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Collective Learning

Driving Question: How did early humans share and improve upon knowledge?

Can you imagine trying to tell someone how to play a sport without the use of words or gestures? The ability to create stories and improve on ideas sets humans apart from other species. The key to our success has a lot to do with our use of symbolic language, which allows us to participate in collective learning.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define collective learning.
  2. Describe early evidence of collective learning.

Vocab Terms:

  • collective learning
  • innovation
  • petroglyph
  • symbolic langauge
  • tool
STEP 1

Opener: Collective Learning

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 4.3 Teaching Guide Locked .

Looking for more examples of collective learning? Check out this blog post External link .

Humans are exceptional in their ability to learn collectively, building on each other’s innovations over time. You can even see it in some of our species’ earliest art.

STEP 2

Passing Down Knowledge

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 4.3 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out our Reading Guide to learn about the Three-Step Reading approach.

You began life with an incredible advantage over any nonhuman animal on Earth: you’re part of a species with the power to pass knowledge through time.

STEP 3

Art and Collective Learning

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of the Lesson 4.3 Teaching Guide Locked .

Check out the OER Project Video Guide for tips on using video in the classroom.

Many Indigenous cultures offer living links to some of humanity’s most ancient knowledge. Watch this video on “reading” petroglyphs, and then put your skills to the test.

Written in Stone: Petroglyphs External link

Ancestral Puebloans left behind hundreds of thousands of petroglyphs. These rock carvings communicate ceremonial, practical, and astronomical knowledge.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 4

Closer: Collective Learning

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 5 of the Lesson 4.3 Teaching Guide Locked .

Remember that Closers are a great opportunity to informally assess student understanding. Read more about that in the OER Project Assessment Guide.

Humans are a learning species—after all, you’re doing it right now. Let’s put it all together and see what you’ve picked up about collective learning.

Extension Materials
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Ancient stone tools might not seem very exciting, but making them is pretty cool.
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Toolmaking

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 5 of the Lesson 4.3 Teaching Guide Locked .

Find out how early humans created simple but effective stone tools.

Making Stone Tools External link

Early humans made stone tools for millions of years. How did they improve upon their toolmaking skills?