Life After COVID-19: Get Ready for our Post-Pandemic Future from Coursera

The pandemic will create long-lasting and surprising ripple effects, even after vaccines are widely available. Are you ready for what's next?

This course will give you a clear forecast of the challenges and opportunities you’re most likely to encounter over the next 3-5 years, as a direct result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

- Find out what risks still lie ahead

- Make a plan for resilience

- Play future forecasting games to stretch your imagination about what's possible

- Build your post-pandemic confidence

- Envision the world you want to live in when we’re all finally on the other side of COVID-19. How can you take advantage of this unprecedented moment of disruption to make positive change in your community, company or other organization?

By completing this course, you’ll be better understand the “future shock” we’ve all just lived through together. You'll be able to identify the 7 pre-existing conditions of society that made the pandemic more severe and harder to recover from -- from economic inequality and racial injustice to fragile public trust and the climate emergency. Looking ahead, you'll explore the most surprising and exciting solutions that are being proposed to help our communities heal from these pre-existing conditions.

COVID-19 is a roller-coaster ride we will all be on for years to come. With the skills you build in this class, such as learning to spot the four patterns of change that occur during any period of crisis or major disruption, you will be better able to see the ups and downs coming before you get there. And you'll feel more in control of what happens next, as you learn to use the Institute for the Future's post-pandemic Toolkit for Transformation.

By the end of this course, you'll be more knowledgeable and better qualified to help yourself, or your company or other organization, navigate the rest of the pandemic and find success on our long road to recovery and reinvention.

This courses is taught by Institute for the Future Research Director Jane McGonigal, PhD.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to our Post-Pandemic Future

Are you ready to zoom out of the present and into the future? This week, you'll learn how to get into a "post-pandemic" mindset. You'll discover the four patterns of change to watch during any major disruption or crisis. You'll hear the Institute for the Future's forecast for what Life After Covid-19 will be like over the next 3-5 years, including the biggest risks, opportunities and dilemmas. And you'll find out how, exactly, the Institute forecasts pandemics and their surprising long-term consequences. You'll end the week by making your own first post-pandemic future forecast.

Make a Plan for Resilience

Are you ready to "ride the rollercoaster" of post-pandemic recovery and reinvention? This week, you'll explore the 7 urgent challenges that will define the post-pandemic recovery. You'll learn how to use the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report, to prioritize risks for your community or organization. You'll play "The First 5 Minutes of the Future", a game that can help you prepare for "unimaginable" future shocks. And you'll use everything you learn this week to make your own first plan for resilience.

Learn the Habits of Professional Futurists

This week, you'll learn how to practice the 3 most important habits of professional futurists. You'll choose your own "driving forces" to track. You'll collect and analyze "signals of change." And you'll play the game, "100 Ways Anything Can Be Different in the Future", to unstick your mind and stretch your imagination about what might change after the pandemic. These habits will teach you how to keep anticipating what's next, long after the current pandemic is over.

Final Project: Choose your Action for Post-Pandemic Transformation

What action can you take right now, to shape a better life after Covid-19? This week, you'll learn how to use the Institute for the Future's Toolkit for Transformation. Think of it as a cooperative card game, played with 3 decks. You can use the toolkit to inspire your own thinking about how to make a better world after the pandemic. You can also use the toolkit with groups to lead conversations about the future. After you learn how to use the Toolkit, you'll complete a final project: Choose Your Own Action for Post-Pandemic Transformation.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive forecast of the challenges and opportunities learners may encounter over the next 3-5 years, as a direct result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Helps learners envision the world they want to live in after the current global health crisis

Teaches learners how to anticipate what's next, long after the current pandemic is over

Examines the 7 preexisting conditions of society that made the pandemic more severe and harder to recover from

Teaches learners the habits of professional futurists

Taught by Jane McGonigal, PhD, Research Director of the Institute for the Future

Reviews summary

Highly engaging pandemic futures course

Learners say this highly engaging course on how to get ready for post-pandemic life is well designed and creatively delivered. According to students, the course is full of interesting resources and practical tools that can be applied in the real world. Jane McGonigal is praised as a superb instructor who makes the material easy to understand. The course is believed to be original, thought-provoking, and includes up-to-date articles, information, and data. Students taking this course also recommend taking the Futures Thinking Specialization to gain more knowledge on this subject.

Applicable and Practical

"I would like to use tools and methods from this course to discuss on the visions and designs for post Covid-19 society soon."

"Applying at least some of (the learnings from) them to my daily life is something that I hope to instinctively do going forward."

Useful Tools and Resources

"This is an extraordinary course, well designed, full of interesting resources and practical tools."

"Forecasting and strategic thinking tools are given: they are very original and helpful for buolding up a personal path navigating the pandemic changes."

"It helps you to boost your imagination about post-pandemic futures, providing up to date articles, informations and data to gain a broad knowledge about this major world event."

Fascinating and Insightful

"Will change the way you think about moving forward."

"So creative and thought-provoking."

"I recommend this course, if you are looking for what I was looking for - a shift from my extremely present awareness which has been honed by the disruption of the pandemic, to a way of thinking somewhat realistically and optimistically about a future horizon."

Engaging and Superb Instructor

"Jane McGonigal is a superb instructor."

"Thanks to her, to my learning peers of the comminity and to Coursera!"

"The course was one of the most in-depth; life altering; 'call to action'."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Life After COVID-19: Get Ready for our Post-Pandemic Future with these activities:

Review Risk Assessment Techniques

Show steps

Ensures that students have a solid foundation in risk assessment techniques, which are essential for navigating the uncertainties of the post-pandemic world.

Browse courses on Risk Management

Show steps

Review key concepts of risk assessment, such as risk identification, analysis, and mitigation.
Explore different risk assessment tools and methodologies.
Apply these techniques to a practical scenario related to post-pandemic recovery.

Read and Review: Future Shock

Show steps

Provides perspective on the challenges and opportunities that arise during periods of rapid change.

View Future Shock on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Summarize the main arguments and predictions made by Toffler.
Consider how these concepts may apply to the current post-pandemic landscape.

Discussion Forum on Post-Pandemic Opportunities

Show steps

Fosters collaboration and exchange of ideas among students, encouraging them to think critically about potential opportunities in the post-pandemic world.

Show steps

Join the course discussion forum.
Participate in the designated discussion threads on post-pandemic opportunities.
Share your thoughts and insights, drawing on course materials and personal observations.
Engage with other students' posts and perspectives.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Explore Futures Thinking Tools

Show steps

Introduces students to tools and techniques used by professional futurists to enhance their forecasting abilities.

Browse courses on Futures Literacy

Show steps

Research and identify online resources and tutorials on futures thinking tools.
Select a few tools that are relevant to the course content.
Complete the tutorials and practice using the tools to explore different futures scenarios.
Share your experiences and insights with the class.

Scenario-Based Forecasting Exercises

Show steps

Develops students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills by practicing forecasting in hypothetical future scenarios.

Browse courses on Scenario Planning

Show steps

Review the four patterns of change discussed in the course.
Choose a specific industry or sector of interest.
Create a set of scenarios based on potential future events and disruptions.
For each scenario, identify potential risks and opportunities for the chosen industry or sector.
Develop recommendations for how to prepare for and leverage these potential outcomes.

Contribute to the Institute for the Future's Post-Pandemic Toolkit

Show steps

Provides students with an opportunity to engage in real-world problem-solving and contribute to a shared resource that can benefit others.

Show steps

Review the Institute for the Future's Post-Pandemic Toolkit.
Identify an area where you can make a meaningful contribution.
Create or refine a resource (e.g., tool, article, case study) that aligns with the toolkit's goals.
Submit your contribution to the toolkit for review.

Design a Post-Pandemic Innovation Proposal

Show steps

Challenges students to apply their knowledge and creativity by developing a proposal for an innovative solution that addresses a post-pandemic challenge or opportunity.

Browse courses on Innovation

Show steps

Identify a specific post-pandemic challenge or opportunity.
Research and analyze the problem or opportunity in detail.
Brainstorm and develop a creative solution.
Create a comprehensive proposal outlining the solution, its potential impact, and a plan for implementation.
Present your proposal to the class for feedback and discussion.

Career center

Learners who complete Life After COVID-19: Get Ready for our Post-Pandemic Future will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Futurist

Futurists study potential future developments across various societal and technological domains. Graduates of this course will learn the habits of professional futurists, such tracking driving forces, collecting and analyzing signals of change, and imagining different possible futures. These are all important skills for Futurists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Futurist

Futures Researcher

Futures Researchers are similar to Futurists. They study future potential by conducting research across multiple disciplines. Graduates of this course will learn how to spot the four patterns of change that occur during any period of crisis or major disruption, This skill is key to success for Futures Researchers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Futures Researcher

Technology Forecaster

Technology Forecasters study potential future technological developments. Graduates of this course will learn how to spot the four patterns of change that occur during any period of crisis or major disruption, which can help inform more accurate forecasts. This skill is key to success for Technology Forecasters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Forecaster

Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers develop and implement sustainability strategies and programs for organizations. Understanding the challenges and opportunities of the post-pandemic world is key to success for Sustainability Managers. Graduates of this course will learn essential skills like forecasting change and building resilience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Strategic Planner

Strategic Planners conduct research and develop plans to help organizations achieve their long-term goals. Graduates of this course will learn how to plan for organizational resilience in the face of ongoing socio-economic and environmental challenges. Graduates will also practice important skills such as tracking driving forces, collecting and analyzing signals of change, and imagining different possible futures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategic Planner

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and direct the activities of projects. Understanding the challenges and opportunities of the post-pandemic world is key to success for Project Managers. Graduates of this course will learn essential skills like forecasting change and building resilience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the activities of nonprofit organizations. Understanding the challenges and opportunities of the post-pandemic world is key to success for Nonprofit Managers. Graduates of this course will learn essential skills like forecasting change and building resilience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Program Manager

Program Managers plan, organize, and direct the activities of programs, projects, and initiatives. Understanding the challenges and opportunities of the post-pandemic world is key to success for Program Managers. Graduates of this course will learn essential skills like forecasting change and building resilience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Forecasting Analyst

Forecasting Analysts predict future events and developments by analyzing data and identifying trends. Graduates of this course will learn how to spot the four patterns of change that occur during any period of crisis or major disruption, which can help inform more accurate forecasts. This skill is key to success for Forecasting Analysts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forecasting Analyst

Security Analyst

Security Analysts assess and mitigate risks to an organization's security. Graduates of this course will learn how to plan for organizational resilience in the face of ongoing socio-economic and environmental challenges. Graduates may also learn how to spot the four patterns of change that occur during any period of crisis or major disruption.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts help public and government entities understand policy challenges and the potential impacts of policy decisions. This course can help Policy Analysts build a foundation to critically evaluate policy during times of crisis and rapid social change. The course can help build confidence in adapting to challenges and opportunities that may arise during these times.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Sustainability Specialist

Sustainability Specialists help organizations and government entities to adopt policies and practices which prioritize sustainability. The course description mentions climate emergency as a precondition of COVID-19. Graduates of this course will be better prepared to address the influence of climate change on the future of communities and organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Specialist

Public Policy Researcher

Public Policy Researchers conduct research and analysis to inform public policy decisions. Graduates of this course may better understand the potential impacts of policy decisions in the context of a post-pandemic world. Forecasting change and building resilience are essential skills for success as a policy researcher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Policy Researcher

Risk Manager

Risk Managers identify, assess, and mitigate risks faced by companies and organizations. Graduates of this course will be better able to plan for organizational resilience in the face of ongoing socio-economic and environmental challenges. This course can help Risk Managers adapt to a changing landscape and understand potential risks in an uncertain future.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Grant Writer

Grant Writers write and submit grant proposals to secure funding for organizations and projects. Graduates of this course may be better prepared to find funding opportunities for projects that address the challenges and opportunities of the post-pandemic world. Understanding the Institute for the Future's Toolkit for Transformation could set you apart from competing Grant Writers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer