Institute for the Future
Urgent Optimism: How to Turn Foresight into Action
Institute for the Future

Urgent Optimism: How to Turn Foresight into Action

This course is part of Futures Thinking Specialization

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

Jane McGonigal

Instructor: Jane McGonigal

11,200 already enrolled

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Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

4.8

(230 reviews)

|

95%

Beginner level

Recommended experience

10 hours (approximately)
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Describe your preferred future

  • Create artifacts from the future

  • Build an action roadmap to change the future

  • Organize a community to change the future

Details to know

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Assessments

4 quizzes

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

4.8

(230 reviews)

|

95%

Beginner level

Recommended experience

10 hours (approximately)
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

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This course is part of the Futures Thinking Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 5 modules in this course

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!

What's included

5 videos5 readings1 peer review2 discussion prompts

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?

What's included

4 videos4 readings1 quiz2 discussion prompts

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!

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 quiz1 peer review1 discussion prompt

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!

What's included

6 videos4 readings2 quizzes1 peer review

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.

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 discussion prompts

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.9 (65 ratings)
Jane McGonigal
Institute for the Future
6 Courses61,682 learners

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Recommended if you're interested in Leadership and Management

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4.8

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