Hope you all had a good break and are ready to finish the term!
Your reading over the break addressed not only how learning will change through increased technology, but also how work and workplace issues are being transformed. As companies grow "meaner and leaner," telecommuting (teleworking) is growing exponentially. Many industry studies place telecommuters at about 30% of the workforce, and in some corporate fields telecommuters can be as much as 90% of the workforce.
There have always been some occupations where at home/at work has not been separated: small businesses, sales representatives, freelancers and others frequently work out of the house. But, more positions, like public relations, advertising copywriters, magazine writers and columnists, and yes, even college professors (like those at the University of Phoenix or elsewhere) are becoming teleworking positions. Many large corporations like ATT, Lockheed, and others, hire great numbers of teleworkers.
Teleworking is very much current and will most likely increase in the future. You, your friends, or perhaps present or future life partners will face these issues in the workplace. The question for this week is,
Based on what you've read about teleworking, what are the benefits and disadvantages to such a situation?
You can address whether you think teleworking is something you'd like to pursue, or whether you think teleworking adds extra burdens to the worker.
And, as someone mentioned in our last meeting, no one does any cross posting. I agree. I'd like to see folks respond to what some others say on the blog. Not just in class, but on the blog as well. Let's get a little chatter going.
See you Monday night.
