Unit

Topic

Fernando M. Reimers et al.

TIGA
The Acceleration of Technological Change and the Future

Themes Work and mind habits: innovation and creativity; knowl—

Region
Length

edge: politics (global risks); investigative and analytical
skills; assessing global affairs: evaluate sources, the use of
evidence, and creative communication; and global problem
solving: future studies, scenario building, and the use of
technology

Not applicable

Four weeks

Goals and Objectives

1.

3.

Learn to understand the exponential rate of technological develop—
ment, the implications of this acceleration for our ability to address
social challenges, and the concept of singularity proposed by Ray
Kurzweil.

Inspire students to engage in the utilization of technology to ad—
dress social purposes that are meaningful to them.

Evaluate a development that addresses a global challenge and is
based on an emerging technology.

Skills and Knowledge

Students will recognize the exponential nature of technological de—
velopment and the ability of smaller groups of people to design in—
novative solutions to global challenges through approaches such as
the XPRIZE.

Students will identify the concept of singularity.

Students will explain and describe the ways in which a current glob—
al challenge can be ameliorated or solved through the use of an
emerging technology.

414