| Semester 1, 2023 Online | |
| Units : | 1 |
| School or Department : | School of Humanities & Communication |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
| Course fee schedule : | /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules |
Staffing
Course Coordinator:
Overview
Foresight is an innate human capacity that has many productive applications at all levels (individual, community, organisations and society). It is an applied multi-disciplinary field with a distinctive knowledge base that contributes valuable knowledge, direction and strategic capacity required to solve modern-era issues across all disciplines from the natural sciences (health, environment, agriculture, engineering, technology) to social sciences (business, arts, education, humanities).
This unit aims to broaden students鈥� awareness of emerging futures by introducing them to a variety of foresight concepts and methods. The unit focuses on both the theoretical and practical aspects of future-focused enquiry. Insights from recognised futures practitioners will provide access to contemporary research and futures thinking practice. The course seeks to build confidence in each student鈥檚 ability to understand futures thinking to a range of issues. Each will produce a defensible 鈥渇utures assessment鈥� on a topic relevant to their chosen field of study or personal interest.
Every aspect of modern society is in a state of unprecedented change. From this, important questions emerge as to `how' the future may unfold and what choices can be made in the present under conditions of uncertainty. This course is an introduction to foresight and the field of futures studies. It is about learning to understanding how various futures may occur and the role of human agency in shaping the future; it is not about predicting the future.
The course introduces you to futures studies theory, concepts and analytical approaches. The course focuses on both the theoretical and practical aspects of undertaking future-focused enquiry. You will engage with challenges facing humanity and explore future possibilities related to contemporary issues. Upon completion, you will have developed a valuable futures-focused mindset and tools that you can develop and adapt as your career and life experience demands.
Course learning outcomes
On completion of this course students should be able to:
- describe the foundational knowledge base of the nature of foresight and the theory, concepts and approaches associated with Futures Studies;
- outline the value of using systems thinking to inform decision making;
- explain the essential principles of futures thinking in developing foresight;
- reflect upon the role of futures thinking in addressing 21st century phenomena that present significant challenges to humanity;
- develop an environmental scan of key forces that are relevant to the possible futures of a topic in students鈥� chosen field of study or professional interest.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Introduction to futures studies and the practice of foresight | 20.00 |
| 2. | Possible futures and the futures cone | 10.00 |
| 3. | Society鈥檚 problems and foresight | 20.00 |
| 4. | Systems and the future | 10.00 |
| 5. | Foresight professional capabilities | 10.00 |
| 6. | Generic foresight process and environmental scanning | 30.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
Student workload expectations
To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.
Assessment details
| Description | Group Assessment |
Weighting (%) | Course learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz 1 | No | 10 | 1,2 |
| Annotated bibliography | No | 25 | 1,2,3 |
| Quiz 2 | No | 15 | 4 |
| Report | No | 50 | 4,5 |