Seventeenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

In September 2018, Futures Thinking, as a core subject, was implemented into the General Studies curriculum of the largest tertiary institution in the United Arab Emirates: The Higher Colleges of Technology. The presenters, Deema Attal and Dr Nicole Shammas, have been instrumental in both the development and delivery of this subject alongside a team of teachers across seventeen campuses. This study describes what Futures Thinking is and why it is so important. The presenters’ work extends on the theoretical principles of Future Foresight work by introducing methodologies which address the teaching and learning of this subject specific to tertiary second language English speakers. It details some practical ways teachers across all disciplines, with students of varying English language levels, can incorporate elements of this relatively new discipline into their daily practice. We close by including some informal student feedback highlighting students’ responses to this content. These initial findings suggest that this type of course content empowers students to be more alert to trends in their environment and consequently more proactive when shaping their visions for the future on both a personal and professional level. To summarize, this presentation serves to bring to the forefront an increasingly important subject which enables learners to more meaningfully navigate a potentially volatile world. This discussion is both timely and relevant and audience members will not only gain an understanding of what Futures Thinking is but also practical ways of how to apply this to their classroom teaching.