This course is part of the Futures Thinking Specialization

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Jane McGonigal

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Futures Thinking SpecializationInstitute for the Future

About this Course

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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.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 1 of 5 in the

Futures Thinking Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is for everyone! No previous experience required.

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish

What you will 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 will gain

ForesightCreativityStrategic ThinkingInnovationLeadership

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 1 of 5 in the

Futures Thinking Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is for everyone! No previous experience required.

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.86/5 (304 Ratings)

Jane McGonigal

Research Director

40,042 Learners

6 Courses

Offered by

Institute for the Future

The Institute for the Future is the world's leading futures thinking organization. For over 50 years, businesses, governments and social impact organizations have depended upon IFTF global forecasts, custom research, and foresight training to navigate complex change and develop world-ready strategies for the future.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating96%(5,003 ratings)

Week

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Welcome to the Future

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.

3 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 42 min), 7 readings, 4 quizzes

9 videos

Are you ready to learn how to think like a futurist?4m

Welcome to the course! Meet your professor Jane McGonigal3m

Give me some examples of futures thinking!3m

Meet some professional futurists1m

What is futures thinking?4m

Mini-Masterclass: The Future Belongs to Everyone8m

When does the future start?6m

What are the benefits of futures thinking?7m

Choose your own future!2m

7 readings

Take our 2-minute survey about the future2m

What is Futures Thinking?10m

Who Hires Futurists?5m

How to think like a futurist: The 5 key principles15m

Why Companies Work With Futurists15m

Who Owns Your Future?15m

Six Possible Futures of Food20m

3 practice exercises

What is futures thinking?10m

When does the future start?5m

What are the seven benefits of futures thinking?10m

Week

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Signals of Change

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.

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 43 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes

7 videos

Introduction to Signals6m

Examples of Signals10m

Five Minutes in the Future of Food4m

Five Minutes in the Future of Economic Justice5m

How to Interpret Signals6m

Your Turn! Analyze a Signal2m

Where do you look for signals? And other FAQ6m

2 readings

Future of Work in 2030 - Signals Report30m

More Examples of Signals of Change10m

2 practice exercises

What's a signal of change?5m

Future of Work - Signals of Change10m

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Look Back to Look Forward

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."

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 17 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

Week

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Four Types of Futures Thinking

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!

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 29 min), 4 readings, 3 quizzes

7 videos

What's Your Future State of Mind?6m

The Four Types of Futures Thinking9m

Why I Future with Youth3m

Why I Future with Musicians2m

Why I Future with Incarcerated People2m

Why I Future with My City3m

Congratulations! You've finished this course49s

4 readings

The Future as a Way of Life10m

A Guide to The Four Types of Futures Thinking10m

How Professional Futurists Imagine the Future30m

An invitation to join our free Alumni Network2m

2 practice exercises

Can you identify the four types of futures thinking?10m

Why do people use futures thinking in their work?10m

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About the Futures Thinking Specialization

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 Specialization 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. You’ll master essential foresight techniques. You’ll meet leading professional futurists. And you’ll choose one or more future topics you want to investigate with your new foresight skills. The Futures Thinking specialization 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. You'll develop a more future-oriented mindset to make positive changes in your own life, as you start to see new possibilities more clearly and craft the personal future you want. This specialization is based on the “How to Think Like a Futurist” workshops taught by Jane McGonigal, PhD for Stanford University Continuing Studies. By taking this specialization, you'll have access to key lessons and tools from the Institute for the Future’s professional “Foresight Training” certification program.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Ready, Set, Future! Introduction to Futures Thinking