The Triple Convergence

As, Friedman says, we are in an “era in which technology will literally transform every aspect of business, every aspect of life and every aspect of society” (233). Even though technology has greatly changed our lives, the shift from a 2.0 to a 3.0 flat world will affect society as a whole. Entering globalization 3.0 has made people their own “agents” (202). As a pre service teacher, we must take heed to this 3.0 flat world and prepare our students to function in it. Friedman attributes the 3.0 flat world to something he calls the triple convergence. He defines the triple convergence as “all ten flatteners […] started to converge and work together in ways that created a new, flatter, global playing field”(203). Due to this triple convergence, are students will not only have to compete with members of American society, but people from all over the world. By moving from a vertical to a horizontal “means of creating values,” the playing field flattened out and allowed more competition and collaboration (214).

As teachers, we must prepare students to work and function in this world. Now when students compete for jobs, employers “could look at all its employees […] as a vast pool of individual specialists”(210). The most significant aspect of the 3.0 flat world is that students in America may not be leaders of technology. Students must learn to combine and collaborate with technology to survive the triple convergence.