One of the best ways to determine what your community needs, and what your students
may need, is to talk to those who are directly impacted by our decisions and actions. A
second way, of course, is to research other educational programs, businesses, and
political aspects of our environment, currently and in the future.
So let’s do all three – research, talk, and reflect upon these elements. Please feel free to
add any other measures that you feel could be used to determine potential impact upon
your students and their educational program.
We are looking far into the future now, rather than in the decade timeframe often used
for strategic planning. But to look into the future, we have to start where we are.
For this formative assessment, you get to expand your thinking (and your
personal/professional network).
Review the information provided in the articles and materials provided AS WELL AS any
other content that you may have discovered in your consideration of futuristic needs for
educational programs.
● Investigate the future trends and issues that may occur. And do this through
research, discussion and reflection.
● Conduct 3-5 interviews with people who have knowledge that could impact
the direction of your workplace. Consider your supervisor and those above
him / her, community members, higher institution faculty / leadership.
The focus of your interviews should be on anticipated future trends and issues that will
impact the work of your institution (ie: educational programming, services provided, day
to day operations)
From your interviews (print, email, audio, notes, etc.) synthesize a set of potential
issues or trends that may impact your institution.
The formatting of your synthesis is your choice: presentation, listing with narrative, chart
with explanatory text, etc.
Submit your synthesis, with APA formatted citations and references.
