This purpose of this extensive exercise or project is to give the student an opportunity to try to use the tools presented in Cornish’s Futuring: The Exploration of the Future (2004) to try to consider and plan for their own future.  As such, this is a very pragmatic exercise. It will be completed across the duration of the course modules, and may even be reiterated after completion of the course as the student sees the need to reassess his or her plans. 

There are two (2) physical products of this project.  A journal will be kept throughout the exercise to record your thoughts and conclusions at each step. Think of the journal as a working paper or log of the process.  It will provide you with not just a reference for writing a final paper for the project, but will give you a reference for revising your plans at need as well, a tool for future planning.  The second product is a final paper, a plan for your future written from the information in your journal.

The following are the requirements of the project.

1. Lay your groundwork by reviewing Chapters 1 through 5 and, in your journal, make lists, outlines or tables of the following.
   1. Choose a preferred future (Cornish 2004: 74) for your life.  Be hopeful but realistic.
   2. Review and keep in mind as you work on this the seven lessons of great explorers (7).
   3. Review and keep in mind the six supertrends ( see Cornish’s chapter 3) and envision how they might affect your future.
   4. Envision the stages you might have to go through to reach your goal(s) (see Cornish’s chapter 4 for possible ideas).
   5. Consider both the social forces in the larger society and your personal characteristics that might impact on your efforts to reach your goal.  (Review Cornish’s chapter 5 for ideas.)
      
      
2. Now, starting in Cornish’s chapter 6 and working through chapter 15, and keeping in mind what you have stated in your groundwork above, in your journal write out how you would use each tool in the text to try to work toward your stated goal. 
   1. Write out how you “get there” using each of the tools,
   2. If you consider a tool not useful to your goal, provide an explanation of why you did not find it useful.
   3. Of those tools that you were able to use, which tools are least useful?  Why?
   4. Which of the tools you used did you find most useful?  Why?

1. Now, using your journal with the information above, write out your “final” plans omitting 2a, 2b, and 2c.

Why is “final” in parentheses?  Remember the element of chance in real life, although, by definition, you will probably not be able to identify chance events or elements until they appear..  Chance can bring you opportunities as well as roadblocks.  Plans are not written in stone, but should be open to revision should the need arise.

Contact Dr. Kent-Skruch directly on mkentskruch@aacc.edu

M. Kent-Skruch 2005

Important Links

• Institute for the Future