The Learning Lab experience is supported by both asynchronous and synchronous components. Each part includes a set of resources, an asynchronous discussion, and an interactive live session, all of which culminate in the development of a project to apply learning to local and specific contexts in support of the learning objectives.
Schedule
Part 1: Foundations of Strategic Foresight
September 16, 2025, 12:00 noon–1:30 p.m. ET
In part 1 of this lab, we’ll lay the groundwork for cultivating a strategic foresight mindset and skills to help you navigate the accelerating complexity of higher education. This session introduces participants to the foundational concepts and practices of strategic foresight, starting with a shared definition and the full foresight cycle: preparation, foresight, insight, and action.
Participants will begin with a reflective exercise to uncover their own assumptions about the future. We’ll explore how to intentionally shift our perspective by “looking back to look forward,” drawing on historical patterns and technological trajectories to better anticipate what might come next.
Using the EDUCAUSE Horizon Reports as a resource, participants will learn how to identify and interpret signals of change and emerging trends. Together, we will scan the horizon for developments across AI and other technologies, society, and education, then explore their potential implications for institutional strategy, teaching and learning, digital transformation, and student success.
By the end of this session, participants will be equipped with practical foresight tools they can immediately apply to planning, policy, pedagogy, or innovation. This is more than theory—it's a hands-on, participatory experience designed to help you actively shape the future rather than passively inherit it.
Learning Objectives
- Define strategic foresight.
- Understand the full cycle of strategic foresight: preparation, foresight, insight, action.
- Prepare your mind by identifying assumptions about the future.
- Practice looking back to look forward.
- Identify signals of change and trends.
- Become familiar with EDUCAUSE Horizon Reports.
- Consider implications of current trends and signals for your own work.
Part 2: Crafting Compelling Futures
September 22, 2025, 12:00 noon–1:30 p.m. ET
Building on the foundations from Part 1, this session dives into the creative and analytical heart of strategic foresight: scenario building. Participants will learn how to move from identifying signals of change and emerging trends to crafting rich, plausible stories about the future that challenge assumptions and open new possibilities.
We’ll begin by introducing the Alternative Futures Framework, which helps us explore a diverse range of future trajectories. Participants will work with signals and trends—drawn from the EDUCAUSE Horizon Reports and their own domains—to collaboratively draft future scenarios relevant to AI and higher education.
Participants will also be guided through the art of writing their own future scenarios, developing narratives that reflect different pathways the future might take. These stories can become powerful tools for reflection, strategic planning, and innovation, and can help institutions prepare for uncertainty and shape desirable futures.
By the end of this session, participants will understand how to use foresight methods to generate actionable insight, and how storytelling can make abstract trends and signals meaningful for decision-making and dialogue. Whether you’re a campus leader, technologist, or educator, scenario creation offers a structured, imaginative way to think beyond today.
Learning Objectives
- Use signals of change and trends to draft a future scenario./li>
- Understand the Alternative Futures Framework./li>
- Write your own future scenarios./li>
- Explore how scenario-building can generate actionable insights.
Part 3: From Insight to Planning
September 25, 2025, 12:00 noon–1:30 p.m. ET
In the third and fourth sessions of the Foresight Learning Lab, participants will begin applying foundational foresight concepts to their local contexts—moving from vision to action. Participants will first identify their preferred future from the scenarios developed in the previous session. Then, through examples and guided planning tools, they will explore how to translate that vision into a practical action plan. Using a structured roadmap template, participants will prioritize key actions and organize them into short-, mid-, and long-term steps to begin shaping their preferred future.
Learning Objectives
- Articulate a preferred future based on previously developed scenarios.
- Identify action planning tools and select appropriate tools for starting the action planning.
- Build an action roadmap for the identified preferred future.
Part 4: Making it Personal: Taking Action in Your Local Context
September 30, 2025, 12:00 noon–1:30 p.m. ET
The final session focuses on how and when to integrate Strategic Foresight into your local context to support future-focused thinking and action. Participants will explore potential inflection points—opportunities to raise awareness, spark strategic conversations, and embed foresight practices within their teams or institutions. Through discussion and real-world examples, they’ll assess both the benefits and challenges of foresight engagement. Participants will leave with practical tools and a personalized plan for involving colleagues in Strategic Foresight efforts.
Learning Objectives
- Identify opportunities to use Strategic Foresight to make action plans in your own context.
- Make a plan to engage colleagues in future-focused planning.
Lab Project/Assignment
This Learning Lab guides participants through the full Strategic Foresight cycle—preparation, foresight, insight, and action—equipping them to lead with clarity and creativity in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.
In Part 1, participants explore foundational foresight concepts, examine their assumptions about the future, and practice horizon scanning using tools like the EDUCAUSE Horizon Reports. Part 2 introduces the Alternative Futures Framework, helping participants transform signals and trends into compelling, strategic scenarios.
Parts 3 and 4 shift from exploration to action. Participants define a preferred future, build an actionable roadmap, and sequence short-, mid-, and long-term strategies. They also examine how to embed foresight into institutional planning and engage colleagues in future-focused conversations.
Through reflection, scenario development, and collaborative design, participants gain the tools and confidence to apply foresight in planning, teaching, policy, and innovation. Whether leading strategic initiatives or reimagining learning models, they leave with a practical framework and a tailored plan for applying foresight in their own context.
By the end of the lab, participants will be ready to move beyond reactive problem-solving and embrace future-ready leadership—actively shaping what’s next for their institutions and the communities they serve.