by Dr. Anisah Abdullah
Futures Studies for High School in Taiwan began with a call for Bilingual Education Initiatives in Taiwan. In September 2021, the Department of Education and Design Futures in the College of Education at Tamkang University was invited to develop a Futures Studies program to be integrated into the Senior High School curriculum. “Futures Studies for High School” was designed by Dr. Anisah Abdullah [陳思思] to be delivered in four modules/semesters over two years.
This is Session 3 : An Exploration into the Past, Present, and the Preferred Future.
This first module of Futures Studies for High School aims to deliver four main objectives:
- Provide an introduction to Futures Studies
- Create spaces for students to explore the past, present and the future and learn that these are interconnected
- Create spaces for students to explore alternative futures
- Create an awareness that the future is a zone of possibilities rather than a list of preordained events
After Session 2, the third session focuses on an exploration of the past, present and preferred future, using the Futures Triangle (Inayatullah) for a more structured and systematic guide to thinking about the future.
Activity Objective
The objective of the Futures Triangle exercise is to encourage students to explore their past, and in doing so, to create a level of awareness of how the past shaped and has a strong influence on their present, and also has a hold on their thoughts about their preferred future. In a busy student schedule, full of classes, cram school (after school tuition), and exams, the exercise helps provide reflective time and space to become more aware of how things in our lives are intertwined and inter-connected.
Lecture : The Futures Triangle
The session begins with an introduction to the Futures Triangle, with detailed explanations for each dimension.
The Pull of the Future: What do we wish for? What do we want to avoid?
The Weight of the Past: Our History: What do we know about our family history? How has that history shaped us?
The Push of the Present: What’s happening now that we have to follow, even if we don’t feel ready?
Having considered the pull of the future, the weight of the past and the push of the present, students were encouraged to answer the question:
If your future is in your hands, what can you do today for a better tomorrow?
Activity: Preferred Future
The activity was carried out in five parts . The goal is to get students to think about their preferred future.
Activity: Our History
Remember the history you will bring with you when you’re 35 years old – what are some of the happy moments you will remember?
記住你 35 歲時帶來的歷史
Students were asked to bring an artefact / object that represents their family history, and do a “Show and Tell” in class. Here are some of the posters they drew.
An Invitation to Parent’s Wedding
Activity: Push of the Present
Students were asked to think what’s urgent now that needs attention. They were encouraged to think about what’s affecting their family, friends, work, travels, money, and health.
Activity: What’s plausible? The Images of the Future
Having considered the past, the future we preferred, and the present, students were asked to create an image of their plausible futures. Here are some of their images.
These posters – Images of the Future – marked the end of Module 1 of Futures Studies for High School. The semester ended with a poster presentation session held at the school compound, attended by the Senior Assistant of the School and the teachers; the local Tamsui Press covered the event.
