World population growth, overconsumption of resources, competition among countries and climate change are putting significant pressure on agriculture. In Canada, changes in precipitation, the appearance of new pests and poor soil quality are threatening the prosperity of small farmers. What human competencies could facilitate citizens' adaptation…

Outlines an approach for preparing and using futures scenarios that has been successful in the formulation of long-range plans and policies. How to construct a scenario and how to draw implications from the scenarios are discussed. (AM)

By thinking about and trying to predict the future, we force ourselves to articulate our feelings and thoughts about that future. A technique using intuitive and logical thinking based on right brain-left brain differences is proposed to aid in decision making by both groups and individuals. (Author/IS)

Key assumptions, ideology, and biases of future studies are critiqued in an attempt to enhance the field's applicability and impact throughout the world. (RM)

This bibliography presents a list of resources relating to the Delphi approach and its application in many different arenas. Books, papers, and journal articles in periodicals are included in the listing, which covers the years 1963-1996. (EH)

The National Center for Education Statistics supported this conference as a first step in a dialogue among forecasters to benefit all in the field. Fifty forecasters representing 20 different federal agencies attended the day-long session. Objectives of the conference include: (1) to bring forecasters together for a forum to share information on…

Effective decision-making depends upon true communication among decision-makers. Futurists should develop fundamental thinking skills such as the ability to formulate good questions, consider alternative points of view, and set short- and long-range goals. By example and through education, the "tools of futuristics" can be employed usefully in…

Planning for the distant future should be an integral part of current decision making. (JD)

Offers a sequential model of futures research techniques that is applied to a hypothetical situation to indicate its applicability as a means by which public relations professionals can approach the task of saying today what may happen tomorrow. (SRT)

This paper examines the philosophical approaches to knowledge that have governed education and concludes that a new paradigm is needed for the new millennium. Education is subdivided into a three-level hierarchy, including: (1) the accumulation of factoids as knowledge; (2) the development of knowledge into theories and models for the purpose of…

This essay presents the major ideas of the book "The Work of Nations: Preparing Ourselves for 21st Century Capitalism" (1991), written by Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Reich describes the development of the symbolic-analyst as the new citizen in the economic order, utilizing the basic skills of…

This essay critiques the book "The Work of Nations: Preparing Ourselves for 21st Century Capitalism" (1991), by Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Reich described the development of the symbolic-analyst as the new citizen in the economic order, utilizing the basic skills of abstraction, system thinking,…

The focus of the session summarized in this paper was on how postsecondary educational institutions can better anticipate the future of higher education by using the "alternative futures approach to planning" model. The alternative futures model processes the best available information obtainable so that plausible alternative futures in…

This paper addresses the problem of shaping new strategies in the face of current enrollment declines at many colleges and universities. It describes an approach that applies a long term planning model that can incorporate the short-term realities of lower enrollments and budget constraints with projections for new strategic initiatives. The paper…

Planning to meet the needs of the future is a critical concern of an Arizona school district. The Mesa Action Planning System (MAPS) provides a framework for community involvement with a 200-member community-based planning committee, selected from constituent groups, and a 12-member steering committee. The planning committee will receive a summary…