to guide them, mostly because they have no experience with the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
So, let’s look at our industry. Like most sectors, golf has educational programs aimed at developing the professionals of the future. A large number of golf pros are graduates of Professional Golf Management (PGM) programs, offered at universities throughout the country, like the one at Ferris State University (link).
Though I didn’t graduate from this program, I’ve had considerable interaction with it. My company has hired its graduates, we’ve occasionally sponsored events, and I’ve even given guest lectures to classes within the program, mainly on the topic of technology. In my view, the technology curriculum seems somewhat outdated, and I’m not aware of any mention of AI. I strongly feel this issue needs to be addressed, not only within PGM programs, but throughout higher education everywhere.
Let’s delve into the larger question of college education.
S: How is AI changing the thinking of high schoolers as they explore college education and the value of certain degrees?
ChatGPT: AI is significantly influencing high school students as they consider their options for college education and the potential worth of various degrees. Here are some ways AI is shifting the mindset of these students:
- Increased interest in tech-related fields: As AI and related technologies continue to develop and transform various industries, there is an increasing interest in tech-related degrees. Many students see the rapid progress in AI and want to be part of this exciting field, leading to an increasing demand for degrees in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
- Understanding of job market volatility: AI is also changing certain job markets, making some roles less secure while creating new ones. High schoolers are aware of this trend and might be more cautious about pursuing degrees linked to jobs that could be automated in the future.
- Emphasis on soft skills: With the rise of AI, there is a growing understanding that uniquely human skills – such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and emotional intelligence – are increasingly valuable. These ‘soft skills’ are harder to automate, leading some students to consider degrees in liberal arts and social sciences, which are known for fostering these abilities.
- Interdisciplinary approach: AI is interdisciplinary in nature, combining elements of computer science, mathematics, linguistics, psychology, and more. As a result, students might be more inclined to pursue interdisciplinary degrees or to combine majors and minors in different fields to better prepare for the future.
- Continuous learning mindset: AI’s rapid development means that what’s cutting-edge today may be outdated tomorrow. This understanding is encouraging students to develop a mindset of lifelong learning, realizing that a single degree may not be enough for a lifetime career.
- Increased need for ethical considerations: As AI’s impact on society becomes more significant, there’s a growing need for professionals who can navigate ethical and societal implications of technology. This might encourage students to combine technical education with fields like philosophy, law, or sociology.
However, it’s also worth noting that these considerations may not be universally understood or appreciated by all high school students. The level of understanding about AI and its implications can greatly vary, and often depends on the quality of career guidance provided at schools or at home.
S: Parents and Advisors lack experience in AI. How is this impacting high school students as they explore higher education?
ChatGPT: The lack of AI experience among parents and advisors can significantly impact high school students as they navigate their higher education options in several ways:
- Career Guidance: With rapid technological advancements, especially in AI, new career paths are emerging that didn’t exist a few years ago. Parents and advisors without a solid understanding of AI may struggle to guide students towards these opportunities, potentially limiting the student’s career prospects.
- Perception of Job Security: Advisors and parents may underestimate the impact of AI on traditional professions. Their advice might lean towards professions that are at risk of automation, which could lead to future job insecurity for students.
- Misunderstanding of AI’s Reach: AI isn’t just about coding and technology. It’s having profound effects across various sectors, from healthcare to finance to creative arts. Parents and advisors unfamiliar with AI might not fully appreciate its interdisciplinary nature and fail to encourage students to integrate AI knowledge with other areas of study.
- Preparation for a Changing World: Advisors and parents play a critical role in preparing students for the future. A lack of understanding about AI means they might not emphasize the importance of skills that will be valuable in an AI-driven world, such as critical thinking, creativity, complex problem-solving, and emotional intelligence.
- Assessing Educational Programs: As AI becomes more important, so does the need for it to be included in educational programs. Parents and advisors with limited AI knowledge may not adequately assess whether a particular course or degree program will equip students with necessary AI skills and knowledge.
- Fear and Uncertainty: Finally, a lack of understanding about AI could lead to unnecessary fear and uncertainty. Parents and advisors might overemphasize the risks and downsides of AI, which could discourage students from pursuing fields associated with AI, despite the immense opportunities.
As a solution, educational institutions could provide training for parents and advisors on AI and its impact on the future job market. This would allow them to better guide students in making informed decisions about their higher education and career paths.
S: Could AI guide high schoolers in their higher education choices and what might be some examples of how this could occur?
ChatGPT: Yes, AI can indeed play a significant role in guiding high school students in making higher education choices. Here are some ways in which this could happen:
- AI Chatbots and Virtual Advisors: AI can be used to create intelligent chatbots and virtual advisors that help students explore different fields of study, analyze their interests and skills, and suggest suitable higher education programs. These chatbots could provide personalized guidance 24/7 and offer resources for further exploration.
- AI-powered Career Predictive Analytics: AI can analyze a large amount of data to predict future career trends. It can take into account a student’s interests, skills, and personality, and compare them with future job market trends to suggest the most suitable career paths and the educational programs that would prepare the student for those paths.
- AI in College Admissions: AI tools can help students identify which colleges and universities they are likely to be admitted to based on their academic and extracurricular profiles. This information can be beneficial in helping students set realistic expectations and optimize their college application strategy.
- AI Tutoring Systems: AI can also help students improve their academic performance. Intelligent tutoring systems can provide personalized learning experiences, identifying areas where a student is struggling and offering targeted instruction and practice. This can help students meet the prerequisites for their desired higher education programs.
- AI Scholarship Finder: AI can help students find scholarships that they have the highest likelihood of receiving. It can analyze the requirements of thousands of scholarships and match them with a student’s profile to suggest the most suitable opportunities.
- AI-enabled Social and Emotional Learning: AI can help students develop social and emotional skills that are crucial for success in higher education, such as resilience, time management, and self-motivation. These tools can provide personalized activities and resources to help students develop these skills.
S: What happens when people abandon a profession and institutional knowledge is lost, and please provide a recent example?
ChatGPT: When people abandon a profession and institutional knowledge is lost, it can have several adverse effects. These might include:
- Decrease in Quality and Efficiency: Institutional knowledge is the cumulative understanding gained from years of experience in a profession. When this is lost, it can lead to lower productivity and efficiency, as well as a decrease in the quality of work and services provided.
- Loss of Expertise and Skills: The accumulated skills and expertise that experienced professionals hold are not easily replaceable. This could lead to a significant skill gap in the profession.
- Knowledge Gaps: The loss of experienced professionals might leave gaps in critical knowledge and understanding. This could hamper problem-solving and decision-making processes.
- Impact on Culture: Institutional knowledge often embodies the culture and values of a profession. Its loss can disrupt the continuity of these cultural norms and practices.
A recent example of this can be seen in the pandemic-induced exodus of teachers in many parts of the world. Many experienced educators have retired or left the profession due to the stress and challenges of remote teaching, health concerns, or other pandemic-related issues. The result has been a loss of decades of accumulated teaching experience and understanding of educational practices. This not only affects the quality of education but also puts additional stress on remaining teachers, who must take on larger class sizes or additional responsibilities. New teachers, without the benefit of experienced colleagues to mentor them, may also struggle to adapt to the demands of the profession. This widespread departure of teachers can impact the overall quality of education and students’ learning outcomes in the long term.
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S: AI as an advisor on the subject of AI! Should I add counselors to the list of professions to be affected by AI? Seems so!
S: I can see how AI can greatly assist with learning. However, I believe there is going to be a large divide between those motivated to learn using AI who then put that learning to use, and those less motivated to learn who then rely on AI to do their work for them.
S: I think the PGA should have ChatGPT take the PGM Level test(s) and publish the results.
S: Want to be a writer? Consider the following – https://dnyuz.com/2023/07/19/google-tests-a-i-tool-that-is-able-to-write-news-articles/
S: Many of us may not be smarter than a 5th grader, but AI is!
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AI Humor (you can ask a chatbot to tell you a joke and it will) –
S: Give me a golf riddle?
ChatGPT: “I can be driven, but have no wheels. I can be sliced, but remain whole. What am I?”
Answer: A golf ball.
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S: Prior to the turn of the century most PGA Professionals owned their own shops (they were small business owners) and they had a piece of the concessions, often including the range, carts, bag storage, handicaps and more. This has changed dramatically, resulting in a decrease of institutional knowledge.
There is a reason for this and I’ll expand my thoughts on the subject further down the line!
