The purpose of this proposal is to improve the teaching of science at the junior high and senior high school levels by training teachers to use science fiction films as a supplement to the regular curriculum. Such an approach supports the classroom teachers' efforts to teach science and its relationships to technology and society and to motivate pre-college students to study science. Two recent NSF grants funded the preparation of a teacher's guide describing the physical principles illustrated or violated in a number of science fiction films deemed suitable for use in a ninth or tenth grade general science course. This proposal will make use of both the materials and techniques developed under the prior grants. Master teachers and non-master teachers will receive intensive instruction in the use of science fiction films and in a number of substantive topics in physics and biology related to the films during a two-week institute during the summer. Each team of three teachers will have the support of one master teacher as they implement the program in their classrooms during the school year. The principle investigator has a great deal of expertise in this area. He was awarded an NSF grant in l978 under the Local Course Improvement Program to develop an introductory level science course at Temple University using science fiction films to introduce students to science. This popular course has since been taught nine times and has reached hundreds of students, many of whom have stated that they would never have enrolled in a traditional science course. In l984 an additional NSF grant allow him to expand the effort to include precollege students. The teachers guide written as a result of that grant will be used to support the training of teachers in the current grant.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1987-04-01
Budget End
1989-10-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
$66,250
Indirect Cost
Name
Temple University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19122