Brains Trust
Courage Quests
Human Inter-actions
This section covers the evolution of the planet and the human species, looking at key issues that have impacted on our development, environmentally, socially, technologically and economically. It is quite a long section of curriculum but you can pick and choose the elements that interest you most.
How did everything begin? What even is 'everything'?
Scientists believe time, space and the universe were created by an event called the Big Bang, which happened over 13 billion years ago - before that, there was 'nothing'!
Confused? Well, this is a bit confusing! Big History is the scientific exploration of how the Universe started and how matter and energy came into existence, forming the common story we all share on planet Earth.
There are a number of videos that try to explain this process, and we've selected just a few for you to choose from - or you can watch all three, if you want! Unless this area of science is one you are interested in studying further, you don't have to understand it fully. It is nevertheless important to have a general idea about how the Earth was formed, being the starting point in the journey of how we got here today.
The shortest overview is provided by National Geographic:
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This TED Talk is more like someone telling a story:
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This next video is the first of a series for those particularly interested in Big History and the Big Bang. If you find it interesting, you can watch the rest of the series on the OER Project YouTube channel.
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The Big Bang (5 coins)
Wow! Did you understand that?
Moving forward a few billion years from the Big Bang, planet Earth is formed. This next video gives a good overview of the Earth's formation and introduces us to the idea of plates covering the Earth's surface.
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These plates are not static - they move, albeit very slowly. This movement is what we feel when there is an earthquake. To understand the effects of the plates' movement, watch this next video. It introduces the different types of plates, how they move, and the impact of their movement.
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There are lots of different activities that can be done on the topic of plate tectonics. You don't have to do them all now, but eventually you should aim to complete at least 20 coins' worth.
Watch the 1995 film Waterworld, directed by Kevin Reynolds. You can watch the trailer here:
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Then answer the following questions on the 'Waterworld forum'. You must reference the following concepts in your answers: flood, drought, plate tectonics.
The last section of the planet we need to consider is the atmosphere. This is the layer of gas that surrounds the Earth and allows us to breath, amongst other things.
These next videos explain how the atmosphere works. The first has a very annoying cartoon narrator, but it gives a clear description of the five layers of the atmosphere:
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Finally, let's consider what would happen if the atmosphere disappeared!
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Atmosphere diagram (5 coins)
Our weather is one of the systems that exists within the atmosphere. It is caused by the flow of air and ocean currents, which in turn cause pressure changes in the atmosphere. The next video provides a basic introduction to the weather.
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In the second video on the atmosphere above, a tornado was compared to a whirlpool. How do extreme weather events like this form? The next video provides a good explanation of severe weather occurrences.
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If you're interested in extreme weather events, there are a number of videos on YouTube, many of which have a lot of swearing on the part of the people filming them! This one doesn't, though – it's a compilation of natural disaster footage to demonstrate the types of event that can occur. It's quite long, but it provides a vivid illustration of the power of nature.
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Did you know?
For those really interested in the weather, here's a video of 25 facts you might not know about the atmosphere, including how thunder works.
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What is evolution?
Oxford Dictionaries define the word 'evolution' as follows:
noun
synonyms: unfolding, recasting, humorous: transmogrification, rare: evolvement
Word Origin
early 17th century: from Latin evolutio(n-) 'unrolling', from the verb evolvere (see evolve). Early senses related to movement, first recorded in describing a 'wheeling' maneuver in the realignment of troops or ships. Current senses stem from a notion of 'opening out', giving rise to the sense 'development'.
It's interesting that the origin of the word came from 'unrolling' - which has a reverse momentum to it - while the notion of evolution is progressive, with forward momentum as elements evolve. Evolution occurs over a period of time, and involves something changing from the start of the period of time to the end.
Evolution (5 coins)
Consider the word 'evolution' and what it means to you. Can you identify things that evolve, aside from living beings? The mobile phone, for example, or the climate. Post two things that evolve aside from living beings on the 'Evolution research forum'.
Natural selection
Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection is generally accepted by the scientific community as the best explanation for how life evolved on Earth. In its simplest form, natural selection describes how traits that help an organism survive and reproduce are more likely to be passed on, making those traits more common in the population.
This next video provides a good historical overview of how the theory of evolution evolved.
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The origins of life on Earth
But how did it all start? The next video takes us from the very beginning of life on Earth - the technical term for this is 'abiogenesis'!
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Autotrophs and heterotrophs (5 coins)
The video above introduces the distinction between autotrophs and heterotrophs. Autotrophs generate their own energy,
whereas heterotrophs consume other organisms for energy. Consider your average day and answer the following questions, posting your answers on the 'Heterotrophs forum':
Alternative explanations
The next video offers three different theories to explain the development of life on Earth, along with a brief discussion of natural selection and another concept called catastrophism. The first three theories attempt to explain abiogenesis, and they have a common theme: minerals, gases and other components combine to create an environment in which life can be sustained. The theories differ in terms of how and why these combinations occur, however.
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Abiogenesis (5 coins)
Once you have watched the video above, decide which of the first three theories appeals to you the most and vote in the 'Abiogenesis choice'.
The evolution of knowledge
While there is broad agreement around how life on Earth evolved, there are still unexplained details, and current theories always represent our best guess based on available evidence. As new evidence emerges, scientific theories themselves evolve to accommodate it.
Early inhabitants
There were millions of other species living on Earth before the evolution of modern humans, also called Homo sapiens ('wise man'). We all know about the dinosaurs, and before that there were arthropods - including sea scorpions (eurypterids) big enough to give you nightmares!
Eurypterid size chart, from Prehistoric Wildlife
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The following video is a short introduction to dinosaurs:
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Dinosaurs (5 coins)
Complete this activity once you've watched the above video about dinosaurs. Here, we'll work together to create a resource about dinosaurs for future students!
There are many misunderstandings about evolution - have you ever seen a picture like this?
The first silhouette is a monkey, then there's a chimpanzee, and various other species evolving into a modern human. After looking at the image, you might well ask why monkeys still exist. That's the question the next video starts with, and it dispels a number of myths and misunderstandings about evolution. The bottom line is, the above image is wrong - we didn't evolve from monkeys! We are related to them, however:
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The future
Humans are a dominant species, but this wasn't always the case - and it might not be in the future. Science fiction writers have explored this theme extensively, with the Planet of the Apes film
series suggesting that humans will become extinct, to be replaced by apes.
This next video shows clips from all the films in the series. It's interesting to see how the sophistication of the apes and the reasonableness of the humans changes over time, showing how the series itself evolves.
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Human extinction
Extinction occurs when a species dies out entirely, with no living members left. The dinosaurs are extinct, for example, as are sabre-toothed tigers - although other species of tigers still exist.
While natural occurrences such as asteroid strikes have been found to explain previous patterns of extinction, some scientists argue that humans are changing the natural environment in such a way that species are becoming extinct at an unprecedented rate. This is a period of time called the Anthropocene, marked by the point at which human behaviour began to have a strong impact on the Earth itself.
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Complete at least 25 coins' worth of activities below.
Prior to Darwin and the theory of natural selection, explanations of life on Earth had a theological (religious) basis. Creationism is the notion that God created part or all of the universe, including life. Young Earth creationists argue that species did not evolve, but rather God created all of the species we see today. In contrast, the Catholic Church maintain that God set the process of evolution in motion, as explained by the theory of natural selection.
The Arthropods and dinosaurs most likely became extinct as a result of environmental changes following a massive asteroid impact. Research the following questions online:
Answer the questions above on the Asteroid impact forum, writing at least one sentence per question.
Reference each answer by copying and pasting the URL indicating where you got your information from.
Once you have posted, register your answer to question two above in the 'Asteroid impact choice'.
Speculative fiction is a genre where the author asks 'what if...?' For this task, write a short story or interactive fiction game with one of the following premises: What if...
When you've finished your story, post it on the 'Prehistoric fiction forum', and provide at least one sentence of constructive feedback on someone else's story.
This next video might help stimulate your imagination - it explores what the world might be like if the dinosaurs hadn't gone extinct!
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The Anthropocene is the name for the period of time during which humans have had a strong impact on the Earth, resulting in anthropogenic (human-made) climate change and a decline in biodiversity (the number of living species). Humans are changing the planet in such a way that if our behaviour continues uninhibited, the planet may become incapable of sustaining human life.
For this task, research the idea of the Anthropocene and create an infographic explaining the following, along with any other interesting information you come across:
When you are done, upload your infographic to 'The Anthropocene submission'.
This is a very difficult activity so don't worry if you struggle, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Firstly, we need to understand science: it isn't technology, and it isn't just a body of knowledge. Science is a systematic enterprise, at the core of which is a method; a way of investigating the world that involves the following steps:
In the case of evolution, people have long marvelled at how many different species there are. Darwin developed the theory of natural selection to explain this diversity of species. Scientists have since observed the world ever-more carefully, gathering mountains of evidence to test the theory of natural selection. All observations to date have been consistent with the theory of evolution, so they provide evidence in its favour. The details of the theory have been filled in since with our understanding of DNA as the mechanism by which organisms pass traits on to their offspring.
Science is an enormous enterprise, split into numerous branches and sub-fields, including: astronomy, biology, botany, chemistry, climatology, ecology, geology, human biology, meteorology, physics, psychology, neuroscience, oceanography, zoology
'Back in the old days...'
'When I was a kid...'
Have you ever heard someone start a story like that? These phrases are often used to introduce a tale of life without modern technology - without smartphones or computers, or the internet. Digital technology has advanced so much over the past three to four decades that many people remember what life was like before it, and they're struck by the change .
For many older people, the loss of their mobile phone would represent a return to the good old days! In this video, comedian Ellen DeGeneres explains some of the technological changes that have occurred during her lifetime:
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History of technology (5 coins)
Select a piece of technology you use on a daily or near-daily basis and answer the following questions, in at least one sentence each:
Post your answers on the 'History of technology forum'.
Communications technologies
Many of the biggest technological developments that have occurred over the past few decades have been in the field of communication technology. Mobile phones have become nearly ubiquitous across large parts of the
world, and they have all but replaced cable-based communications; many homes no longer have a landline, and each person tends to have their own phone number and account.
Watch this next video for a quick history of communication, beginning with gestures and cave paintings!
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Rate of change (5 coins)
Not only does technology develop over time, but so too does the speed at which it develops - this is referred to as the rate of technological change.
We are so reliant on technology that it can be hard to imagine life without it. Media theorist Marshall McLuhan thought of technology as an extension of the self into the world:
'The wheel is an extension of the foot, the book is an extension of the eye, clothing an extension of the skin, electric circuitry an extension of the central nervous system.'
What would the mobile phone be an extension of? Our hands? Our voices? Many people have a close relationship with their smartphone and feel anxious if it's not around. Some people even experience phantom vibration syndrome, which means they think their phone is vibrating even when it isn't - this is a kind of tactile (touch) hallucination!
The next video is spoken word piece by Gary Turk that looks at what people might be missing by using their phones too much:
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Look Up (5 coins)
Complete this activity after watching the video above.
Social media poem (5 coins)
Complete this activity once you've done the one above.
Healthy smartphone use (5 coins)
If you have a smartphone, this activity provides an opportunity for you to reflect on your use of technology.
Smartphone experiment (5 coins)
One way to find out how technology affects us is to remove it.
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period of major technological change that occurred in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. Before this, people would live and work their own land
to grow food, make clothes and provide for themselves and those around them. During the Industrial Revolution, people began to work in cities and earn a wage in order to buy food, clothes, accommodation and so on. The next video explains how this
change occurred in America.
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The Industrial Revolution started in Britain and spread across the world. The reasons for this are complex. Some are technological, some are cultural, and some are economic - for example, the establishment of the Bank of England, and the creation of the stock exchange. The next video explores the causes of the Industrial Revolution:
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Australian industrial revolution (5 coins)
The Industrial Revolution occurred at different rates across the world, beginning around the mid-1800s in Australia.
Automation
Work can sometimes be done more efficiently by technology, reducing the need to hire people. This is referred to as 'automation', because the work is done automatically by a machine. Many manufacturing jobs are now done by
robots, for example.
Some people resisted the introduction of technology into the workplace during the Industrial Revolution, worried that machines were taking their jobs. The original group of protesters were known as 'Luddites', and this term is often used as a label for those who are seen as anti-progress or anti-change. This is a misrepresentation, however. The Luddites were not against progress or change - they were against the economic changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution:
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This next video looks at some of the changes we may see with technology in the workplace. It was made in 2018 and it's already becoming out of date, with the rate of change outpacing predictions:
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My future job (5 coins)
The video above ends by asking if you would like a job linked to the digital world. For this activity, think of a job for the future that doesn't exist yet. Then answer the following questions about your job on the 'My future job forum':
Misuse of technology in the workplace
Technology is often misused in the workplace, with some employers disciplining people for using social media or playing video games on the job. Other examples of misuse include using the internet to search
for inappropriate or illegal material, using work technology for personal gain, and filming things which your employer might not want made public.
Complete at least 25 coins' worth of activities below.
Jobs continually change with new technology. Journalists used to phone news stories in to a pool of people who would sit and type what they were saying over the telephone. Now, journalists write their stories on a computer and email them in. Journalists are already beginning to publish directly to their own blogs, and newspapers as we know them may not exist in future.
We only discussed one Industrial Revolution above, but some commentators identify four, with the most recent one taking place in the current century. It is characterised by major advances in fields once thought to be science fiction, including 3D printing, genome editing, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence.
There are a number of feature length films about the history of technology.
The Luddites resisted technology because it replaced human workers, removing their ability to earn a living.
Borders
When dinosaurs roamed the earth, they did not pay attention to national borders, geopolitical boundaries, or what country they were in - in fact, countries as we know them didn't exist!
These are all human ideas, rooted in power (politics), money (economics), and social factors (including culture). More people have died for their
nation state than any other reason, with World War II reaching an estimated death toll of 75 million people. How does this happen?
Empires
Before independent nations, there were two major forms of societal organisation:
The modern Australian nation state was established as part of the British Empire, which at its peak encompassed about a quarter of the world's population at the end of the 19th century, across more than 33,700,000 km2!
Watch the next video for a quick overview of some empires and their territorial reach. As you watch, take note of how many empires were impacted on by the two World Wars.
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Historical empires (5 coins)
Tribes
Ever since the beginning of human history, people have tried to conquer one another's land, extending their sphere of control. The next video differentiates between a community, a movement, and a tribe.
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Tribal definition (5 coins)
The video above argues that a tribe is defined by the existence of a common enemy. Answer the following questions in at least two sentences each, and post your answers on the 'Tribal definition forum':
From tribalism to the nation state
A nation state is a clearly bounded area of land ruled by its own government, inhabited by people who have a shared identity. The next video outlines the concept further:
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Australian nation state (5 coins)
Consider the notion of the nation state as it applies to Australia, then answer the following questions on the 'Australian nation state forum', in at least
two sentences per question. You can post in response to someone else and comment on what they have said in your answer, or you can start a new thread.
Territory
Territorialism stems from the idea that people can own land, and that there are rights associated with land ownership. Land owned by a particular person or group is sometimes referred to as their 'territory'.
Territorialism can affect people at an individual level through their right to own a home, and at a national or international level when different cultural groups claim territorial independence and strive to establish their own nation states. For example, the Balkan states split from Russia, and more recently, South Sudan split from the Republic of the Sudan in 2011.
The legacy of empire
Because the nation state is such a complex idea, the notion of land ownership can vary around the world. In Zimbabwe, for instance, there has been a movement to challenge the right of foreigners to own land. This began in response to unequal land ownership created by the British Empire's former occupation of the area, under which it was called 'Rhodesia'
. Zimbabwe is just one of many modern nation states that continue to be affected by the legacy of empire.
The British Empire in particular created many difficult issues that remain unresolved to this day. Around 700 distinct language groups lived in Australia before the British Empire invaded Australia, beginning with the First Fleet in 1788 . Indigenous Australian populations still seek legal recognition for land that was taken from them.
The next video outlines the Mabo Case which introduced the legal concept of native title to Australia:
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Native title (5 coins)
Native title cannot be granted over private property, so the courts still privilege private land ownership over native ownership. Is this fair? Post your thoughts on the 'Native title forum'. Feel free to respond to someone else's post or start a new thread. Be sure to give reasons for your view, and write at least three sentences.
The causes of war
We can start to understand how wars break out by drawing on the concepts of empire, land ownership, and the nation state. Wars occur for all sorts of reasons, but we can identify some common themes:
The next video is made by an ex-soldier who reflects on his own experience and the nature of war.
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Causes of war (5 coins)
International law
There are rules that specify how wars should be fought, and how people should be treated during a war. These rules are governed by international law, and people can be prosecuted for war crimes if they break them. This video provides a bit more information about international law:
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ICC database (5 coins)
War criminals are sometimes prosecuted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
The United Nations
Several international unions formed after World War II, as nation states realised the importance of peace and unity moving forward. The United Nations was established at this time to prevent future wars. They are
non-interventionist, so they refrain from interfering with the affairs of nation states without sufficient justification. Because they strive to keep the peace, they attempt to resolve conflict using non-violent means such as diplomacy.
My Peace Prize (5 coins)
You can read a list of Nobel Peace Prize laureates here. If you could award a peace prize to anyone, who would it be and why? You're free to choose a public figure or someone you know personally. Post
your response in the 'My Peace Prize winner forum' to publically recognise your nominee.
Complete at least 25 coins' worth of activities below.
When Captain Cook landed in Australia in 1770, he declared the land 'terra nullius,' which means 'nobody's land'. He then proceeded to claim Australia for the British Empire (as it was then). In actual fact, people had lived in Australia for at least 65,000 years. When the British arrived, there were over 750,000 indigenous people living in over 250 different language groups.
Post your response on the 'Terra nullius forum'.
Even in modern nation states, people identify with various 'tribes', or group identities. A sports team is a form of tribe, for example, defined by loyalty and the presence of a common enemy. Brand loyalty can also become a form of group affiliation - some people like Apple iPhones, but others prefer Android devices. Consider the groups you belong to, and answer the following questions on the 'Tribes forum'. Write a total of at least five sentences:
Military technology has evolved throughout human history.
Note that this activity may contain distressing material.
The Reader (2008) is a book subsequently made into a film about a young woman who is prosecuted for war crimes, having been a guard at a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. Take a look at the trailer below:
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'Conscription' refers to compulsory military service. Several nations have compulsory military conscription for nearly all young adults, including Israel and South Korea. In Australia, conscription was restricted to home service during
World War I, but conscripts were sent to New Guinea and the surrounding islands during World War II. Conscripts were also sent overseas during the Vietnam War (1955-1975).
For this activity, you will create an educational video or podcast about a particular empire.
The biosphere
Every species on the planet has some effect on its environment and on other species. This complex network of effects creates an ecosystem. According to Cambridge Dictionaries, an ecosystem is 'a system, or a group of
interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment'. The planet's ecosystem is called the biosphere, and it includes both living matter - animals, plants, humans - and non-living matter,
including water, air, and rocks.
Our environmental impact
All organisms affect their ecosystem in some way. Beavers, for example, build dams which divert water flow. This change in waterflow can then affect other parts of the ecosystem, including fish and vegetation. Humans
have a greater impact on the biosphere than any other species, using technology that can disrupt natural processes. Examples include tarmac roads, non-biodegradable plastics, and houses with sewage run-off that might include bleach and disinfectant.
Human have impacted the ecosystem to such an extent that some geologists assign us our own epoch. The next video explains the scale of the impact that we have had on the environment:
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My environmental impact (5 coins)
Consider the impact you have on the environment in a single day. Think about how you travel, what you wear, and what you eat. Also think about where the things you use consume come from, and what actions if any you take to support biodiversity
or improve the environment for humans or other species.
Making a change
Some people think there isn't much they can personally do to reduce their impact on the biosphere, given the scale of the issue - but if everyone thought that, then nothing would change! If we all think we can make a difference,
we will. National Geographic recorded this video as a call to action, on the importance of 'us' and 'you':
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Reducing your environmental impact (5 coins)
Research how to reduce your environmental impact, then answer the following questions on the 'Start and stop forum':
Man-made disasters
There are a number of man-made disasters which have had an immediate, dramatic impact on the environment. This video explains eleven of them:
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Man-made disasters in Australia (5 coins)
Most of the disasters in the video occurred some time ago, or overseas. In Australia, there have been several man-made disasters involving shipwrecks, train wrecks, and explosions in mines. The death toll has been relatively low in
each case. Answer the following questions on the 'Man-made disaster forum', either by starting a new thread or responding to someone else:
Fish deaths (5 coins)
If you consider events which kill animals but not humans to be disasters, then the 2018-2019 Darling River fish deaths are a prime example. The government were accused of mismanagement, but they blamed the event on drought. There are
similar conversations about the extent to which the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires were caused more by government mismanagement, or climate change.
Carbon footprints
'Carbon emissions' are gases that accelerate the greenhouse effect, causing the planet to warm up. This video explains the process in a bit more detail:
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Everyone has a 'carbon footprint' which represents the total amount of greenhouse gases they release into the environment. Countries, companies, homes and people all have carbon footprints. Some countries have agreed to reduce their carbon footprint, as explained by the next video:
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The video above identifies coal as a key factor in reducing carbon emissions. Australia is one of the biggest coal exporters in the world, and there are heated disagreements about the impact this has on the environment. Attempts to extend the use of coal have been controversial, including plans to construct a new Adani mine in Queensland. Australia signed the Paris Agreement in 2016, agreeing to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% of 2005 levels by 2030. Although the government says it intends to 'meet and beat' this goal, it is reluctant to reduce coal use, and current policies are projected to result in higher emissions than 2005 by 2030.
The cost of renewable energy (10 coins)
Arguments for the continued use of coal often rely on its economic benefits. Australia's coal industry is immensely profitable, and produces many jobs. Some climate activists argue that other, less environmentally destructive energy
sources can be equally profitable.
Climate change denial
Nobody doubts that the climate is changing, although some argue that these changes are not due to human activity. These people are called 'climate change denialists' or 'climate skeptics', and they form a minority. Most
people accept the scientific evidence that humans are a major factor contributing to climate change. Skeptics and denialists pretend the facts are up for debate, and refuse to take full responsibility for the human impact on climate change. Unfortunately,
many climate skeptics are in positions of power, both in government and business. As an example, the following infographic shows how much money oil companies spend trying to delay, block or control efforts to combat climate change:
Infographic showing the money oil firms spend lobbying against efforts to tackle climate change
Climate activism
Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg addressed the United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019, speaking for younger generations and generations to come. You can watch her full speech here:
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Greta was also interviewed on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she talks about how she got started, and how surprised she is that her message took off in the way that it did:
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Immediate action (5 coins)
It's easy to postpone taking action, even when you really care about something. Many commentators believe Australia has taken too long to enact effective policy to tackle climate change, for example.
Complete at least 25 coins' worth of activities below.
An individual's carbon footprint is largely indirect, with emissions occurring as a result of processes that allow them to use a particular product. For example, many carbon emissions result from the production and transport of food, clothes, and electronics.
Complete the 'Queensland extreme weather template' to research three extreme flood events and three extreme drought events in Queensland, and upload it to the 'Floods and drought submission'. Use a range of measurements such as mean, median and mode to establish that there was actually a flood/drought, and represent these in a range of appropriate graphical forms.
Choose a subject you feel passionate about. It could be an aspect of climate change or something completely different. If you were going to deliver a speech about your issue to Parliament, what would you say? Greta Thunberg used two elements in
her United Nations speech - she used facts, and she appealed to the audience's emotions.
Write a persuasive speech about your chosen issue, appealing to both the thoughts and feelings of your audience. Your target audience includes politicians in Parliament, and the Australian public.
In her speech to the UN Climate Summit, Greta Thunberg quotes figures on carbon emissions to support her argument. Complete the 'Climate figures template' to discover some of the key numbers behind climate change. Upload the completed template to the 'Climate figures submission'.
