The Tour from the Future

This activity helps learners rise above the challenges of the current moment and think more expansively about future possibilities. It’s a great tool for school or district leaders who are feeling mired in current political or bureaucratic challenges. (That said, you can also use it to get students thinking about the future of their city, life, or home!)

Another feature of this tool is that it invites participants to think visually about the future. We often imagine the future as an abstract concept that can feel removed from our current reality. The more we build specific details into the future we see, the more tangible and relatable it becomes, helping to engage and inspire others. We suggest you prompt your participants to be specific and visual in this activity. Have them use visuals, objects or prototypes to capture how they believe a space will change. As they give the tour, urge them to bring participants into the world in an experiential, tactile way so they assume a place in the world you imagine.