Movies have long been used for teaching in undergraduate science courses. However, embedding movie references (EMR) in science videos is a new trend. This study explored how EMR in YouTube science videos might affect the nature of comments and the process of learning science. Using constructivist grounded theory, we compared comments on two…

In this article, the authors describe a project that was developed for an introductory-level physics course. The aim of the project was to encourage the creative process in science, as science is seldom mentioned in discussions about creativity. They sought to engage students in the creative process by posing a collective challenge to the class.…

A recent survey of undergraduates at five schools across the United States indicates that many undergraduates feel that they have learned more about volcanic systems from Hollywood films and the popular media than they learned in the course of their precollegiate formal education. Scores on the Volcanic Concept Survey, an instrument designed to…

Science fiction films were used in required and elective nonmajor science courses as a pedagogical tool to motivate student interest in science and to reinforce critical thinking about scientific concepts. Students watched various films and critiqued them for scientific accuracy in written assignments. Students' perception of this activity was…

Reports on a study which attempts to evaluate the extent to which students can learn from a film and to show some ways in which the learning process can be improved. (Author/GS)

This paper discusses pedagogical advantages and challenges of using science-fiction movies and television shows in an introductory science class for elementary teachers. The authors describe two instructional episodes in which scenes from the movies "Red Planet" and "The Core" were used to engage students in critiquing science as presented in…

Describes a strategy that uses the analysis of movie plots to reveal the importance of biological issues to students. Concludes that pointing out the role of biology in familiar and popular cultural phenomena proved effective in reaching students who might otherwise have been intimidated by or prejudiced against science. (JRH)

Describes steps for in-house production of Super-8 mediated learning packages for automotive and life science courses. The individualized instructional format of the packages encourages student interaction, provides hands-on experience in skill development, allows students to proceed at their own pace, and enables students to enter a course at any…