Technological Advances and Limitations After 1900: Disease
Teacher Resources
Driving Question: To what extent has technology helped mitigate the effects of diseases, and where has it failed to do so?
The environmental historian J.R. McNeill argues that since the end of the Second World War, the pace of change produced by human activities has accelerated at an unprecedented rate. During the era of intense globalization, technological innovation, population growth, and human impacts on the planet have all increased exponentially. Why did this dramatic acceleration start, and how will it impact life on Earth?
Learning Objectives
- Explain how environmental factors affected human populations over time.
- Create and support arguments using historical evidence to communicate conclusions.
Vocab Terms:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- antibiotic
- cholera
- epidemic
- microbe
- non-communicable
- vaccine
Opener: Technological Advances and Limitations After 1900: Disease
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 9.2 Teaching Guide.
Understanding globalization requires us to revisit some familiar terms while learning some fresh ones at the same time. This matching activity will help you connect the old with the new.
Technological Innovations and Limitations
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 9.2 Teaching Guide.
This is in development and will be coming soon!
Eradicating Smallpox
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 9.2 Teaching Guide.
Looking for tips on using video in an instructionally sound way? Look no further than the OER Project Video Guide.
The eradication of smallpox was a huge step in helping ensure the safety of mankind. What can we learn from this feat to help prevent future pandemics?
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Guiding Questions
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Before you watch
Preview the questions below, and then review the transcript.
While you watch
Look for answers to these questions:
- According to Dr. Larry Brilliant, what made smallpox the worst disease in history?
- What is variolation?
- Who created the first smallpox vaccine? According to Dr. Larry, how did that person discover and test vaccines?
- What was ring vaccination?
- According to Dr. Larry, what was the most important factor in eradicating smallpox?
After you watch
Respond to the following questions:
- To what extent does this video explain how environmental factors, along with new technologies, affected human populations from 1900 to the present?
- After watching this video, what do you think is the single most important step that humanity could take to prevent another pandemic?
Key Ideas
Closer: Technological Advances and Limitations After 1900: Disease
To teach this lesson step, refer to page 5 of the Lesson 9.2 Teaching Guide.
Now that you’ve learned a bit about globalization, see if you can boil down this huge and complex process into a simple advertising jingle.
