Interdisciplinary Teacher Enhancement Program Utilizing Science Fiction Films The purpose of this proposal is to improve the appeal of science to students by training pre-college science teachers in a more cost-effective manner to use science fiction films to teach science and its relationships to technology and society. A further purpose is to motivate junior high school and high school students to study science. Three recent NSF grants funded the preparation of a teacher's manual, Science in Cinema, recently published by Teachers College Press, describing the scientific principles illustrated or violated in a number of science fiction films and the techniques needed to use these films in pre-college science courses. A model teacher training program involving 24 pre-college science teachers was also conducted. The 13 test classes of students demonstrated an improvement in attitude toward science, in understanding of science as a discovery process, and in cognitive development that was statistically significantly better than the control classes. The teachers participated in a ten-day summer institute and received a six follow-up days of instruction throughout the year. This grant is to test the effectiveness of a much shorter, three-day institute, to be conducted during the school year by project staff utilizing the now-tested teaching materials. Teachers will meet for two additional group self-help sessions under the supervision of a master high school science teacher. This will serve as the model format of future workshops that may be held around the country in which outside experts will train local teachers for three days, who will then implement this technique with self-help sessions. There will be extensive pre- and post-testing of the effectiveness of this shorter format on the students of the participating teachers. Dissemination of the results will be via national publications. The project will also initiate use of the home VCR as an educational tool since over two- thirds of American homes now have a VCR. An amount equivalent to 43% of the NSF award is being contributed by Temple University as cost-sharing.
