Artifacts From the Futures Of Postsecondary Education Exploration Toolkit

Abstract

Thinking about the long-term future can be difficult because it is too abstract or too ambiguous. However, it is critical to engage in long-term thinking exercises, since the choices we make today will shape the futures that are possible. To support that long-term thinking capacity, the Research and Foresight team at eCampusOntario have designed artifacts from the future of higher education. Artifacts from the future are imaginary objects designed by extrapolating possibilities from the patterns of change we see today. They are created to give a “tangible” experience of what a possible future could be like.

This toolkit guides users through an exploration of artifacts from the futures of post-secondary education and help start conversations to delve into their implications. Users will be able to explore fictional artifacts that represent educational technologies that could exist in the future.. The toolkit includes 4 artifacts and 3 card deck games designed to spark critical and creative conversations to explore a broad spectrum of implications that the artifacts from the future may present for the post-secondary education sector and its stakeholders.