WebSpotlight: Big Think Can Spark Big Ideas in Your Students

Does race still matter? Is climate change a human rights issue? What inspires you? What do you believe? Who are you? Do the rich have a responsibility to the poor? Why are you vegan? How is technology changing politics?

A lot of people -- especially younger people -- are used to having one-way conversations with experts: the experts talk and we listen. Big Think is trying to change that. Still in its Beta version, Big Think is striving to provide a means for people to ask and respond to big questions and big ideas. As they say on their website: "Our task is to move the discussion away from talking heads and talking points, and give it back to you."

Big Think provides "hundreds of hours of direct, unfiltered interviews with today's leading thinkers, movers and shakers" -- everyone from Mohammad Yunus to Naomi Klein, to members of Congress, to CEOs, to scientists, academics and journalists. But they also provide a means for anyone (who registers) to respond to comments, share their own ideas, and ask their own questions.

Questions are organized by topics (Meta topics, like "Faith and Beliefs," Identity," or "Truth and Justice," and Physical topics, like "Arts & Culture," "History," or "Science and Technology").

People can create and share their ideas through a variety of media (video, audio, slideshows, text), and comment and "vote" on others' ideas.

Imagine bringing experts from all over the world into your classroom (virtually) to have a "conversation" with your students. Imagine your students sharing their own big ideas for the world to see.

~ Marsha, Web Content/Community Manager

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