9 Comments

I've been enjoying these posts about progress studies Michael! One question I have for you: How do you see the role of education within progress studies? As you quoted from the article, progress researchers tend to have a prescriptive focus to their work. But how would you describe those that are trying to teach progress? I ask since this is the focus of a lot of my work. I don't necessarily offer prescriptive takes, but I try to understand a lot of history, technology, science, and innovation through the lens of progress in the hopes of educating.

Expand full comment
author

Not sure if you caught this post. It is aimed at K-12 teachers, but I think it is relevant to your question:

https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/how-to-teach-progress-and-history

Expand full comment

Yes I did see your post! I loved the exploratory questions you pose for a hypothetical student in your post. It seems like a good way to go about the subject (though as you wrote in a separate post, we still have work to do establishing the basics of progress studies as a field).

I wanted to also say: You've been on a roll with your writing recently and I haven't been able to catch up with commenting on them, but I hope to do so soon. I really appreciate you trying to get at the heart of progress studies as a field.

Expand full comment
author

I am planning a post or maybe series of posts on an entire Progress-based curriculum. It is going to take some time for get my thoughts in order on that topic, so it will probably not be for another few months.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks. I got a sudden burst of wind!

I am looking forward to reading your comments, particularly on the Progress Studies series. I have been a little disappointed that other Progress Fellows have not commented. You are my stalwart!

Expand full comment
author

This post might also give you ideas on how this graphic can be used as a foundation for a class on progress:

https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/all-of-human-history-in-one-graphic

Expand full comment
author

Excellent question. Are you a teacher or professor yourself?

I used to be a professor, so I have been thinking a lot about this question. I will be addressing this issue in future posts, so I will be brief here.

1) I do think the concept of progress can be easily integrated into education, whether as a specific course in history or even better as a foundation of a new curriculum. It has the benefit of making all the names, dates and events of history more memorable and relevant.

2) I think the concept is simple enough to work for K-12 as well as complex and useful enough for university.

3) I think my book, From Poverty to Progress, is the best place to start. It can be used as a foundational textbook for high school history or university history. Some college professors have already expressed interest in using it in their courses.

I think this post can give you an idea of how to use the material in class:

https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/key-insights-from-from-poverty-to

Expand full comment

Thanks for the resources Michael! In fact, I'm currently a PhD student in quantum computing, but education has always been a topic I've thought about. I've been pondering myself what kind of courses we could build for K-12 versus universities, because I think a lot of these ideas are worth having in a curriculum.

Expand full comment
author

If you are interested in science, you might check out the field of "Big History." I think that it dovetails nicely with the concept of Progress quite nicely, and I have an entire chapter on it in my book.

I think Big History can be used as a foundation for an entire educational curriculum that covers science, history, and social sciences:

https://techratchet.com/big-history-learning-path/

Here is also a great book on how the sciences are gradually moving toward each other. He also includes some social science:

https://techratchet.com/2020/03/19/book-summary-convergence-the-idea-at-the-heart-of-science-by-peter-watson/

Expand full comment