FEDORA - Future-oriented Science EDucation to enhance Responsibility and engagement in the society of Acceleration and uncertainty This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program under Grant Agreement n° 872841 www.fedora-project.eu
Simulations as
"laboratories of future"
Why talk about the future in a course on simulations?
Why talk about the future in a course on simulations?
When faced with times of personal choices, it can be important to stop and reflect on one's future
The link between science and the future is very close: the future is intrinsic to physics, which was born (also) to predict future events and deal with the fear of the unknown
Why talk about the future in a course on simulations?
Simulations can teach us a way to analyze real problems by thinking about what might happen in the future
Simulations can serve as laboratories to arrive more prepared for the future and can help us experiment on "what ifs"
Science and futures
The cone of futures
The cone of futures
Probable futures (what I expect to happen)
Plausible/possible futures (what could happen)
Desirable futures (what I would like to see happen)
The cone of futures
Forecast (a prediction from the present to the future)
Foresight (different assumptions about how it might go)
Anticipation and back-casting (imagining, dreaming the future and going back)
Possible scenarios
Simulations can be interpreted as micro-worlds that can inspire the imagination of scenarios
Scenario = description of a possible future situation
The scenarios include a balance of different stakeholders (people or groups of people involved in various capacities)
The scenarios are not intended to represent a complete description of the future, but rather to highlight the central elements of a possible future and draw attention to the key factors that will guide future developments
Goal of scenarios is NOT to predict the future
What school do you dream �for the future?
Change the school, change the world
Such examples are not only in the U.S.
What reactions do these videos elicit from you?
Would you like to "inhabit" such schools?
What would you like in your ideal school that is missing in these videos?
What is school for you?
School is fundamentally social.
School is by us all, for us all. It shapes our lives at every step.
Therefore, School is not appearance but content.
School is not economic but humanistic.
School is not building design but social design.
School is not object but relationship.
School does not begin nor end with building.
School does not exist to function but to influence.
School does not exist to organize but to provide opportunity.
School does not exist to serve but to enable.
School is a cultural act; School is a political act.
It has to be seen as such to develop its full potential.
School is process not result.
All this makes School fundamentally social.
And what school do you want?
1) IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM (today).
Choose one problem that you feel is urgent today related to schools and would like to see solved in 2040.
Each group member proposes a problem of his or her interest, and everyone's proposals are discussed, then voted on the most convincing.
2) VALIDATION OF THE PROBLEM (by home, by the next meeting).
Arrange to investigate that the problem you have chosen is felt as urgent and important by the school community
You can interview your classmates, teachers, principals, parents, school staff, etc.
You can do research in newspapers, blogs, social networks, etc.
You can ...
Document this investigation process because you can make it part of your final project. If you want to make us a part of your research, upload a story on instagram and tag @i_see_project
3) EXPLORATION OF DIFFERENT POSSIBLE FUTURES
Letting yourself be inspired by the simulation you think best, explore possible evolutions of the problem from the present to the future and imagine what scenarios you might arrive at in 2040
Briefly describe at least three alternative future situations that the simulation inspired in you
4) IMAGINATION OF A DESIRABLE SCENARIO FOR 2040.
Now imagine that in 2040 the problem you selected has been solved. Describe in as much detail as possible your desirable scenario for 2040.
Include in your description the stakeholders, the interests involved, how and where school life takes place, the elements of novelty and those of continuity from the past.
At this stage... dream! Throw your imagination beyond the obstacles of the present!
As you enrich your scenario, describe it in writing along with the elements that characterize it
5) BACK-CASTING: FROM THE FUTURE TO THE PRESENT
Starting with the desirable scenario, think about what actions, decisions, policies, contingencies made it possible to arrive in 2040 at the realization of that ideal future.
Were there bifurcation points, moments of uncertainty? What role did the different stakeholders play?
Jot down the most significant passages in the timeline
6) TELLING YOUR SUCCESS STORY
Prepare a 15-minute presentation to be given during the last meeting to tell everyone about your success story of which you were the agents, the protagonists.
To do this, decide on a name for your group with which to introduce yourself to others, give yourself a role in the story, and work out a mode of presentation (a story, slides, video...).
In your presentation, particularly highlight the role that simulation played for you in analyzing the problem, imagining the scenarios, and crafting your success story.