COURSE DESCRIPTION

What makes humans curious? How can curiosity help or hinder human pursuits and daily life? Is curiosity innate or a state? Students will examine theories about the different types of curiosity that humans experience. Overall, this course addresses the question of curiosity through an exploration of curiosity in action—centering the “information gap” as the primary driver of curiosity, and challenging learners to develop an action plan to expand curiosity in themselves and in others. This course will be useful to any student who one day hopes to live, work, or otherwise engage with people, information, or organizations: curiosity may strengthen relationships, increase intelligence, improve environments, make you happier or live longer—or it may simply encourage you take an extra moment to consider “why?” and “what if?”

FACULTY

TBD

UPCOMING COURSE OFFERING

Spring 2021 (online, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:40-2:55pm)

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this class, students will be able to:

  • Understand why humans are curious.

  • Recognize the different types of curiosity (epistemic, diversive, interpersonal, etc.) humans experience.

  • Analyze historical and contemporary perspectives on human curiosity.

  • Examine how information and information technologies contribute to curiosity arising, and how curiosity helps and hinders human activity.

  • Develop, implement, and assess an action plan for expanding curiosity in their own lives.