Preparing Educators for Critical Challenges: Artificial Intelligence, Transhumanism, Climate Change, and Inequality

Course Objectives

• Understand key global challenges.
• Analyze their ethical and social implications.
• Explore systemic causes like neoliberalism and extractive capitalism.
• Strengthen pedagogical approaches for complex topics.
• Create inclusive lesson plans that integrate these issues.

Schedule

DAY 1

• Welcome, course overview, and global challenges. Explore the educator’s role in addressing emerging issues.
• Understand what AI is and how it’s applied in education, healthcare, and society. Identify key risks and benefits.
• Explore ethical issues like bias, privacy, and automation. Apply case studies and methods for fostering classroom discussion.

DAY 2

• Introduction to transhumanism and enhancement technologies (gene editing, prosthetics, AI). Reflect on ethical issues of identity and human boundaries.
• Analyze concerns around equity, access, and inequality. Consider human rights and the educator’s role in facilitating these discussions.
• Examine societal impacts of transhumanism. Apply strategies to foster student reflection and ethical dialogue.

DAY 3

• Introduction to climate science, key trends, and future projections. Understand the distinction between mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Define neoliberalism and extractive capitalism. Examine how these systems contribute to environmental harm through corporate influence and deregulation.
• Learn to connect global climate issues with local action. Use classroom strategies like problem-solving, activism, and interdisciplinary approaches.

DAY 4

• Explore key causes of inequality, including wealth distribution, unequal access to education, and healthcare. Examine how technology affects job markets and deepens or mitigates economic divides.
• Analyze how AI can reinforce inequality (e.g., job loss, tech access gaps) or help reduce it. Review case studies from education, healthcare, and employment.
• Learn how to guide classroom discussions on inequality. Equip students to critically examine and address systemic issues using real-world examples and project-based learning.

DAY 5

• Analyze how AI, Transhumanism, Climate Change, and Inequality are interconnected. Engage in group and individual reflections on their societal impact.
• Learn strategies for addressing controversial subjects. Promote inclusivity, critical thinking, media literacy, and respectful classroom dialogue.
• Design lesson plans that integrate course themes. Share classroom ideas, discussion prompts, and student projects.
• Wrap-up session with final reflections and course evaluation.