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Discussion: Futures Texts (JS for Simeon Spearman)
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 JohnMSmart |
Futures Texts (JS for Simeon Spearman)
Feb 7 2008, 6:03 PM EST I may be getting ahead of myself, but I thought I would mention an idea that's been floating around in my head: perhaps we should look into the possibility of creating a futures studies textbook (or curriculum) that could be put under a Creative Commons license so that they could be disseminated, reused, and translated without concern over copyright issues. One candidate project to either become engaged with, or model such a project after, would be the Global Text Project (http://www.globaltext.org). They seem to be focused on business text books and creating some texts on scenario planning, strategic planning, or visionary leadership could help the futures community assist in the Global Text Project and also increase our visibility in developing countries (and get them exposed to futures concepts more quickly). Another possibility is http://cxn.org, where educators can create education "modules" that can be pieced together to create an entire course. This could be a more granular way of getting futures thinking in front of educators by creating a "Futures of [insert academic subject here]" that could be promoted as a good final module for courses. It would also allow futurists to create "modules" that could later be pieced together for an entire course, instead of trying to create an entire course wholesale. Basically I think that putting more futures content under Creative Commons licenses could make it easier for futures thinking to creep its way into education organically as the futures community organizes to play a greater role in academia/primary education. Thoughts? Simeon Spearman Do you find this valuable? |
 Wheelwright |
RE: Futures Texts (JS for Simeon Spearman)
Feb 15 2008, 3:57 PM EST John, I very recently revised my Personal Futures Workbook to a digital version. A little thinner now, so the workbook can be shared by email and completed on a computer. It's now in PDF and has a Creative Commons license. It's available free on my web site www.personalfutures.net. It can be copied and shared freely. If anyone wants to translate into other languages, let me know and I'll help format. I can also email copies, just send a request to verne@personalfutures.net. The workbook is available to everyone. Hyou will share it with your students. I've also included permissions to make editing notes and suggestions which can be emailed back to me You'll need Reader 7.0 and above. Verne Do you find this valuable? |
 MarcusAnthony |
RE: Futures Texts (JS for Simeon Spearman)
Feb 15 2008, 10:16 PM EST I'm currently in the processs of developing curriculum for a futures program designed for China (English language). I'd be happy to help out with developing a Futures text book. One possibility is that it might be able to be done with Tamkang University in Taiwan. Sohail Inayatullah has published heaps of material through them. We might be able to convince them to develop a text book. I'll put the idea to Sohail. Regards, Marcus Do you find this valuable? |
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JohnMSmart |
RE: Futures Texts (JS for Simeon Spearman)
Feb 15 2008, 11:42 PM EST Fantastic Verne! Hopefully FSDN can get up a central curriculum sharing place for such works by the end of the year. That's something I'd love to talk about once we've networked in more of the global FS educators. Great to see you CC-licensing and getting a feedback mechanism going. I'll be sure to tell Brian Harris, the instructor for our Foresight Development course at UAT about it. By the way, we created a Personal Futures wiki building assignment as part of that course. You may find it interesting or relevant to your work. http://personalfutures.wetpaint.com/ Personal Futuring is about 40% of our course. If you'd like to offer any assistance to Brian when he teaches the course starting this Summer (he is taking over for me) in the PF side of things, let me know and I will do an email introduction to both of you. Warm Regards, JS Do you find this valuable? |
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JohnMSmart |
RE: Futures Texts (JS for Simeon Spearman)
Feb 15 2008, 11:48 PM EST Sounds great Marcus. Sounds like a project you should do, to give it your own "stamp". The text we used at the undergrad level last semester was "The Future is Ours" by Graham May, former director of the Leeds Metropolitan University MS in FS (now discontinued, sadly). Very nice intro FS book but written about ten years ago. The text we are using next semester is "Thinking about the Future" the new text edited by Peter Bishop and Andy Hines. Has a nice sampling of various FS approaches, broken down into short, two-page spreads of theory and application. I like the layout, you might find it inspiring for a Tamkang text. Think that is a great idea, and Clement Chang might back it especially if you did it from an Australasian perspective, bringing in lots of notable futurists from your side of the pond? Warm Regards, JS Do you find this valuable? |
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Wheelwright |
RE: Futures Texts (JS for Simeon Spearman)
Feb 16 2008, 12:23 AM EST John, If I can help you or Brian in any way, I'd be happy to. .Just let me know what I can do.. Verne Do you find this valuable? |
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MarcusAnthony |
RE: Futures Texts (JS for Simeon Spearman)
Feb 16 2008, 3:08 AM EST I now see I misunderstood what a Creative Commons licence ws (still not exactly sure what it is), and went and emailed a few people about a Futures Studies text book. Sohail notd a few text books alrady out there such as his Questioning the Future (used as a text book for the Mt Eliza Ceo course and at Tamkang and elsewhere), Wendell Bell's two volume, Foundation for Futures Studies (also used at Tamkang), Richard Slaughter The knowledge base of futures studies (Swinburne Uni, Aust.), and Jim Dator's Advancing Futures; and also the cdrom reader, Futures Studies: methods, issues and civilizations visions (was used at Queensland Uni of technolgy). Sohail did write (and I quote): "...a new text book of edited readings with exercise with diverse viewpoints ie case studies plus pro and cons on particular issues would be a great contribution. I am sure I could convince Clement Chang to publish something like that." That would be something different from what Simeon was suggesting, I suspect. But now the idea is out there, would anybody be interested in getting involved? As John said, an Australasian perspective might be a good focus, but I'm open to ideas. Marcus Do you find this valuable? |