Teaching Foresight and the Future: An Overview

What challenges face learning foresight and futuring? A panel of five contributors frame this and other questions faced in teaching futures. All panelists are authors from a recent issue of the Journal of Futures Studies.

Each panelist investigates the rationale, assumptions, and historical "location" of foresight teaching and learning. Peter Bishop emphasizes the value of foresight teaching in the backdrop of the ever-increasing pace of change. He demonstrates that change concepts and principles are fundamental for every learner. Verne Wheelwright elaborates the contextual and historical background as the "Next Wave" of futures learning. This new stage in its development reflects a growing desire to need, learn, and use foresight tools, topics, and approaches in living and working. Gary Marx complements Wheelwright by pointing to the growing demand for the implementation of a futures mind-set and challenges of teaching and learning futures and foresight. Dave Stein investigates the didactic nature of futures and foresight studies, revealing multiple perspectives.

Who should attend: Educators, corporate trainers, and those interested in learning about teaching and learning the future will find this session worthwhile.
What you’ll learn: Attendees will be made aware of the challenges facing teaching and learning foresight and futuring, tasks that extend beyond classrooms, schools, colleges, and corporate training rooms. Those who attend this session will come to see the characteristics of futures learning, as well as the perspectives, tools, and techniques for effectively imparting futures knowledge and understanding—an expansive and emerging field. The spectrum of "how to" impart content and tools regarding the future is an ever-emerging issue.

How this new knowledge can be applied: Participants will be better able to frame the context and structure that guides crafting of foresight and futures teaching and learning strategies. Hence, they will be grounded in the current milieu surrounding learning about foresight and futuring.

Peter C. Bishop, director, Futures Program, University of Houston, Clearwater, Texas

Gary Marx, president, Center for Public Outreach, Vienna, Virginia

Dave Stein, editor in chief, Futuretakes; Center for Transcultural Foresight, Inc.

Stephen F. Steele, organizer, professor of sociology and futures studies, Anne Arundel Community College, Institute for the Future, Arnold, Maryland

Verne Wheelwright, founder and president, The Personal Futures

key words: foresight, teaching and learning futures, education, training, learning

issue areas: Society and Culture, Learning and Education