Some of you probably saw a program on the History Channel on March 12, 2006:
"How William Shatner Changed the
World".
I watched it, and
was impressed with the people
interviewed who were so
influenced and inspired by Star
Trek that they devoted to their
lives to careers, research and
inventions that really did
change the world. Astronauts and
other NASA scientists;
Professor Stephen Hawking;
Dr. Seth Shostak, Senior
Astronomer at
SETI; Marty Cooper, a chief
engineer at Motorola; brilliant
minds from Silicon Valley, and
more!
It occurred to me that this
could be the theme of a unit.
The possibilities for Expert
Groups in this study would
include:
- Cell phones
- Computers
- Medical technologies
- SETI Program
- Space Exploration
- Transporters
- Warp Drive
Each of these areas is
summarized with a timeline on
the
Discovery Channel web site.
Not only could you pull out
strands related to ALL THE
DISCIPLINES, from physics and
calculus to literature and media
literacy, this would be a great
way to get our students to start
thinking about the possibilities
for their future, and the role
they could play in creating it.
Other areas to study related
to the Star Trek series would
include multilculturalism;
sexism and feminism; prejudice
(racial, religious, etc.),
militarism and peace; and other
social issues.
We would love to hear your
ideas and suggestions for such a
unit!
Please email us!
How
William Shatner Changed the World