Science and technology科學技術

1、Science and TechnologyWeek 1Task 1 Brainstorming (15min) Activity 1 (1) a brainstorming game: What is the most important invention in history?(2) Photocopy Worksheet 1, Worksheet 2, Worksheet 3, and Worksheet 4 for the class. Have the students choose one worksheet and write down the supporting evide

2、nce for their respective topics. Have the students present and compare their answers. Record the answer on the board. Comment on and conclude the discussion.Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Worksheet 3 Worksheet 4Wheel is the most important invention in history. Reason 1:Reason 2:Reason 3:Airplane is the mos

3、t important invention in history.Reason 1:Reason 2:Reason 3:Computer is the most important invention in historyReason 1:Reason 2:Reason 3:Mobile phone (cell phone in AmE.) is the most important invention in historyReason 1:Reason 2:Reason 3: Task 2 (20min) Group work A. Ss write down on a sheet of p

4、aper some of the scientific and technological discoveries that have changed or will change the way people live. When they finish, T may invite some of them to read out to the class. T writes down discoveries on the blackboard. B. Pointing at the discoveries noted down on the blackboard, T asks Ss: I

5、n what ways do these discoveries change our lives for the better?In what ways do these discoveries change our lives for the worse?(e.g. Television provides people with quick and easy access to information, education, entertainment, etc., but it also expose children to violence, deprives families of

6、time and the will to communicate with each other, etc.) C. Question for discussion:1. Is it possible to prevent science and technology from further development? Why or why not?2. Is it necessary for the public to have a basic understanding of science? Why or why not?3. How do you feel about science?

7、 (Whats your attitude towards science?)4. In your opinion, whats the right attitude towards science?Task 3(10min) Have the students discuss the question: Have you heard of Taoism in Chinese culture? What is its major tenet?(1) Taoism tells us that there is a close unity between human beings and natu

8、re.(2) According to Taoism, man is only part of the dream of nature. (3) Taoism holds that man should be in harmony with nature(4) The end-result of man is nature. Human being come from nature and return to nature. (concept of the cycle)Task4 (20min) Reading and SpeakingA. Read the passage(1) and an

9、swer the following:a. What does the speaker mean by “an enchanted world”? Select two.(1) The world is full of fun.(2) Nature is alive.(3) Human life is connected with nature.(4) Nature is dead.b. What does the speaker mean by “a disenchanted world? Select two.(1) A world of harmony.(2) Separation of

10、 man from nature.(3) A world full of meaning.(4) A world without meaning.c. What are some of the negative results of the modern scientific world view? Select two.(1) Lack of good transportation.(2) Too few consumer goods.(3) Alienation.(4) Loss of spiritual life.d. What remedies does the speaker men

11、tion to improve the modern Western condition? Select two.(1) Social and political change.(2) Re-establishing the harmony with nature.(3) Building more factories.(4) Training more scientists.B. Complete the following chart and try to get a better understanding of the philosophical idea conveyed in th

12、e passage.Contrasting views on our worldThe important expressions or points of views that indicate Bermans bias in favor of the enchanted worldThe important expressions or points of views that indicate Bermans attitudes toward modern science and technologyExample: ExpressionsHarmonious, integral His

13、 points of views1. Human beings lived in harmony with nature before the sixteenth century. 2. Example: ExpressionsHostile, unfriendly His points of views1. Now human spiritual life has become poor. Do you agree with Berman? Why and why not? C. Pair work Discuss why you do or do not agree with the au

14、thors point that the Western scientific world view has contributed to “a sickness of the soul”. To help the discussion, you may consider the following points:1. Hasnt science contributed to the betterment of the world?2. War, hunger, human sufferings, social evils, mans inhumanity to man existed bef

15、ore the emergence of modern scientific world view and they have not disappeared in the modern and post modern age.3. Is there anything in our lives which defies scientific analysis? And what is it?D. Describe to your partner both what you do not want to see happen and what you do want to see happen

16、in the future.Write down key points:The things that I do not want to see happen in the future:1._2._3._4._The following expressions may be helpful during your discussion:I fear in the future1. It is impossible for mankind to 2. I hope and pray that in the future3. The future holds 4.Wouldnt it be wo

17、nderful if 5. Society need to Passage 1Todays topic is about science and human society. I would like to discuss the western view of science and its influence on our world. We all know that westerners are often proud of their scientific development. But, although science has brought them many advanta

18、ges in developing their society, it also has wiped out a lot of valuable things from their culture.If we look at the ages before the scientific revolution, that is before the 16th century, we will find that the dominant view of nature in the West was of an enchanted world. By enchanted I mean that a

19、t that time people saw rocks, trees, rivers and clouds as wondrous and alive. And human beings felt at home with nature and were part of its drama. Their destiny was connected with natures destiny, and this relationship gave meaning to their lives. This type of consciousness involves feeling connect

20、ed with our surroundings and involves a sense of belonging to and being in harmony with nature.But this type of world view soon vanished with the coming of the scientific revolution. Since the rapid development of science from the sixteenth century onward, man has become more and more distant from n

21、ature. The dominant scientific way of thinking is one of disenchantment and non-participation, for it insists on a rigid separation between the observer and the observed. That is, human beings are different and therefore must be separated from nature in which they live. So the previous harmony betwe

22、en nature and human beings is gone. The result of this world view is the feeling that everything is an object, alien, not-me; and I am , ultimately, an object too, an alienated “thing” in a world of other equally meaningless things; and what I feel is a sickness, a sickness in the heart and mind. Or

23、 you may call it “a sickness of the soul,” which has almost destroyed our traditional values on the oneness between human beings and nature.Translated into everyday life, what does this disenchantment mean? Well, I guess you have been aware of the consequences. If we view ourselves as a mere object in th