Teaching futures thinking literacy and futures studies in schools

Abstract

This essay introduces a new framework for teaching-learning utilizing a novel transdisciplinary subject named 'Futures Studies' and a novel literacy called 'futures thinking literacy' taught in a learning environment named LIFTS (Learning In Futures Thinking Societies). 'Futures studies', which is not a novel field, includes investigating the past, understanding the present, and forecasting and suggesting several futures. It requires futures thinking literacy. Futures thinking literacy, considered a meta-literacy, integrates language, digital/information, and scientific/critical literacies to enable elementary and secondary school learners think about the future in any topics or disciplines they study. The example unit for middle school students is based on the Multidimensional Curriculum Model (MdCM), which was found effective in developing scientific, creative and futures thinking. Suggestions for adapting the unit for elementary and high school students are available. The proposed novel subject and literacy identify and combine cognitive, social-emotional factors and teaching-learning applications that influence learning. They open a new line of research for investigation of the development of futures thinking literacy among learners of all ability and grade levels.