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Ready, Set, Future! Introduction to Futures Thinking

Approx. 11 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course offers an introduction to futures thinking, a powerful approach to problem-solving that is focused on anticipating and planning for the future. You will learn how to use tools and frameworks to explore different possible futures and develop strategies for creating the future you want.

Key Learning Points

Learn how to use futures thinking to anticipate and plan for the future
Explore different possible futures using tools and frameworks
Develop strategies for creating the future you want

Learning Outcomes

Understand the basics of futures thinking and how it can be applied to problem-solving
Use tools and frameworks to explore different possible futures
Develop strategies for creating the future you want

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

No prior knowledge of futures thinking required
Access to a computer and internet connection

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online
Self-paced
Video Lectures
Assignments
Quizzes

Similar Courses

Designing the Future
Futures Thinking
Strategic Planning and Execution

Notable People in This Field

Peter Schwartz
Stuart Candy

Related Books

Description

Do you want to think about the future with more creativity and optimism? Do you want to see what’s coming faster, so you can be better prepared for disruptions and more in control of your future? Do you want to get better at changing what’s possible today – in your company, your industry, your community, and in your own life?

This course will introduce you to the practice of futures thinking, as developed and applied for the past 50 years by the Institute for the Future, a Silicon-Valley-based research and learning group founded in 1968. In this course, you’ll build your understanding of what futures thinking is and what you can do with it. You’ll master essential foresight techniques. You’ll meet some professional futurists. And you’ll choose one or more future topics you want to investigate with your new foresight skills. This course is for anyone who wants to spot opportunities for innovation and invention faster. You can gain the skills and confidence to help YOU become someone who makes the future, instead of letting the future happen to you. Many thanks to the Enlight Foundation and the Enlight Collaborative, which provided a grant to support the creation of this course.

Knowledge

Define futures thinking and give examples of futures projects
Collect and analyze signals of change
Identify historical change in the past to predict new changes in the future
Learn how to avoid future shock - and help others avoid it, too!

Outline

Welcome to the Future
Are you ready to learn how to think like a futurist?
Welcome to the course! Meet your professor Jane McGonigal
Give me some examples of futures thinking!
Meet some professional futurists
What is futures thinking?
Mini-Masterclass: The Future Belongs to Everyone
When does the future start?
What are the benefits of futures thinking?
Choose your own future!
Take our 2-minute survey about the future
What is Futures Thinking?
Who Hires Futurists?
How to think like a futurist: The 5 key principles
Why Companies Work With Futurists
Who Owns Your Future?
Six Possible Futures of Food
What is futures thinking?
When does the future start?
What are the seven benefits of futures thinking?

Signals of Change
Introduction to Signals
Examples of Signals
Five Minutes in the Future of Food
Five Minutes in the Future of Economic Justice
How to Interpret Signals
Your Turn! Analyze a Signal
Where do you look for signals? And other FAQ
Future of Work in 2030 - Signals Report
More Examples of Signals of Change
What's a signal of change?
Future of Work - Signals of Change

Look Back to Look Forward
Get Better at Noticing Change
How to Look Back to Look Forward (Part I)
How to Look Back to Look Forward (Part II)
Excerpt: Hope in the Dark
TOOL: Look Back to Look Forward
The Future of Work is Task-Based, not Time-Based
Who Invented Futures Thinking and Why?
Who invented futures thinking, and why?

Four Types of Futures Thinking
What's Your Future State of Mind?
The Four Types of Futures Thinking
Why I Future with Youth
Why I Future with Musicians
Why I Future with Incarcerated People
Why I Future with My City
Congratulations! You've finished this course
The Future as a Way of Life
A Guide to The Four Types of Futures Thinking
How Professional Futurists Imagine the Future
An invitation to join our free Alumni Network
Can you identify the four types of futures thinking?
Why do people use futures thinking in their work?

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the power of futures thinking with the Introduction to Futures Thinking course on Coursera. Users have rated this course highly, praising its engaging content and practical applications. Many have found the course to be an eye-opening experience, providing them with new perspectives and tools to approach the future with confidence.

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging and informative content that is easy to understand
Real-world examples and practical applications that help users to apply the concepts
Interactive quizzes and exercises that reinforce learning
Expert instructors who provide valuable insights and guidance

Cons from User Reviews

Some users have found the course to be too basic, particularly if they already have some knowledge of futures thinking
A few users have mentioned technical issues with the platform, such as slow loading times or difficulty accessing course materials
Some users have suggested that the course could benefit from more in-depth case studies or examples to illustrate the concepts
A handful of users have commented that the course could be more interactive or collaborative, with more opportunities for discussion or group work

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