Urgent Optimism: How to Turn Foresight into Action
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.
Monthly Subscription Starting at AED 99 + VAT
- Level Foundation
- Duration 11 hours
- Course by Institute for the Future
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Offered by
About
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.Modules
Welcome to the course!
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Introduce yourself!
1
Videos
- Welcome to this Course! Meet your professor, Jane McGonigal
2
Readings
- Take a two-minute survey about the future!
- Urgent Optimism Skills Brief (Your "cheat sheet" for the course)
Introduction to Preferred Futures
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3
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
PeerReview
1
Peer Review
- What's your preferred future?
3
Videos
- What's a preferred future?
- Tips on Preferred Futures
- Working Backwards from a Preferred Future
1
Readings
- Hello from the year 2050: An example of a preferred future
Headlines from the Future
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Write a headline from the future!
1
Videos
- Good news from the future!
2
Readings
- News of the Future
- TOOL: Headline the Future
What's an Image of the Future?
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Images of the Future
1
Videos
- What's an image of the future?
2
Readings
- Images of the Future (excerpt)
- OPTIONAL: 7 Images of the Future from 1947
Today's Images of the Future
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2
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- +1 a Future Scenario for Yourself
2
Videos
- Today's Images of the Future
- Measuring and Influencing Optimism About the Future
1
Readings
- A Golden Age for Dystopian Fiction
More Examples of Images of the Future
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- What's your reaction to these images of the year 2027?
1
Videos
- 3 Images of the Future, Year 2027
1
Readings
- OPTIONAL: Six Short Stories From the Future
What are Artifacts from the Future?
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2
Videos
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Artifacts from the Future
2
Videos
- What are artifacts from the future?
- More Examples of Artifacts from the Future
Tips for Making Artifacts
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2
Videos
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1
Readings
2
Videos
- Tips for Thinking of Artifacts
- DEMO: How I Made These Artifacts!
1
Readings
- How to Make Artifacts from the Future
Make Your Own Artifact
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1
Discussion
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1
PeerReview
1
Peer Review
- Make an Artifact from the Future
1
Discussions
- Made an artifact? Share it here!
Introduction to Action Roadmaps
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3
Videos
3
Videos
- Introduction to Action Roadmaps
- How to Build an Action Roadmap (Part 1)
- How to Build an Action Roadmap (Part 2)
Build YOUR Action Roadmap
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1
Readings
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1
PeerReview
1
Peer Review
- Build your Action Roadmap
1
Readings
- TOOL: Build an Action Roadmap
Climate Action Roadmap
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Climate Action and YOU
1
Readings
- Climate Action Map
How to Help Groups and Communities Change the Future
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3
Videos
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2
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- What community would you bring together to future?
3
Videos
- Mini-Masterclass: Group and Community Futures (Part 1)
- Mini-Masterclass: Group and Community Futures (Part 2)
- SCENARIO: Sudan 2030
2
Readings
- OPTIONAL: Kenya Youth Scenarios in 2030
- OPTIONAL: UNDP Foresight Manual: Empowered Futures for the 2030 Agenda
Pledge to Make the Future
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- How will you pledge to make the future?
1
Videos
- Take the Pledge to Make the Future
1
Readings
- Pledge to Make the Future
Congratulations! You're ready to make the future!
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- What's your biggest "a ha" moment from this course?
1
Videos
- Congratulations on finishing the course!
1
Readings
- An invitation to join our free alumni network
Auto Summary
Unlock the power to shape your future with the course "Urgent Optimism: How to Turn Foresight into Action." Designed for those passionate about driving positive change, this course sits at the intersection of Business and Management and is tailored to enhance your strategic thinking abilities. Guided by instructors from the prestigious Institute for the Future, you’ll learn to craft and communicate compelling "preferred futures"—visions that can galvanize support and guide action. You will master the art of creating "artifacts" from the future, imaginative tools that illustrate how daily life could evolve and inspire others to join your mission. Throughout this comprehensive 660-minute course, you will delve into practical strategies to overcome obstacles, recruit allies, and gather resources, all aimed at translating foresight into tangible actions that address pressing challenges. Available through Coursera, this foundational-level course offers flexible subscription options, including Starter and Professional plans, making it accessible whether you're a novice or looking to deepen your expertise. Ideal for individuals eager to make a significant impact in their personal and professional lives, this course empowers you to not only envision a better future but to actively shape it. Join us and start turning your foresight into meaningful action today!
Jane McGonigal