This semester, we will explore the ethics of science and technology, globalization, and the American culture of waste. As a class, we will examine where science is today with fetal genome sequencing and CRISPR systems that can be programmed to target specific stretches of genetic code and to edit DNA. We will compare technology today with science fiction and literature of the twentieth century with various short stories and Octavia Butler's novel Parable of the Sower.
Students will then individually research their own interests related to technology and science fiction and create a short, highly edited video (in a group of four) that examines these themes to show at the Freshman Block Party May 7th.
We will continue the semester with a poetry unit alongside Butler's novel. Here we will collaborate with Chris Wakefield's math class. Students will learn to compose music with the circle of fifths in math and will write lyrics and melodies in humanities class. In this unit, we will dive directly into identity work and try to understand the world through the eyes of each student. Why do teens today make the choices they do? What do teens care about? What fashion choices are they making? More importantly, why? From here, we will examine the economy through globalization, trade, and foreign policy as it relates to each student to provide the lyrics to our songs.