What is Your Dangerous Idea? Student Reflect on Current Scientific Theories & Generate Their own Risky Propositions that May Affect Their World

Abstract

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What do the world's leading scientists and thinkers consider their most dangerous ideas? This question was posed to several different experts in the fields of science and psychology and compiled in the book What Is Your Idea? (Brockman, 2007). The topics expressed in this book ranged from the problem with super mirrors to the lack of ideas or nothingness. Some of these beliefs focused on the benefits of new technology to the human race, while others warned of possible detrimental thoughts that could ruin our world. High school biology students were given this eclectic mix of interpretations of ideas as an opportunity to evaluate current scientific ideas. Students were assigned to read one of the views presented in the book and write what they thought about the topic, reflecting on the author's views as well as their own view of the topic. In their writing, they were asked to evaluate what the author presented, stating if they agreed with it or not, and how they related to the author's opinion. Next, students derived their own Dangerous Idea concerning what they felt was a possible idea that could change the way we live. As part of the objective for developing scientifically-literate learners, this activity asked students to evaluate the integrity of scientific ideas, opening their minds up to new perceptions that could play a role later in life concerning their personal choices and eventually their roles as adults in developing public policies. Scientifically-literate students need to be made aware that new technologies and discoveries will have a major influence in shaping the world in which they live (Michigan Department of Education, 2007, B1.1i & B1.2). This activity provided students with the opportunity to begin this evaluative process. After sharing their ideas with the class, students submitted a typed version of their ideas. These ideas were compiled and turned into a book. Copies of the book were distributed to students and displayed in class. The following are examples of students' work: The dangerous idea that I came up with is one that will help us become safer in the future and for life to come. My dangerous idea is, We are the bee that stings ourselves. In a revised matter this means, we are destroying planet Earth. By doing everyday things like driving cars, flying in planes, and burning gasoline into our atmosphere we are actually killing ourselves. This is slowly destroying the ozone layer, which protects us from the sun's harmful rays. …