David Marshall, Science 8 teacher at Christian Academy in Japan, reflects on asking an essential question in a unit in which students his students used a Biblical perspective to assess the impact of technology on society.

What key question did you ask your students?
David: How does science impact society?

What were your students studying?
David: Students explored the basics of electricity with batteries and light bulbs, and they discussed how electricity impacts their lives and how their lives would be different without electricity—no electricity means no cell phone, computer, air conditioning, and refrigerators.

Then students analyzed the positive and negative ways technology has impacted our values and lifestyle. Students made good observations, including that technology has encouraged them to pursue comfort and leisure at the expense of relationships. Next, students studied Bible passages on contentment (I Timothy 6:6-10), possessions (Proverbs 23:4-5), selfishness (James 2:1-7, 15-16; 4:1-3; 5:1-6), and Moses giving up wealth (Hebrews 11:24-25).

What did your students learn?
David: I’m excited about the way kids were able to see something as simple as Play Station affects their lives and hearts, that technology has positive and negative impacts. One student said, “It’s important to be content, rather than wanting the latest technology.” Another student said as she demonstrated her blood sugar tester, “Without this device, I wouldn’t be alive…The Bible says we are not to murder, which means we are to protect life. This device protects lives.”