The Next Threshold
Teacher Resources
Driving Question: What’s the next threshold?
We don’t have a crystal ball that can show us the future, but we do have the lessons of Big History to help us predict what might happen. What will your vision of the future be?
Learning Objectives:
- Compare different possibilities for the future.
- Propose a vision of the future based on new understandings of the past.
Vocab Terms:
- collective learning
- complexity
- conscious
- entropy
- threshold of increasing complexity
Opener: The Next Threshold
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 7.6 Teaching Guide.
Check out the blog “How can an understanding of history help us predict the future?” to learn about how historical reasoning can help us gain insight into the future.
No one can see the future, but with some educated guesses we can start preparing to create the future we all want. That’s your task with this opener!
Future Complexity
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 7.6 Teaching Guide.
Looking to differentiate, modify or adapt this assignment? Check out our Differentiation Guide.
We’re bringing in a special guest to help us speculate on the future: David Christian, whose ideas were the origin of this very course! See if you agree with his threshold proposal, and then create your own.
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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:
- Why should our Universe be getting less complex?
- What are some examples of humans making conscious decisions?
- What does David Christian mean when he says that our planet is becoming conscious?
- What are the two big advantages collective learning gives us?
- How would you answer David Christian’s question about whether there are other conscious planets in the Universe?
After you read
Respond to these questions: Do you agree with David Christian’s proposed next threshold? Why or why not?
Closer: The Next Threshold
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 7.6 Teaching Guide.
Join our online teacher community here to engage with other educators about Big History Project.
Is this it? The end? It just might be! But remember: Every ending is always just the beginning of something new.
Bite-Size Big History
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 4 of the Lesson 7.6 Teaching Guide.
Our Assessment Guide shares our approach to assessments of all kinds—check it out!
Speculating on the most important future development will help prepare you for what’s to come.