In this activity, students explore how mapping can help them reflect on their values and the impact they want to create. By imagining a preferred future rather than predicting it, they learn to look beyond immediate goals and consider their role in broader societal and ecological contexts. Through creating and sharing a personal vision map, students gain insight into what matters to them and how their choices today can align with the long-term impact they aspire to contribute to.
- Activity goal
- Brainstorm | Practice skills | Reflect
- When
- In class
- Where
- Online
- Duration
- < 60 minutes | > 60 minutes
- Group size
- Small | Medium
Step-by-step plan
Step 1: Introduction
First explain the concept of long-term orientation and why it matters for sustainability and social justice. Emphasize that visioning is not about predicting the future, but about imagining a preferred one. This activity is about what matters to each student and the kind of impact they want to create. Use examples of individuals or organizations with strong long-term visions (e.g. Patagonia, UN SDGs).
Step 2: Create a personal vision map
Ask students to create a vision map of their life 10 years from now. This can include personal life, career, values, and societal impact. Students can choose a format that suits them best, such as a mind map, timeline, or visual collage (physical or digital).
Provide guiding questions to support their thinking:
- What kind of person do you want to be?
- What kind of work or role do you see yourself in?
- What values will guide your decisions?
- What difference do you want to make in the lives of others or in society?
Encourage students to look beyond job titles and focus on purpose and possible influence on communities, systems, and future generations.
Step 3: Sharing and connecting in groups
Ask students to share their vision maps in small groups. Let them compare their visions and identify similarities and differences, especially in terms of values, societal impact, and long-term goals. Encourage them to look for common themes such as sustainability, equity, or well-being.
Example prompts:
- What similarities do you notice across your visions?
- What values seem to come up repeatedly?
- What surprised you in others’ visions?
- How do your visions relate to broader societal or ecological challenges?
Step 4: Conclude
Conclude with a plenary discussion on the core values behind students’ visions and whether these focus on individual or collective well-being. Highlight the importance of aligning actions with values and how long-term thinking can guide present-day decisions.
Consider the tools and materials mentioned here as suggestions. In many cases it’s possible to use alternative tools. Please turn to the Learning & Innovation team of your faculty first to see which online and offline tools are available and how to apply them.
Online
- Paper and writing/drawing materials (for a physical vision map)
Tip 1
- Allow flexibility in how students express their vision (e.g., drawing, writing, digitally, on paper).
Tip 2
- Support students with a simple sample vision map to reduce uncertainty about expectations.
