Lifestyles, Choices and the Future

Module 15: The Future

It is expected that students will:

outline the use of technologies developed to forecast or predict the future
analyse the effects of technologies on society and predict future effects, locally and globally
demonstrate an awareness that decisions made today will influence the future of society
evaluate the impact of information and other technologies on the workplace
assess the extent to which science and technology are involved in a vocation of particular interest
assess the impact of technological change on personal relationships and education

Discuss with students some of the predictions made by futurists about future technologies, science, and social trends. Discuss the predictions regarding the effects of increasing technological change on society. Have small groups of students make in-depth studies about one area of prediction and then present their reports.
Have students brainstorm major concerns about the future. Lead a discussion about how decisions that will influence the future are made. Invite guest speakers to discuss future possibilities and how students might participate in making positive changes.
Have students write essays or create multimedia presentations about their predictions for the future based on the discussions, materials, and facts addressed throughout the course.
Have teams of students use recycled materials to build the world's perfect containerÑa single multipurpose container. Give an award to the team(s) that best meets specific criteria (e.g., most colourful, most number of uses, most economical).
Have students describe the societal impacts of communication through computer networks and suggest possible responses (e.g., increased demand for computer access, new laws to regulate privacy and copyright, subcultures).
Invite a futurist to the class to discuss predictions about coming innovations. Have students give their personal responses to the predictions.

Assess students' reports on future technologies for evidence of research skills, thoroughness, accuracy, and other criteria.
Assess students' essays about the future for their supportive argumentation, creativity, research, and thoughtfulness.
Track students' questions of guest speakers for preparation, relevance, quantity, appropriateness, and scientic and technological references.
Track students' involvement in discussions about decision-making for a variety of features (strategic ideas, realistic goals, enthusiasm, etc.).
Assess students' models of a future city for a varity of features, including materials used, aesthetics, transportation flow, resource use, green space, and creativity.
Assess students' containers for durability, number of uses, economy, environmental impact, and aesthetics.

Video

Software

Revised: January 27, 1999