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Urgent Optimism
How to Turn Foresight into Action
Jane McGonigal
Jane McGonigal
When you get better at thinking about the future, you get better at changing the future.
Read more
When you get better at thinking about the future, you get better at changing the future.
Read more
When you get better at thinking about the future, you get better at changing the future.
This course will help you take all of the foresight skills you’ve developed so far and apply them to making real positive change in your life, in your work, and in the world around you.
You’ll learn how to create and share “preferred futures”, which are highly persuasive, compelling visions of the changes you want to make real. You’ll use your preferred future to identify obstacles, recruit allies, collect resources, and plan action to make your vision real.
You’ll also practice making “artifacts” from the future, which are creative representations of how everyday life might be different in the future. Artifacts can inspire others to join you in your quest to make a preferred future real. Leading futurists from the Institute for the Future will share with you their favorite future artifacts – and walk you through the entire creative process it took to make them.
Every action we take today changes the future. This course will help you identify and take the actions that make the BIGGEST, most strategic impacts on the most urgent challenges you and society face.
Many thanks to the Enlight Foundation and the Enlight Collaborative, which provided a grant to support the creation of this course.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/heckpv/urgent
What's inside
Syllabus
Preferred Futures
Welcome to Urgent Optimism! If you're ready to act now to change the future, you're in the right place. This week, you'll learn all about preferred futures. A preferred future describes exactly what changes you want to make in the world, and it helps you strategize to make those changes real. Let's go!
Read more
Syllabus
Preferred Futures
Welcome to Urgent Optimism! If you're ready to act now to change the future, you're in the right place. This week, you'll learn all about preferred futures. A preferred future describes exactly what changes you want to make in the world, and it helps you strategize to make those changes real. Let's go!
Read more
Images of the Future
You've defined the future YOU want to make. But who else shares your vision? This week, you'll learn how to find and analyze images of the future. An image of the future is any popular expression - in movies, books, TV, videogames, comics, religion, political manifestos - of what the future might be like. It can help you understand: What futures do others hope for? What futures do they fear? How can you present your preferred future in the most compelling way?
Artifacts from the Future
This week, you'll learn another persuasive technique: how to make "artifacts from the future". An artifact is a real-world object that brings the everyday details of a possible future to life. A good artifact can blur the line between the present and the future, sparking "a ha" moments and conversations that lead to action today. We'll show you how we made our favorite artifacts. By the end of the week, you'll be ready to create your own!
Action Roadmaps
Finally, it's time for the most practical tool in Institute for the Future's toolkit: the Action Roadmap. This week, you'll learn how to work backwards from your preferred future to plan actions you can take today, this month, this year, and this decade to make the biggest impact on the future. We'll show you our action roadmaps. Then you'll show us yours!
You're Ready to Make the Future!
You've made it! Let's celebrate your new Urgent Optimism skills with one more action: a Pledge to Make the Future. Learn how to use the tool, make your own pledge, and bring your community together to make many pledges that can truly change the future.
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Focuses on changing the future through optimism and action, which may appeal to those with an interest in personal growth and development
Engages learners in creating preferred futures, artifacts from the future, and action roadmaps, providing hands-on opportunities to shape the future
Led by Jane McGonigal, a renowned game designer and researcher in the field of positive psychology, which may add credibility to the course
Does not explicitly require learners to have any prior knowledge or experience in futures studies, making it potentially accessible to beginners
Taught by instructors from the Institute for the Future, a non-profit research organization focused on the future, which may indicate the course's relevance and credibility
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Reviews summary
Urgent optimism: foresight into action
According to students, Urgent Optimism: How to Turn Foresight into Action is an engaging course that prepares learners to shape the future with practical tools and real-world examples. The coursework, which includes case studies and readings, has been described as interesting and informative. Students find the skills they learn to be transferable across professions, making the course worthwhile for a variety of learners. While some students found the coursework repetitive and lacking in depth, most found the course to be valuable and well-structured.
Course content is informative and engaging.
"Thoroughly enjoyed this well planned programme."
"Really enjoyed this capstone to the specialisation, brings the threads together and builds on the concepts throughout the courses."
"The whole specialisation is a necessary foundation step to get into critical thinking about what the future might bring and how we can start to influence it."
Course includes plenty of real-world examples.
"Excellent case studies presented."
"I found it really useful and interesting. A lot of practical tools and tips for my current work"
"This course is interesting because it makes you reflect and at the same time how to take positive actions in life and how we can contribute to change in the future for the well-being of the whole society."
Course provides practical tools and skills.
"Very good course that teaches different ways to spark actions from ideas"
"This course inspires to actually do things."
"Thank you! I learned a lot, and thanks to all the helpful tools and templates, I can apply the learnings to my daily business and enhance my design thinking expertise."
Some students found the coursework lacking in depth.
"most of the reading material looks more like IFTF marketing material."
"I would have hoped to learn more tools and read less case studies/examples."
"The quizzes and assignments are too trivial and do not really test if you have understood the covered material."
Some students found the coursework repetitive.
"It´s interesting, the professor gives useful tools, i think they could make it shorter, there's repeating parts that could be avoid"
"Compared to other courses in this specialization, this course was a bit less inspiring or thought-provoking."
"Good value for money (assuming it takes you no more than one week to complete the course), but too much reading versus video teaching."
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 Urgent Optimism: How to Turn Foresight into Action with these
activities:
Form a study group with fellow students
Show steps
Collaborating with peers in a study group can reinforce understanding, foster critical discussions, and provide support throughout the course.
Show steps
-
Connect with other students in the course.
-
Organize regular study sessions to discuss course materials.
-
Work together on assignments and projects.
Practice creating preferred future scenarios
Show steps
Creating preferred future scenarios will help to develop critical thinking and strategic planning skills required for this course.
Show steps
-
Identify a real-world challenge or opportunity.
-
Brainstorm and develop multiple preferred future scenarios.
-
Analyze the potential impacts and feasibility of each scenario.
Learn about using persuasive techniques
Show steps
Understanding persuasive techniques will be beneficial for communicating and promoting preferred future visions effectively.
Browse courses on
Persuasive Communication
Show steps
-
Identify and research different persuasive techniques.
-
Follow tutorials or online courses on persuasive communication.
-
Apply the learned techniques in practice.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Design an artifact from the future
Show steps
Creating an artifact from the future will enhance the ability to envision and communicate future possibilities effectively.
Show steps
-
Imagine a specific future scenario.
-
Design an object or experience that represents the envisioned future.
-
Present the artifact to others, explaining its significance.
Develop an Action Roadmap for a preferred future
Show steps
Creating an Action Roadmap will provide hands-on experience in planning and executing actions to achieve desired future outcomes.
Show steps
-
Identify a specific preferred future to focus on.
-
Develop a comprehensive plan outlining the necessary actions.
-
Break down the plan into smaller, achievable steps.
-
Implement the actions, track progress, and make adjustments as needed.
Participate in a community initiative focused on creating a better future
Show steps
Engaging in community initiatives will provide practical experience in working towards a shared vision and making a meaningful impact on the future.
Show steps
-
Identify a local community initiative aligned with the desired future.
-
Join the initiative and actively participate in its activities.
-
Share insights and experiences from the course to enhance the initiative.
Form a study group with fellow students
Show steps
Collaborating with peers in a study group can reinforce understanding, foster critical discussions, and provide support throughout the course.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Connect with other students in the course.
- Organize regular study sessions to discuss course materials.
- Work together on assignments and projects.
Practice creating preferred future scenarios
Show steps
Creating preferred future scenarios will help to develop critical thinking and strategic planning skills required for this course.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a real-world challenge or opportunity.
- Brainstorm and develop multiple preferred future scenarios.
- Analyze the potential impacts and feasibility of each scenario.
Learn about using persuasive techniques
Show steps
Understanding persuasive techniques will be beneficial for communicating and promoting preferred future visions effectively.
Browse courses on
Persuasive Communication
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify and research different persuasive techniques.
- Follow tutorials or online courses on persuasive communication.
- Apply the learned techniques in practice.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Design an artifact from the future
Show steps
Creating an artifact from the future will enhance the ability to envision and communicate future possibilities effectively.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Imagine a specific future scenario.
- Design an object or experience that represents the envisioned future.
- Present the artifact to others, explaining its significance.
Develop an Action Roadmap for a preferred future
Show steps
Creating an Action Roadmap will provide hands-on experience in planning and executing actions to achieve desired future outcomes.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a specific preferred future to focus on.
- Develop a comprehensive plan outlining the necessary actions.
- Break down the plan into smaller, achievable steps.
- Implement the actions, track progress, and make adjustments as needed.
Participate in a community initiative focused on creating a better future
Show steps
Engaging in community initiatives will provide practical experience in working towards a shared vision and making a meaningful impact on the future.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a local community initiative aligned with the desired future.
- Join the initiative and actively participate in its activities.
- Share insights and experiences from the course to enhance the initiative.
Career center
Learners who complete Urgent Optimism: How to Turn Foresight into Action will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Futurist
Futurist
Futurists are responsible for studying trends and making predictions about the future. They use their knowledge to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a valuable tool for Futurists, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Futurists to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Foresight Analyst
Foresight Analyst
Foresight Analysts are responsible for identifying and assessing future trends and events. They use their knowledge to help organizations develop strategies for the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a helpful tool for Foresight Analysts, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Foresight Analysts to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Strategist
Strategist
Strategists are responsible for developing and implementing strategies for organizations. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a valuable tool for Strategists, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Strategists to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Consultant
Consultant
Consultants are responsible for providing advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of topics. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a valuable tool for Consultants, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Consultants to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Policy Analyst
Policy Analyst
Policy Analysts are responsible for developing and analyzing policies for governments and other organizations. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a helpful tool for Policy Analysts, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Policy Analysts to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning and executing projects. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a helpful tool for Project Managers, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Project Managers to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Program Manager
Program Manager
Program Managers are responsible for planning and executing programs. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a helpful tool for Program Managers, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Program Managers to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Product Manager
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for planning and developing products. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a helpful tool for Product Managers, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Product Managers to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for planning and executing marketing campaigns. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a helpful tool for Marketing Managers, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Marketing Managers to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Sales Manager
Sales Manager
Sales Managers are responsible for planning and executing sales campaigns. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a helpful tool for Sales Managers, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Sales Managers to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Business Development Manager
Business Development Manager
Business Development Managers are responsible for planning and executing business development strategies. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a helpful tool for Business Development Managers, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Business Development Managers to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Innovation Manager
Innovation Manager
Innovation Managers are responsible for planning and executing innovation strategies. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course would be a helpful tool for Innovation Managers, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Innovation Managers to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Data Scientist
Data Scientist
Data Scientists are responsible for collecting and analyzing data to help organizations make informed decisions. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course may be helpful for Data Scientists, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Data Scientists to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
Market Researcher
Market Researcher
Market Researchers are responsible for collecting and analyzing data to help organizations make informed decisions. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course may be helpful for Market Researchers, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help Market Researchers to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
UX Designer
UX Designer
UX Designers are responsible for designing user interfaces for websites and other digital products. They use their knowledge of the future to help organizations make informed decisions about the future. The Urgent Optimism course may be helpful for UX Designers, as it would help them to develop the skills they need to create and share persuasive visions of the future. The course would also help UX Designers to identify and take the actions that will have the biggest impact on the future.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/heckpv/urgent
Reading list
We've selected 16 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Urgent Optimism: How to Turn Foresight into Action.
Save
Explores the two systems of thinking: System 1, which is fast, intuitive, and emotional, and System 2, which is slow, deliberate, and rational. It can help learners understand the cognitive biases that can interfere with effective decision-making.
Provides a sweeping history of humanity, from our origins to the present day. It can help learners understand the long-term trends that have shaped human history and can provide a foundation for thinking about the future.
Save
Explores the possible futures of humanity, based on current scientific and technological trends. It can provide a broader context for thinking about the kinds of changes that may occur in the future.
Save
Explores the science of forecasting and provides tips for making better predictions. It can be useful for understanding the challenges and opportunities of foresight.
Explores the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is characterized by the convergence of digital, physical, and biological technologies. It can help learners understand the challenges and opportunities that this revolution presents.
Explores the challenges that large organizations face in innovating and adapting to new technologies. It can help learners understand the importance of being open to new ideas and taking risks.
Save
Explores the science of habit formation and how it can be used to create positive change. It can be useful for understanding how to build habits that support effective foresight and action planning.
Save
Explores the future of work in the wake of automation and artificial intelligence. It can help learners understand the challenges and opportunities that this technological revolution presents.
Provides an overview of 99 common cognitive biases that can lead to irrational decision-making. It can be useful for understanding the kinds of biases that can interfere with effective foresight and action planning.
Explores the impact of rare and unpredictable events on the world. It can help learners understand the importance of being prepared for the unexpected.
Explores the history of extinctions on Earth and the current threats to biodiversity. It can help learners understand the importance of environmental sustainability and the need to take action to protect the planet.
Provides a practical guide to building and launching successful startups. It can be useful for understanding the importance of testing ideas quickly and iterating based on feedback.
Explores the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the job market. It can help learners understand the challenges and opportunities that this technological revolution presents.
Explores the growing importance of creativity in the economy. It can help learners understand the importance of fostering creativity and innovation in their own lives and organizations.
Explores the impact of globalization on the world economy. It can help learners understand the challenges and opportunities that globalization presents.
Explores the impact of the internet on the retail industry. It can help learners understand the challenges and opportunities that online retailing presents.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/heckpv/urgent
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Institute for the Future
Instructor
Jane McGonigal
Language
English
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This course belongs to a
collection
called
Futures Thinking. It's comprised of five courses:
- Ready, Set, Future! Introduction to Futures Thinking
- Simulation Skills: This is Your Brain on the Future
- Forecasting Skills: See the Future Before it Happens
- Collaborative Foresight: How to Game the Future
- Urgent Optimism: How to Turn Foresight into Action (viewing)
Good to know
Focuses on changing the future through optimism and action, which may appeal to those with an interest in personal growth and development
Engages learners in creating preferred futures, artifacts from the future, and action roadmaps, providing hands-on opportunities to shape the future
Led by Jane McGonigal, a renowned game designer and researcher in the field of positive psychology, which may add credibility to the course
Does not explicitly require learners to have any prior knowledge or experience in futures studies, making it potentially accessible to beginners
Taught by instructors from the Institute for the Future, a non-profit research organization focused on the future, which may indicate the course's relevance and credibility
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