Futurizing Your Teaching Practice

A Partnership between

Houston Independent School District

& Texas Association of Gifted & Talented & University of Houston

A TAGT 6-hour Update

Metaphors for the Future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

Connection between history & futures

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

If the role of history is two-fold:

understand and give context to the changes in our world, and

create a bridge between the past and the present,

Source: http://bannerswordshield.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/what-is-the-role-of-history/

Connection between history & futures

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

A Reflection Moment …

Does the analogy between history and futures make sense to me?

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

1. Images of the Future: symbols, stories, metaphors

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

1. Images of the Future: symbols, stories, metaphors

Brief Discussion: What images of the future are conveyed by children’s comics, books, games, media, by advertisers, by popular films?

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

1. Images of the Future: symbols, stories, metaphors

Brief Discussion: What images of the future are conveyed by children’s comics, books, games, media, by advertisers, by popular films?

“There is a great deal of historical evidence to suggest

that a society which loses its identity with posterity

and which loses its positive image of the future loses

also its capacity to deal with present problems, and

soon falls apart (Boulding, 1966).”

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

2. Every day decisions and actions prime the future.

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

2. Every day decisions and actions prime the future, sometimes with a time delay build in.

U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

3. Long term trends push through from the past project direction into the future.

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

4. Cycles as recurring patterns provide indicators

of pathways into the future.

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

5. Emerging issues slip slowly from the periphery of society into the mainstream.

What rights would a child born as a genetic copy of another have? Source: Microsoft Images.

Sources of Change for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

6. The completely unexpected 9/11s

“Sources of Change” for the future

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

Connection between history & futures

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

Is the future single or multiple?

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

The Future or Futures?

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

Today FutureTIME

UNCERTAINTY

Linear Future / Extended Present

Low

High

Possible Futures

Usual Planning Timeframe(3-5 years)

Trend

The Future or Futures?

Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future ↔ Change ↔ Future

Today FutureTIME

UNCERTAINTY

Linear Future / Extended Present

Low

High

Possible Futures

Usual Planning Timeframe(3-5 years)

Trend

Expected future +Alternative futures +

Preferred future

A Reflection Moment …

What value do I see in helping students study the future?

Questions?

Comments?

Concerns?

• Part II: Futures Inquiry Methodology & Tools