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Pre-Conference Workshop M2

M2 - Vision Directing: Deploying Imagery and Collective Judgement to Shape Learning Futures

Date Wednesday, 2 Dec Time   –    Price: 95.00 € Status: places available

OEB speaker Gilly Salmon

Gilly Salmon

CEO, Education Alchemists. Ltd

How can we think differently about complex educational challenges and explore futures beyond our immediate assumptions? This interactive workshop introduces a creative and structured methodology for navigating uncertainty, identifying opportunities and shaping possible pathways for learning futures.

Using a curated set of visual "vision cards", participants will explore imagery as a cognitive and strategic tool for expanding perspectives and connecting ideas in new ways, drawing on research in cognitive science showing that mental imagery enhances creative cognition and supports the exploration of alternative futures. Working individually, in pairs or in small groups, participants can bring their own complex challenge or wicked problem, or contribute to challenges brought by others. Through an iterative process, they will move from the current situation towards possible futures, considering constraints, emerging opportunities and the decisions that could shape different outcomes.

Groups will identify critical decisions, potential risks and non-negotiable areas of human judgement. They will then compare their perspectives and pathways with the wider group, exploring where different assumptions lead to different futures. Participants will leave with new ideas to extend and explore throughout the conference, a practical, transferable methodology for collaborative future-shaping that can be applied in teaching, leadership and organisational contexts.

Agenda: To be confirmed

Target Audience: Educators, Learning Designers, Education Leaders, Trainers, Researchers, Organisational Leaders and Innovation Professionals

Target Audience Sector: Primary Education, Secondary Education, TVET / Vocational Education, Higher Education, Adult / Continuing Education, Workplace Learning

Prerequisite Knowledge: No prior knowledge of the methodology is required. Participants may bring a complex educational challenge or contribute to a challenge presented by another participant.

Expected Outcomes:

  • Apply a practical methodology for exploring and shaping learning futures.
  • Use visual imagery to expand perspectives and support creative problem-solving.
  • Explore complex challenges collaboratively through iterative future-oriented design.
  • Identify critical decisions, risks and areas where human judgement remains essential.
  • Transfer the methodology to teaching, leadership and organisational contexts.