Forecasting Skills: See the Future Before it Happens
For many people, the future comes as a surprise – or even a shock. But with strong forecasting skills, YOU can avoid future shock. You can adapt faster, and become better prepared to benefit from change. In this course, you’ll build your future forecasting skills. You'll learn how to turn groups of "signals" (clues about the future) and "drivers" (global forces that influence the direction of change) into compelling future forecasts. Forecasts help you discover new possibilities and opportunities for yourself, your company, or any community you want to inspire to make a better future.
Monthly Subscription Starting at AED 99 + VAT
- Level Foundation
- Duration 14 hours
- Course by Institute for the Future
-
Offered by
About
For many people, the future comes as a surprise – or even a shock. But with strong forecasting skills, YOU can avoid future shock. You can adapt faster, and become better prepared to benefit from change. In this course, you’ll build your future forecasting skills. You'll learn how to turn groups of "signals" (clues about the future) and "drivers" (global forces that influence the direction of change) into compelling future forecasts. Forecasts help you discover new possibilities and opportunities for yourself, your company, or any community you want to inspire to make a better future. You'll also learn how to write future scenarios. Scenarios take forecasts one step further. They spark imagination and tell a story about what might happen if a forecast comes true. Scenarios help you evaluate: Is this a future I'm ready for? Is this a future I want? Leading futurists from the Institute for the Future will show you exactly how it's done. They'll share with you the forecasts and scenarios they’re most excited about right now, and walk you through the key steps they took to create them. Then, it's your turn! You'll create a forecast and a scenario on any future topic you choose. How will you benefit from taking this course? With strong forecasting skills, you'll get better at seeing the future before it happens. You'll be ready to consider possibilities that others never see coming or refuse to accept. You'll be able to help others prepare for and adapt to the future. You can decide which futures you want to make more likely, and which futures you want to prevent. Many thanks to the Enlight Foundation and the Enlight Collaborative, which provided a grant to support the creation of this course.Modules
Welcome to the Course!
-
2
Videos
-
2
Readings
-
1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Introduce yourself!
2
Videos
- Welcome the the course! Meet your professor Jane McGonigal
- Strong Opinions, Lightly Held
2
Readings
- Take our two-minute survey about the future!
- Forecasting Skills Brief: Your "Cheat Sheet" for this course
What's a Future Forecast?
-
2
Videos
-
1
Readings
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Future Forecasting Essentials
2
Videos
- What's a forecast?
- Mini-Masterclass: Forecasting 101
1
Readings
- Excerpt: Get There Early
Drivers of Change
-
2
Videos
-
2
Readings
-
1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Play with a Driver! The Future of Smart Clothes and Accessories
2
Videos
- Looking for Drivers
- More Global Drivers
2
Readings
- Skills Refresher: Signals of Change
- Examples of Drivers: The World in 2030
Example of a Driver: Blockchain
-
1
Videos
-
1
Readings
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Blockchain basics
1
Videos
- Driver Example: Blockchain!
1
Readings
- Blockchain Futures
How to Make a Quick Forecast on any Topic
-
1
Videos
-
1
Readings
-
1
PeerReview
1
Peer Review
- Make a quick forecast about self-driving vehicles
1
Videos
- How to Make a Quick Forecast on any Topic
1
Readings
- The Coming Era of Autonomous Vehicles
Combining Signals and Drivers of Change
-
2
Videos
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Which forecast would impact you the most?
2
Videos
- Combining Signals and Drivers into a Forecast (Part 1)
- Combining Signals and Drivers into a Forecast (Part 2)
More Sample Forecasts
-
1
Readings
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- How would the Wired World forecast would change YOUR life?
1
Readings
- Wired World: Forecasts for 2020 and beyond
How to Reveal Unexpected Possibilities
-
2
Videos
-
1
Readings
-
1
Discussion
-
1
PeerReview
1
Peer Review
- Reveal Unexpected Possibilities
1
Discussions
- What other unexpected possibilities can you reveal?
2
Videos
- How to Reveal Unexpected Possibilities (Part 1)
- How to Reveal Unexpected Possibilities (Part 2)
1
Readings
- TOOL: Reveal Unexpected Possibilities
What's a Scenario?
-
1
Videos
-
1
Readings
-
1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Are you ready for a world in which...?
1
Videos
- What's a scenario?
1
Readings
- Signals of change behind the scenarios
How to Create a Scenario
-
2
Videos
-
1
Readings
-
1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Scenario: Learning is Earning
2
Videos
- DEMO: Building a Scenario From Scratch
- SCENARIO: The Future of Learning and Earning
1
Readings
- Learning is Earning: Map of the Future
A Few More Scenarios to Play With
-
2
Videos
-
2
Readings
-
1
Discussion
-
1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- The Future of Machines
1
Discussions
- Are you ready for a world in which...? (Part 2)
2
Videos
- The importance of ridiculous ideas
- A Few More Scenarios to Play With
2
Readings
- Scenarios from the Future of Technology (the Ethical Operating System)
- The Future of Machines (3 Scenarios)
Create Your Own Scenario
-
1
PeerReview
1
Peer Review
- Create your own scenario
10 Years Later... Is the Future Here Yet?
-
2
Videos
-
1
PeerReview
1
Peer Review
- Find a new signal about satellites!
2
Videos
- Revisiting a 10-Year Forecast... 10 Years Later!
- Updating a Forecast
Forecasting the Year 2021, 10 Years Ago
-
4
Readings
-
1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- How would you update these 2021 forecasts? Add a signal!
4
Readings
- Future of Money - A Forecast for 2021
- Future of the Internet: A Forecast for 2021
- Future of Households: A Forecast for 20201
- Future of Social Media: A Forecast for 2021
Congratulations! You're Ready to Forecast the Future!
-
1
Videos
-
1
Readings
-
1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- What's your biggest "a ha" moment from this course?
1
Videos
- Congratulations on finishing this course!
1
Readings
- An invitation to join our free Alumni Network
Auto Summary
Prepare to see the future before it happens with "Forecasting Skills: See the Future Before it Happens," a dynamic course in the Business & Management domain offered by Coursera. This foundational course, led by expert futurists from the Institute for the Future, equips you with essential forecasting skills to navigate and adapt to change with confidence. Throughout this comprehensive course, you'll discover how to interpret "signals" and "drivers" to create persuasive future forecasts. These forecasts will help you uncover new opportunities and possibilities for personal growth, your organization, or any community aiming for a better future. Additionally, you'll learn to craft compelling future scenarios—narratives that explore potential outcomes and prepare you for various future possibilities. The course spans 840 minutes, offering an in-depth exploration of forecasting techniques. You'll gain hands-on experience by creating your own forecast and scenario on a topic of your choice, guided by insights and examples from leading futurists. Ideal for anyone looking to enhance their ability to anticipate and influence future trends, this course includes a Starter subscription option to get you started on your journey to future-readiness. With the support of the Enlight Foundation and the Enlight Collaborative, this course provides valuable skills to see and shape the future, making you a vital asset in any forward-thinking organization. Join now and transform your ability to foresee and navigate the future with confidence and clarity.
Jane McGonigal