UNIT 4 - UPGRADING HUMANS

UPGRADING HUMANS

Theme 1 : knowlegde, creation, innovation Axis 2 : sciences and techniques, promises and challenges

Should humans try to improve themselves whatever the cost?

Introduction

STEP 1 - How is science helping humans?

I. Scientific improvements

II. Artificial intelligence

Introduction

STEP 2 - The next step of human evolution

I. Transhumanism

II. Artificial enhancement

Introduction

STEP 3 - A potential loss of humanity?

I. Conditioning humans

II. Disposable humans

Instructions

Introduction

1. Present the document. 2. Describe the cover and make hypothesis on the purpose of the image and the topics it tackles.

Objective of the lesson

Introduce the new topic

Cover fromNational Geographic (2017)

Step 1

I.Scientific improvements

Instructions

How is science helping humans?

Watch the videos and take as many notes as you can to answer the following questions

Objective of the lessons

Watch two videos and see how science is actually helping humans

Step 1

I. Scientific improvements

DOC A - Bioprinting

1. Present the document and Ted Ed. 2. Give a definition of bioprinting and say how it works. 3. Why is it another step forward? What hope does it give? 4. Give examples of what they've already accomplished.

Step 1

I. Scientific improvements

Step 1

I. Scientific improvements

DOC B - eLegs

1. Present the document and the purpose of eLegs. 2. Sum up on the origins of the project and who worked on it. 3. How did Amanda feel? 4. Considering this innovation, answer the question: how is science helping humans?

Step 1

I. Scientific improvements

Step 1

II. Artificial intelligence

Instructions

How is science helping humans?

1. PRL on the present prefect. 2. Listen to the oral presentation. 3. Read and prepare docs C and D

Objective of the lessons

Write a synthesis of the three documents to explain artificial intelligence

Step 1

Step 1 - Conclude

Conclude on how science can help improve the human condition and discuss what the limits could be.

Step 2

I. Transhumanism

Instructions

The next step of human evolution?

1. Read this plate from a famous comics (p.9) 2. Answer the following questions.

Objective of the lessons

Give a first definition to transhumanism

Step 2

I. Transhumanism

DOC F - The transformation

1. Present the document and make some research on the origins of the comics. 2. Describe Steve Rogers - describe Captain America. 3. Analyse who speaks and who doesn't. Why? 4. Explain the purpose of the experiment.

Step 2

I. Transhumanism

Instructions

The next step of human evolution?

1. Read this plate from a graphic novel (p.10) 2. Answer the following questions.

Objective of the lessons

Complete the first definition

From Transhuman(2009)

Step 2

Introduction

DOC G - Transhumans

1. Present the document and list the different reasons they have to become transhuman. What are your opinions on those reasons? 2. Draw a parallel with Captain America. 3. What is a transhuman?

Step 2

I. Transhumanism

Instructions

The next step of human evolution?

1. Watch a video from the BBC. 2. Take as many notes as you can. 3. Answer the following questions.

Objective of the lessons

Have a full overview on transhumanism

Step 2

Introduction

DOC H - Transhumanism

1. Present the document and give a definition of transhumanism. 2. What are the improvements transhumanists wish for? 3. 'The future belongs to artificial intelligence'. Why? 4. What are the risks? Give your opinion on transhumanism.

Step 2

II. Artificial enhancement

Instructions

1. Listen to the oral presentation. Take as many notes as you can. 2. Watch a video. 3. Recap on artificial enhancement.

Artificial enhancement

Objective of the lessons

Show the benefits and the risks of technical enhancement

Step 3

Introduction

Instructions

1. Reflect on the quote. 2. Listen to the oral presentation. Take as many notes as you can. 3. Watch a video. 4. Answer the questions. 5. Recap

Conditioning humans

Objective of the lessons

Discover the risks of scientific improvements

Step 3

Introduction

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should"Pr Ian Malcom, Jurrasic Park (1993)

Step 3

Introduction

Step 3

I. Conditioning humans

DOC K - CRISPR

1. Present the document, give a definition for CRISPR and what can be done with this tool. 2. Explain how it works. 3. Explain why it raises ethical questions.

Step 3

II. Disposable Humans

Instructions

1. There are 3 documents to work on. 3 documents for 8 groups. Each group works on one document and link with doc O. 2. Recap

Disposable humans

Objective of the lessons

Question the ethical aspects of science

1. Present the doc, explain the situation and give details on the characters + make the list of her donations. 2. Explain: 'I wouldn't even be alive if it wasn't for Kate being sick'. Focus on Anna's feelings. 3. Explain the ethical issue of a designer baby. 4. Opinion?

Step 3

II. Disposable humans

1. Present the doc, explain the situation. 2. Define the term 'designer baby' and explain why the Whitakers chose this option. 3. Discuss the 'positive' aspect of a designer baby and the difficulty it generates. 4. Link with doc O. Opinion?

1. Present the doc and pick out information about the context which led to the use of cloning. 2. Pick out the arguments used by Miss Emily to justify cloning and the creation of donors. 3. Discuss the meaning of the last 2 sentences. How do you feel?

Step 1

Step 3 - Conclude

Conclude on step 3. Are technological and scientific imporvements are synonyms with the loss of humanity? Do they raise more ethical questions than they should?

Step 2

MICRO TASK

Oral practice (POC): You record a podcast for your channel. You express your fears on the future of mankind. How scared are you on genetic engineering? What are your thoughts on all of the innovations you've studied? Are you rather optimistic or pessimistic? 5-6 minutes