What resources are available for
teaching science through/with science fiction?
What did I use?
To begin this project, I searched for a credible resource that discussed the value of teaching science through/with science fiction.
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I read the Master's Thesis, "Using Science Fiction to Teach Science Facts" by Stephanie N. Putt (2011), Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota.
Some of the findings in this thesis that I found most interesting were:
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Putt found that science fiction can help to convey science "even for the most non-scientific of readers" because "narrative information retained for lengthier periods than factual information and that narrative constitute an important means for science communication to transmit information in an accurate, memorable and enjoyable way" (Putt 2011: 1-2).
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Despite the fact that science fiction is exactly that, fiction, "...science fiction is factually based, even if the facts change over time. even if the knowledge is later disproven... the writers were at the time sticking to what was thought possible" (Putt 2011: 3). By showing students scientific information that is out of date, teachers can also teach the scientific method and the fact that science is continually evolving.
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Science fiction helps to "introduce new generations to science without the hindrance of textbooks, teachers, and classrooms" because one people learn from science fiction because "science fiction takes the high-level technical language commonly found in scientific papers and puts it into a format that can be easily read by everyone" (Putt 2011: 21)​. The author of this study even noted how many "renowned scientific and inventors have credited science fiction for first introducing them to science when they were children" but perhaps the most "startling realization is that scientists have been testing science fiction inventions and theories and using them in real life" (Putt 2011: 27).
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In the world of education, ​"students must be given tools to open up their brains to new ways of thinking" and "'science fiction provides many vehicles for inculcating those tools in a variety of subjects by stimulating and thus motivating students to learn' ... [e]specially when textbook material is sometimes so dense and boring that students simply give up on reading and learning, science fiction can make it fun again; 'quite often one needs more than the traditional teaching tools in order to explain complex scientific theories to students'" (Putt 2011: 28).
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Finally, Putt notes that "[o]ther important skills such as research skills and the ability to think critical can also be promoted though science fiction to the classroom and linking it to relevant research" (Putt 2011: 29). Essentially, "science fiction holds virtually untapped potential as a means for teaching students to read and think critically" (Putt 2011: 30).​
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Resource-based
This was a fantastic resources that acted as a foundational starting point for teaching science through science fiction.
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It includes resources, teaching strategies, and various assessment recommendations for discussing Human Biology, Animal Biology, Plant Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Geology, Marine Science, Physics and Science, Technology and Society (STS). Given more time, I would have explored in more depth the Free Fall Physics activity resource recommendations by utilizing the 1956 film, Forbidden Planet, as well as pH and Indicators Activity by utilizing the 1971 film, The Andromeda Strain.
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Unfortunately, however, the majority of the resources require that entire movies or lessons be shown. This level of time committment was not somthing that I could justify in my class as I chose to rather emphasize more curriculum content than film. Additionally, the majority of the resources were written with an American curriculum in mind.
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My goal is to continue to expand this project and eventually expand all of the relevant resources in this book to the Albertan curriculum.
