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A FUTURES SYLLABUS: SOME CORE COMPONENTS |
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Course Name: |
Exploring the Future (at Anne Arundel Community College) |
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Course Number: |
FTR100 (at Anne Arundel Community College) |
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Credit Hours: |
3 |
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Departments: |
Taught as interdisciplinary at Anne Arundel Community College (general education , interdisciplinary) – may be offered in any department. It is a course that may be offered in most departments. It is not restricted to a single department. Cross listing is a possibility. |
AACC Catalog Description:
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FTR100 Exploring the Future 3 credit hours – Three hours weekly; one term Investigate the future in a changing world. Using tools and perspectives across fields of study and cultures, students expand foresight and build the future. The course encourages appreciation for the complexity of our global society and its diversity. |
Division Of Subject Matter:
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Approximate |
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Main Topics |
Lecture Hours |
Lab Hours* |
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1.0 |
Visualize the Future |
3 |
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2.0 |
Perceive Some Perspectives on the Future |
6 |
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3.0 |
Investigate Multiple Futures: Diverse Factors that Drive Future Views |
6 |
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4.0 |
Examine Driving Forces |
3 |
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5.0 |
Deal with Change |
6 |
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6.0 |
Recognize Basic Futures Tools |
6 |
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7.0 |
Investigate Creativity and Problem-Solving |
3 |
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8.0 |
Conceptualize Responsibility for the Future |
3 |
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9.0 |
Construct the Future |
6 |
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Testing |
3 |
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Total |
45 |
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*
This is not a lab course at AACC, but it could have a lab component if you wish.
Detailed Course Outline
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Approximate |
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Main Topic |
Lecture Hours |
Lab Hours* |
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1.0 Visualize the Future |
3 |
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1.1 Explore the meaning of “future” |
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1.2 Investigate the reasons for studying the future |
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1.3 Consider some practical reasons to study the future |
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1.4 Discover what futurists do |
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2.0 Perceive Some Perspectives on the Future |
6 |
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2.1 View the future |
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2.2 Examine the “history” of studying the future |
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2.3 Survey some views of the future |
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2.4 Focus on evolutionary, systems and chaos views of the future |
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3.0 Investigate Multiple Futures: Diverse Factors that Drive Future Views |
6 |
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3.1 Explore different diverse perceptions of the future |
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3.2 Discuss cross-cultural views of the future |
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3.3 Recognize science, religion, class and race as forces that influence perceptions of the future |
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4.0 Examine Driving Forces |
3 |
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4.1 Investigate the forces that drive the future |
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4.2 Explore some ways that future events may present themselves |
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5.0 Deal with Change |
6 |
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5.1 Examine forces that drive change |
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5.2 Probe ways that change presents itself |
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5.3 Consider basic theories of change |
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6.0 Recognize Basic Futures Tools |
6 |
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6.1 Explore basic futures tools |
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6.2 Recognize the existence and potential use of futures tools |
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6.3 Understand the conditions under which these tools could best be used |
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7.0 Investigate Creativity and Problem-Solving |
3 |
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7.1 Investigate creativity as a learned skill |
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7.2 Explore the value of creativity as a necessary skill in the 21st century |
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7.3 Discuss how creativity produces change |
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8.0 Conceptualize Responsibility for the Future |
3 |
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8.1 Debate over responsibility for the future |
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8.2 Discuss what it means to be responsible for the future |
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8.3 Investigate who is responsible for the future |
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9.0 Construct the Future |
6 |
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9.1 Use futures tools and perspectives |
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9.2 Build personal and social futures |
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9.3 Explore the impact of a future’s vision |
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Testing |
3 |
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Total |
45 |
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*
This is not a lab course at AACC, but it could have a lab component if you wish.
Possible Textbooks
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Title |
Author |
Publisher |
ISBN |
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World Future Society |
0-930242-57-2 |
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Jill Loukides and Lawrie Gardner |
World Future Society |
0-930242-62-9 |
See https://www.wfs.org/bkordol.htm
Other Reading
Of course, other reading may be aligned with
course or objectives. See reading optional below.
Also see a growing list of futures reading at
Core Futures Book List .
Websites
Of
course the list of websites that support this course is astronomical! One way
to get started is to review the websites available at one or more of these
sites:
Trends, forecasts and future views
Resources for Addressing the Future
Questions & Answers @ the Future
Keeping Learners in Touch
Learners can be reminded of the future monthly with a free newsletter if they (you?) Sign up for our ezine.
Assessment
Learning about the future is not often linear. Assessment tools and
assessment as learning tools are emerging. Here are two sources from IF @ AACC:
Exercises! Try one of these!
Building a futures exercise
Tools for Teaching the Future
Building the Future: A Workbook to Accompany Futuring Jill Loukides and Lawrie Gardner
