"Many neuroscientific and psychological studies confirm that the brain’s ‘automatic pilot’ is usually in the driving seat, with little or no need for ‘us’ to be aware of what’s going on. Strangely, though, in these situations, we retain an intense feeling that we’re in control of what we’re doing, what can be called a sense of agency. So where does this feeling come from?"

This fascinating piece brings into question our own conscious "free will." Read this piece and view the video linked within to learn how some of our actions begin before we are consciously choosing to act them out.

"[R]esearch discovered how critical it is for teams and individuals working on complex problems to achieve small wins regularly. Because setbacks are so common in truly important problems, people become disheartened unless they can point to some meaningful advance most days, even if that advance is seemingly minor, and even if it involves nothing more than extracting insights from the day’s failures. This strategy propels long-term goal achievement."

In this in-depth piece from the Economist in January 2017, we see a complex future for workforce development, self-employed workforces, and the need for retooling our workers to adapt to technological changes in the near future.

While presenting the issues the global population will face, the piece illustrates high-level points to ponder as we attempt to empower workers throughout the world. How are continuous education initiatives able to benefit all, and how can we incorporate more effective learning programs throughout our societies?

After traveling to all 50 states over the course of one school year, Ted Dintersmith wrote What School Could Be. The book "offers an inspiring vision of what our teachers and students can accomplish if trusted with the challenge of developing the skills and ways of thinking needed to thrive in a world of dizzying technological change." 

See what teachers across America are doing to inspire and engage their students, in spite of the ever increasing odds.