FCIT 601Tools for Futures Thinking

Through theory and practice, this progressive project-based course will introduce foresight methods used in the development of strategic proposals related to urban sustainability. Working in teams, students will identify an issue in a specific predefined sector. Their exploration and research begins with a divergent process of signal discovery of emerging issues and trends through methods such as environmental scanning, new technology research, user research, field study, or stakeholder workshops. In a subsequent convergent process, students will then learn and apply methodologies, including medium-to long-range exploratory scenario planning, to develop insights and implications for action. A strategic innovation response will then be stress tested against scenarios to evaluate effectiveness and systemic fit for the defined urban context. Students will develop futures literacy skills to make sense of complex emergence and gain confidence in their ability to frame positive responses to change.