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?
Ready, Set, Future! Introduction to Futures Thinking
This course is part of Futures Thinking Specialization
Instructor: Jane McGonigal
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What you'll learn
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!
Skills you'll gain
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There are 4 modules in this course
The adventure begins! This week, you'll meet some professional futurists and learn: What is futures thinking? What are the benefits of futures thinking? Who hires futurists, and where can you put your new skills to use? By the end of this week, you'll be ready to choose your own future topics to explore throughout the rest of this course.
What's included
9 videos7 readings3 assignments1 peer review2 discussion prompts
This week, you'll learn how to collect and work with signals of change. Signals are the most important "raw material" of futures thinking. First, we'll show you some of our favorite signals and how we found them. Then, it's your turn: Collect and analyze signals related to your own future topic.
What's included
7 videos2 readings2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt
It's time to strengthen your futures thinking skills by thinking about the past. It sounds strange, but to be a good futurist, you have to be a good historian as well! This week, you'll learn how to use our most powerful tool for "looking back to look forward."
What's included
3 videos4 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt
This week, you'll learn: What are the four different types of futures thinking, and when should you use each type? You'll also try out a fun futures thinking tool: the "Future Four-Square" game. This tool will help you dig deeper on your own future topic.... whatever you're interested in exploring the future of! Finally, get ready to help a friend or colleague think about the future. After all, the best way to learn something new is to teach someone else!
What's included
7 videos4 readings2 assignments1 peer review2 discussion prompts
Instructor
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Recommended if you're interested in Business Essentials
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Tecnológico de Monterrey
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Maryland, College Park
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Reviewed on Feb 20, 2021
Thinking systematically about the future it's a skill that is really required in the time being. The curriculum of this course applies to every discipline. I highly recommend this course.
Reviewed on Dec 9, 2019
Completely worth the time and content. It helps you to explore future possibilities with a better framework and science coming directly from practitioners in the field.
Reviewed on Jul 20, 2020
This is a good course!! It helped me to learn the new method of thinking and also help me create a great imagination which I don't use this imagination part as much as I should use recently.
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