Thinking and learning from the futures - PowerPoint Presentation

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Thinking and learning from the futuresTools and methods for futures guidance

SIEC

conference

8.8.2014

Leena Jokinen

Univeristy

of Turku

Finland

Futures

Research

Centre

www.ffrc.utu.fi

leena.jokinen@utu.fiSlide2

ContentFutures thinking and learning from the future frameworkFutures orientation in career and life guidance processesGuidance tools and working methodsFeedback and experiences on future work simulation and similar toolsSlide3

I have seen the futureSlide4

Interests of knowledgeThe Futures FieldPossibilityProbabilityDesirability

Technical

The aim is to search for trends (objectivity); alternatives are irrelevant

Forecasting is the main task of a study

Inessential

Unscientific

Self-evidentHermeneuticMain purpose is communication between people in a society, different tasks of futures research melt into a common understanding of the social realityEmancipatoryIncreasing alternatives, making ‘impossible’ into possible‘Probable’ is considered a reference alternative and (usually) an object of criticismIt is more important to impact than search for a ‘probable’ alternative

The tasks and interests of futures research (

Mannermaa

, 1986)Slide5

Scenario building & futures thinking – some presumptionsPossible, probable, preferred, transformative futuresFocus on the personal futures approachDealing with uncertainty, new models of reality, non-linear changesInflation of education, need for new skills and life-long learningDiversity in anchors of life: work, wealth, personal wellbeing, family, religion, ideologies… - > rise of new communities, tribes, subculturesSlide6

Theoretical approaches to career choices and developmentSince the 1950s, there has been much written on how personal and environmental factors shape people’s career choicesMain strands of research:developmental approachespersonality-based theories trait and factor approaches typological theories self-conceptsocial learningself-efficacy theorygender, racial and minoritiesSlide7

Cognitive approaches to career counselingTools in general address to students´ need to transform their personal likings into careers Databases and information sources about professions and jobs are based on history leaving teens with more questions than answers about how to best prepare for those opportunitiesA realistic view of a broad range of occupations and concrete advices about possible ways to get started in any given profession is very time and context sensitive Slide8

Holistic and future oriented sociodynamic approach to counselingThinking of one’s own life and transition to working life Supports the student in self-efficacy in the vocational growth in different stages of studies Basic notion for guidance is to promote comprehensive and personally meaningful representation of the work selfExplorative rather than normative model of decision makingEmphasis on alternative futures, happenstance, uncertainty, contextPromoting critical reflection and self regulationFuture consciousness , reflection of individual thinking and acting Slide9

Futures consciousnessThe human capacity to think about the future, create ideas, images, goals, plans and use them to direct one's life and actions“Future consciousness is a total integrative set of psychological abilities, processes, and experiences humans use in understanding and dealing with the future” (Lompardo, 2008)Awareness of the future grows in time and experience. It can be promoted and capacities improvedSome cultures are more future oriented while others focus on pasta or presentAttitudes, modes of thinking, and frames of minds vary from negative, counter-productive, or apathetic to the optimistic, positive, and activeSlide10

Personal futuresThe future is present in our thoughts, aspirations and choices, when we plan our lives, when we solve problems related to it, when we make decisions that affect our livesThe comprehensive manifestation of the future, its presence in us and to us, can be termed as futureness The future that is not purely objective, rational and logical representation of possible future realities – a set of probable or desirable alternative paths or scenarios.  From the personal point of view, the future is giving meanings and significance to things, not just the time from here on or a general abstract possibility and the probable direction of eventsThe concept of making or creating the future contains the idea that the future is open and that we can influence it with our own actionSlide11

Futures guidance messagesHave guts to think independentlyFuture is openChallenge yourselfTrust your options

Many ways to fulfil your dreamsSlide12
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Statements of futures of workHuman work will end, humans will free themselves from work, enlightenment project will reach its conclusion-> the end of work?Illusion of education and employment meaning, (welfare) state propaganda - learn how to run faster or jump into another game Hybrid occupations, seasonal variations, precariat, cognitariatOverproduction of goods, crisis of demand-> obligatory consumptionSlide14

Futures awareness in career management and consciousness buildingReadiness and proactive attitude for alternative and uncertain futures Simulation creates a future context in which individuals can test their assumptions and values, facilitating greater self-knowledge and self-directness Futures images engage intuition and emotions to complex cognitive processes of career management as well as decision makingProbable images of future work life suggest that organizations can no longer offer jobs for life and individuals have to be proactive about their careersSlide15

Learning in simulationsLearning to:Know (new information, cognitive processes), which is intertwined with learning to: Do (decision-making, choices based on cognitive processes) that results in learning to:Be (in a new, unprecedented situation)Simulation produces new situations of which the user hasn't any previous experienceThe user combines existing information and seeks likenesses using also others' experiences (friends, parents) and other information as reference and acts (=chooses) based on the combined knowledge.Slide16

Get a Life! An online simulation toolFuture work life simulation tool for HE studentsBased on scenarios for future work life in Finland &Europe to the year 2030The outcomes:Long-term future scenarios on the development and changes in working life An online simulation tool for students in the career-planning process Pedagogical model and a virtual handbook for career counselors Slide17

Tools and methodsGet a Life –futures simulation www.getalife.fi

Major and

minor

choices

http://www.koukkuun.fi/2014/01/pienet-suuret-valinnat.htmlAndventure in mist http://www.koukkuun.fi/2014/01/seikkailu-sumussa.htmlPersonal career paths compass (HUPS-prosessi) http://www.koukkuun.fi/2014/01/hups-henkilokohtaisia-urapolkuja.html

Future

Camp

–

www.facebook.com/futurecamp.fiSlide18
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Feedback on the toolsThe students seem to have focused on receiving actual, concrete advice about the future of work lifeThe concept of career planning does not resonate too well with radical changes“I think that the simulation is mainly about the effects of your personal choices on the future. At one point I felt like that it also enables the testing of changes in one’s moral values and principles on career development.” Slide24

Thank you!Picture

Osmo Rauhala

Contact

http

://www.ffrc.utu.fi/

leena.jokinen@utu.fi