EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

This pilot study was conducted at Saint Mary’s College, in 2021, to investigate whether dynamic conversation strategies could be effective in helping undergraduate students to grasp the complex and abstract concept of the noosphere, particularly in relation to the concept of the techno-social dilemma. The qualitative research study involved thematic, coded analysis of nine structured, hour-long 1-1 interviews with undergraduate students. Results of this research suggest that, in a single one-hour conversation, prefaced by viewing two short videos, it is possible to teach college students the new, highly abstract concept of the noosphere; and that learning the concept is not the same as adopting it. Researchers concluded that contextualized knowledge, such as what happens in the classroom, is likely to generate more serious engagement and readiness to adopt a noospheric perspective.

The Science of the Noosphere Masterclass (2023), a collaboration between Human Energy and ProSocial World, aimed to unite a diverse group of participants interested in exploring the concept of the noosphere. The main learning objective of the course was the co-development of a worldview that can lead to worldwide cooperation.

Over the course of 10 weeks, the online class delved into the 25 video conversations comprising Human Energy’s Science of the Noosphere video series, under the leadership of Professor David Sloan Wilson. Each video interview features experts discussing scientific concepts related to the noosphere. With many of the experts serving as guest speakers in the Master Class, peer interaction and engagement were integral to the learning experience, leading to the emergence of self-organized interest groups. The Master Class served as a unique laboratory for studying how minds can change within the context of collaborative learning, emphasizing research conducted with participants rather than on them. Pre- and posttest measures, including psychometric surveys and analysis tools like Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) and daily measurements using the Process-Based Assessment Tool (PBAT), revealed significant outcomes. Further analysis, using natural language processing techniques is underway. The initial report, “Exploring the Noosphere: Uniting Minds, Shaping Futures,” is now available.