Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/collaborative-foresight
In today’s rapidly changing world, understanding and anticipating the future is more critical than ever. But how can we truly grasp the myriad possibilities that lie ahead? The answer, as explored in Coursera’s “Collaborative Foresight: How to Game the Future” course from the Institute for the Future, lies in collective intelligence and engaging gameplay.
This course challenges the notion that a single perspective can paint a complete picture of what’s possible. Instead, it champions the power of bringing diverse minds together to “game out” potential futures. Over the past decade, the Institute for the Future has been at the forefront of developing innovative “massively-multiplayer foresight” methods, and this course offers a practical and engaging introduction to their groundbreaking work.
The syllabus is thoughtfully structured to equip learners with a robust toolkit for collaborative foresight. It begins with the fundamentals: understanding what a future forecasting game is, how to facilitate one, and the crucial aspect of inviting the right participants. You’re even encouraged to select your own future scenario to turn into a game.
Moving on, the course delves into practical techniques like the “future wheel” for rapidly generating surprising ideas from a group. Learners are challenged to apply this tool to multiple scenarios and even design their own future wheels. The concept of “positive and shadow imagination” is introduced, providing insights into how to foster both optimistic and cautionary perspectives within a game. This section also offers fascinating deep dives into specific future topics like space settlement and neurosensing social networks.
Further enhancing your foresight capabilities, the course introduces “Leading-Edge interviews” and the “Four Future Feelings” tool. These methods emphasize the importance of gathering insights from diverse sources and understanding the emotional landscape of future possibilities. The emphasis is on playful, organized conversations that broaden your understanding.
Finally, the course culminates in the “Epic Wins” module. Here, you’ll learn how to translate the findings from your future forecasting games into actionable, innovative solutions for today’s most pressing challenges. You’ll also be equipped to play another valuable futures thinking game: The Equitable Futures Card game.
“Collaborative Foresight: How to Game the Future” is an exceptional course for anyone looking to enhance their strategic thinking, innovation capabilities, or simply gain a more nuanced understanding of potential futures. It’s highly recommended for strategists, innovators, educators, policymakers, and anyone curious about shaping a better tomorrow.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/collaborative-foresight