Science Fiction Science Fiction Fantastics!Fantastics!

Integrating Popular Media into Integrating Popular Media into Biology and Chemistry ClassesBiology and Chemistry Classes

By Mindy BedrossianBy Mindy Bedrossian

Mindy BedrossianMindy Bedrossian

The Association of Educational Publishers The Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award 2011Distinguished Achievement Award 2011

AAAS/Subaru Teacher Award 2010AAAS/Subaru Teacher Award 2010 Interviewed on Morning Edition NPRInterviewed on Morning Edition NPR Three Toyota Tapestry GrantsThree Toyota Tapestry Grants Published in Journal of Chemical EducationPublished in Journal of Chemical Education Science Teacher of the Year, ClevelandScience Teacher of the Year, Cleveland Frequent Presenter NSTA ConferencesFrequent Presenter NSTA Conferences

If you can’t read a book for If you can’t read a book for pleasure…..pleasure…..

How can you expect to read a science How can you expect to read a science book?book?

Having trouble falling asleep?Having trouble falling asleep?– Just read a chemistry text!Just read a chemistry text!

PurposePurpose

Critical understanding Critical understanding of how science is of how science is portrayed to the publicportrayed to the public

Is it accurate or Is it accurate or inaccurate?inaccurate?

How exactly do How exactly do people incorporate people incorporate “science knowledge” “science knowledge” into their everyday into their everyday lives?lives?

Student LimitationsStudent Limitations

1010thth grade Honors grade Honors Biology (or 9Biology (or 9thth grade) grade)

1010thth grade Honors grade Honors ChemistryChemistry

1111thth grade College grade College Preparatory ChemistryPreparatory Chemistry

Further LimitationsFurther Limitations

Availability of the book:Availability of the book:– LibraryLibrary– BookstoreBookstore– School-suppliedSchool-supplied

Cost of bookCost of book

Choose Books Carefully!Choose Books Carefully!

Make sure they meet school requirements in Make sure they meet school requirements in regards to sex, violence, and language.regards to sex, violence, and language.

Make sure that they are not written “down” Make sure that they are not written “down” to studentsto students

Consider both fiction and “fictionalized” Consider both fiction and “fictionalized” non-fictionnon-fiction

Books should be exciting and hold students’ Books should be exciting and hold students’ interest.interest.

Set Up A TimetableSet Up A Timetable

Tell students the first Tell students the first day of class about the day of class about the book.book.

Tell students the Tell students the second day of class second day of class about the book.about the book.

Tell students……Tell students…… Warn them Warn them

continuously when the continuously when the official start will beginofficial start will begin

Expect Them To Read A Expect Them To Read A Hundred Pages a WeekHundred Pages a Week

Encourage slow Encourage slow readers to start a readers to start a month aheadmonth ahead

Give an open novel Give an open novel quiz at the end of each quiz at the end of each week (approx. 3-4 week (approx. 3-4 weeks to finish).weeks to finish).

Make sure you have a Make sure you have a different quiz for each different quiz for each class!class!

Integrative Approach to Integrative Approach to Demonstration of LearningDemonstration of Learning

Giving diverse Giving diverse learners an open learners an open forum to express their forum to express their own understandingown understanding

Using personal Using personal strengths to form a strengths to form a meaningful connection meaningful connection with sciencewith science

Suggested BooksSuggested Books

The number one best The number one best book is Jurassic Parkbook is Jurassic Park

Andromeda StrainAndromeda Strain Hot ZoneHot Zone TimelineTimeline SphereSphere A Short History of A Short History of

Nearly EverythingNearly Everything Michael Crichton is Michael Crichton is

well accepted by well accepted by parentsparents

The ProjectThe Project

Design for multiple Design for multiple intelligencesintelligences

Give several optionsGive several options Be flexible but make Be flexible but make

sure every project gets sure every project gets your approvalyour approval

Require a standard Require a standard paper with all projectspaper with all projects

Suggested ProjectsSuggested Projects

Make-A-SceneMake-A-Scene PaintingPainting SculptureSculpture Write a sequel or illustrated kid’s bookWrite a sequel or illustrated kid’s book PhotographyPhotography ResearchResearch

More Project IdeasMore Project Ideas

Music, symphonies, solos, etcMusic, symphonies, solos, etc DiariesDiaries CookbookCookbook Expert InterviewExpert Interview Web PageWeb Page SkitsSkits VideosVideos

Stress QUALITY, EFFORT Stress QUALITY, EFFORT AND CREATIVITY!AND CREATIVITY!

Most students respond enthusiastically to Most students respond enthusiastically to the project.the project.

Give them the power to choose how to Give them the power to choose how to express their learning. Make sure that you express their learning. Make sure that you provide a framework that demands high provide a framework that demands high quality, time, and effort.quality, time, and effort.

You might require a written paper of some You might require a written paper of some sort with their work.sort with their work.

Grading the ProjectsGrading the Projects

Use a Rubric type grading systemUse a Rubric type grading system Account for neatness, accuracy, Account for neatness, accuracy,

completeness of assignmentcompleteness of assignment Written work must follow essay or research Written work must follow essay or research

paper standardspaper standards I give high marks for creativity I give high marks for creativity Grade for “perceived” workGrade for “perceived” work

Extra Credit OptionsExtra Credit Options

Guest Speakers add a Guest Speakers add a tremendous amount of tremendous amount of interest and interest and excitement to the classexcitement to the class

Excellence in all Excellence in all aspects including aspects including actual presentationactual presentation

FOOD! (kids love FOOD! (kids love doing this)doing this)

Medieval FeastMedieval Feast

Be Prepared to Enjoy Yourself!Be Prepared to Enjoy Yourself!

There are endless laughs, joy, and fun There are endless laughs, joy, and fun associated with this project.associated with this project.

The positive feedback the students The positive feedback the students give each other is a pleasure to give each other is a pleasure to

observe.observe.

THANKS FOR COMING!THANKS FOR COMING!

For further questions:For further questions:

MINJANE@AOL.COMMINJANE@AOL.COM

bedrossian@strongnet.orgbedrossian@strongnet.org