Understand. Anticipate. Prepare. Embrace.

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Futures consciousness is the human capacity to understand, anticipate, prepare for, and embrace the future. In learning environments, futures thinking is not about predicting outcomes—it is about becoming aware of how we think about what comes next.

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When integrating futures-oriented learning into the classroom, it is important to surface and examine how students approach the future, rather than assuming growth or change. Thoughtful measurement helps educators understand starting points, patterns, and instructional focus.

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About Teach the Future®

Teach the Future® is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing students for tomorrow by teaching them about the future, today.

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We support schools and educators through futures literacy curriculum, tools, and professional learning, and by helping students imagine possibilities, reflect on consequences, and engage thoughtfully with uncertainty.

 

Background to the Futures Consciousness Scale

Source: https://futuresconsciousness.utu.fi/research-team/ 

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The Futures Consciousness framework describes a set of interrelated psychological dispositions and abilities that influence how individuals and groups relate to the future.

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It includes five dimensions, which work together as an integrated system:

1. Time Perspective
   Awareness of past, present, and future connections, including long-term consequences.

2. Agency Beliefs
   Beliefs about one’s ability to influence future outcomes.

3. Systems Perception
   Understanding how human and natural systems are interconnected and how actions ripple across them.

4. Concern for Others
   Moral and ethical considerations for people across distances and time, including future generations.

5. Openness to Alternatives
   Willingness to question assumptions and imagine multiple possible futures.

 

These dimensions provide a shared language for discussing futures-oriented thinking in educational contexts.

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What the FCS-Y Survey Is (and Is Not)

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Survey Use and Purpose

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The Futures Consciousness Scale for Youth (FCS-Y) is not a diagnostic tool.

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Futures consciousness refers to a set of skills and competencies that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time. The FCS-Y survey provides a descriptive snapshot of how a group currently approaches futures-oriented thinking.

 

Survey results are intended to:

• Support instructional planning

• Inform discussion and reflection

• Establish a shared starting point for learning

 

They are not designed to test, rank, or evaluate individual students, nor to guarantee change or improvement.

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Start Free

 

No Cost​

1. Pre-Survey
   Survey one class or group (up to 40 students) to establish a group-level snapshot.

2. Initial Report
   Receive a summary describing how the group currently approaches futures-oriented thinking across the five dimensions.

 

Who Can Access the Free Survey

1. Teachers and educators

2. Youth organizations

3. Youth workshop facilitators

4. Nonprofit youth-serving organizations​

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If you are a corporation, government entity, or large-scale institution, please tell us about your organization’s specific needs.

 

Get Started Today

​Please complete the form below, and we will send you an access code and web details. Please allow 24-72 hours for a response. 

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