Human Systems
Driving Question: How might human systems increase complexity?
Over time, humans have developed more complex human systems, or ways in which we interact with others. These human systems impact things like our communities, states, economies, and belief systems. But how will these systems impact our future?
Learning Objectives:
- Evaluate how changes in human social organization transform life on Earth.
- Explain how human systems might impact our future.
Vocab Terms:
- Anthropocene
- fossil fuel
- globalization
- population
- social
- system
Over the past few lessons, we’ve worked to understand natural and technological systems. But to really get to any insight about our future, we have to understand ourselves.
This is the last Visions of the Future activity before students use their completed activities to predict what the next threshold might be in the next lesson.
Use audio and allow students to follow along with the article while listening. They can use a pencil or pen to help track the speaker, pause at ideas or words they aren’t sure of, rewind and relisten as necessary. Check out more reading tips on pages 3 and 4 of the Differentiation Guide.
Can we change the world? It should be clear by now that we already have, many times over. But can we change it for the better? This article and activity help you think through this serious question.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- How does the human body work as a system?
- What does systems thinking mean?
- What are the benefits of combining futuring and systems thinking?
- What type of things should we consider when building systems of the future?
After you read
Respond to these questions:
- What are other examples of systems in our world today that are not mentioned in the article?
- Choose one of the examples you gave for the question above. What is one change that might occur to this system in the future?
Unit Notebook time? Unit Notebook time.
