Future and Planning Tools Module: Introduction to Seven Exercises

Objectives: 

• To familiarize learners with various futuring and planning tools
• To use some of these tools for setting personal short and long range goals
• To develop a written plan to achieve short and long range goals

Assigned reading:  Chapters 6,8 and 10 from Futuring: the Exploration of the Future by Edward Cornish (2004).

Futures Tools (also see pages 78-79)

1. Brainstorming (74-79, 127-131)

2. Scenarios (Ch. 8)

3. Visioning (72-75)

4. Idea Logs (128-129)

5. Modeling and Simulations (70-72)

6. Role Playing

7. Backcasting (100-104)

8. Futures Wheel (130-131)

9. Mind Mapping or Idea Mapping (79, 131)

Introduction:

            There are a large number of tools that can be used for planning and goal setting.  We are going to focus on just a small subset of those tools.  Most of these tools are explained in the assigned reading and some will be explained further in this write-up.  As part of this course, you have been writing responses to questions regarding the reading material and other material presented.   We ask that you continue to use your journal as a place to record ideas that arise from these exercises and your assigned reading.  The objective of this unit is for you to formulate some short and long-term goals and to create a written plan to achieve one of these goals.  If you are not used to setting goals, this may seem like a big project.  However, we will take you through some fun exercises to help you learn how to use the creative planning tools listed above.  Then you will choose one or more of these tools that you feel will be helpful for you to set some goals for yourself.  We emphasize helpful for you, because not everyone thinks the same way and some of the tools may not be a good fit for you.

            Most people do not think in a linear fashion but most teaching and training assume linear thinking which is literal, systematic and based on cause and effect (think “time line”).  Non-linear thinking occurs when we allow ourselves to think more creatively (also see Chapter 5: Systems and Chaos) where we can jump from thought to thought but then ultimately connect them into a useful pattern.  The tools used in this exercise will help you understand non-linear thinking and help you to be creative in deciding your goals.  The tools will allow you to pull information from your brain and associate it in ways that you didn’t know were possible.

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