95014 TD: Envisioning futures worth wanting +
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 8 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 36 credit points of completed study in any Bachelor's Degree OR 36 credit points of completed study in any Bachelor's Combined Degree OR 36 credit points of completed study in any Bachelor's Combined Honours
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 95006 TD: Envisioning futures worth wanting
Description
This subject introduces students to key concepts and methods from the transdisciplinary field of futures studies. Skills and knowledge in this area are increasingly in demand in industry and the public sector, and they are fundamental tools to enable more effective participation in addressing the wicked problems faced by business, government, communities, and humanity as a whole.
Working individually and in teams to complete a participatory futures project in partnership with the City of Sydney council, students apply approaches to create and critically evaluate images of the future, identify signals of change, explore how possible futures could emerge, and ultimately propose a future worth wanting. Through these place-based projects, students explore the past, present, and possible futures of Sydney, identify opportunities and challenges for a sustainable urban future, and critically reflect on how their own perspectives and values influence their thinking and their actions.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Identify and evaluate complex challenges related to urban sustainability and social change through futures, systems, and social practice lenses |
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| 2. | Apply methods from futures studies, systems thinking, and social research to collect evidence and develop insights about past, present, and future change |
| 3. | Identify and assess how specific values inform our preferences about futures worth wanting |
| 4. | Present insights about possible and preferable futures through written, visual, and performance modes of communication |
| 5. | Reflect on and express insights about your values, perceptions of and preferences about futures and future change |
| 6. | Demonstrate effective collaboration and individual contributions to team work |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject contributes specifically to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes:
- Identify and evaluate complex challenges by analysing system dynamics, constraints, and potential leverage points, using disciplinary perspectives, evidence, and diverse viewpoints. (CII.1.1)
- Identify, create, and employ a range of appropriate creative intelligence methods and boundary-crossing methodologies to construct and solve problems and generate transformative possibilities (CII.2.1)
- Practice mutual, responsible value creation, including the implementation of sustainable and entrepreneurial innovation. (CII.3.1)
- Communicate transdisciplinary ideas and solutions succinctly and persuasively using appropriate modalities. (CII.3.2)
- Develop reflexive connection with an evolving self, demonstrating ethical and intellectual positions that reflect well-considered values that enable greater purpose and inclusivity. (CII.4.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject combines authentic assessment through an industry partner challenge, with classroom and online learning. Using a participatory futures project to frame the subject, students will complete reading and learning tasks to understand key concepts, then apply those concepts through hands-on activities and receive formative feedback in facilitated tutorial workshops.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Past, Present, and Future Practices in Place
| Intent: | This assessment requires students to complete individual research and apply key concepts and methods to examine and communicate the past and present of a specific social practice in a specific place in the City of Sydney. |
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): CII.1.1, CII.2.1, CII.3.1 and CII.4.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 2: Proposing a Future Worth Wanting
| Intent: | This assessment requires students to work in a team and complete individual and team tasks. Each team will apply key methods from futures students to explore possible futures, assess their desirability against sustainability goals and student values, and propose a vision for a future worth wanting. Teams will produce both an experiential futures presentation and a written report. |
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): CII.1.1, CII.2.1, CII.3.1, CII.3.2 and CII.4.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 3: Revisiting Orientations and Images of the Future
| Intent: | This assessment requires students to apply and reflect on their developing capabilities with futures studies, systems thinking, and social theory concepts and methods. Students are also required to reflect on how their personal perspective on futures may have changed through this subject and why. |
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): CII.3.1, CII.3.2 and CII.4.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 4: Overall Individual Engagement with the Subject
| Intent: | This assessment requires students to demonstrate developing professional competencies and reflexivity through consistent, constructive engagement with peers, teaching staff, and activities throughout the semester. Tutors will assess this on the basis of timely completion of required tasks, consistent active participation in workshops, and individual contribution to team work. |
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): CII.4.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 10% |
Minimum requirements
Students must attempt each assessment task and achieve an overall pass mark in order to pass this subject. Each major assessment requires progressive completion of activities through the subject's learning modules.
A minimum of 80% attendance is required for tutorial workshops (whether enrolled in face-to-face or online tutorial).
Required texts
Required readings (in a variety of formats) will be provided via Canvas.