Teaching about the Future

The faculty at the University of Houston's program in Futures Studies share their comprehensive, integrated approach to preparing foresight professionals and assisting others doing foresight projects. Provides an essential guide to developing classes on the future or even establishing whole degree programs. In 1975 the University of Houston-Clear Lake created the first degree program in Futures Studies. Now the faculty of that program share their approach to preparing foresight professionals and others doing foresight projects. This volume contains a comprehensive and integrated approach that practitioners and educators alike can use to understand the theories, methods, and applications of this new field. Based on 35 years of teaching, this volume reveals how to systematically deal with change, how to develop scenarios that describe alternative futures and how to develop visions and plans for influencing those futures. The systematic description of the past (history) was established 2,500 years ago. Unfortunately, educational systems around the world have failed to prepare their students for their changing and challenging future. It is now time to establish a systematic approach to the future. Teaching about the Future is an important step in that direction Front Matter....Pages i-xix Introduction....Pages 1-16 Front Matter....Pages 17-17 Models of Change....Pages 19-62 Systems Thinking....Pages 63-96 Perspectives on the Future....Pages 97-111 Social Change....Pages 112-156 Front Matter....Pages 157-157 Research....Pages 159-175 Scanning....Pages 176-193 Forecasting....Pages 194-222 Front Matter....Pages 223-224 Leadership....Pages 225-235 Visioning....Pages 236-251 Planning....Pages 252-268 Change Management....Pages 269-281 Back Matter....Pages 282-304