Reading for the Future is a grass roots group of parents, teachers and librarians that have banded together to help excite children, to inspire them to read, to study, and to learn by useing Science Fiction (SF, Sci Fi) in the classroom. 
An article by author David Brin: "Consider the ages from twelve to fifteen, when a person's sense of wonder can bloom or wither, starved by ennui or seared by fashionable cynicism...Sometimes even the right book or film can ignite a fire that lasts a lifetime — you never know." 
Index to study guides for various science fiction works, prepared by Paul Brians, Professor of English, Washington State University. These contain information about many SF classics, such as War of the Worlds, The Martian Chronicles, and Blade Runner, including hyperlinks to related sites. 
A collection of novels that may be useful in interdisciplinary teaching, serving to illustrate biological concepts: genes, food in the future, bioengineering, life extension. 
An online college course from the University of Kansas, created by James Gunn. 
A syllabus of a course using science fiction books to teach biological concepts, by Professor Joan Slonczewski. 
Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature study guide with summary, notes, essays, quotes, analysis and pictures... 
Science fiction predicts change, explores consequences, and studies potential futures. It teaches adaptability and open mindedness in the face of change. It performs "imaginary experiments" to see how people react to change before the change actually happens, and provides a different perspective on our world. Science fiction writers see the future as a consequence of our present day. In this light, it is also a vehicle for social analysis and an opportunity to experiment with new concepts and their effects on humanity and the world. Science fiction presents many issues from many different points of view for us to examine. |
A directory of free science fiction stories with a bioscience twist that may prove useful in illustrating concepts in biology. 
In this essay, Martin Griffiths wonders how SF could be used as an educational tool to greatest effect: "The lessons inherent in SF can be utilized to illuminate the tensions and fears that new developments can bring....Opening our minds to the possibilities of the future is not only the remit of SF authors – it is the duty of educators of all disciplines to live up to the challenge." 
A list compiled by Andrew Franknoi, of science fiction stories that can be used to illustrate topics such as black holes, dark matter, cosmology, quantum mechanics, quasars, particle physics, or neutron stars. 
The kinds of subjects that can be taught through science fiction involve all the social and physical sciences, history, ideas, futurology, religion, morality, ecology, reading skills, and many others. 
A resource for teachers to access some of the classics of science fiction, wtih works by Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Octavia Buter, David Brin, Philip K. Dick, and Philip Jose Farmer. 
A list of suggested science fiction novels for young adults. What books can we give our teens that don't mire them in a swamp of vampires, domineering wizards or nostalgia for feudalism? This list includes classics from Isaac Asimov, Hal Clement, Robert Heinlein and Ray Bradbury, as well as more recent works from Cory Doctorow, Greg Bear and Neil Gaiman. A unit developed by Lorna S. Dils to integrate future studies into the curriculum for seventh to ninth graders, using science fiction short stories: "Perhaps the most cogent arguments in favor of teaching science fiction are presented by Ben Bova in Viewpoint in which he states that much of what is taught in school is historically important, valuable, difficult and dull. Science fiction stands out “like a refreshing oasis of story and significance; a bad teacher must work hard to make it dull”. Good science fiction presents ideas and philosophies. It introduces themes of personal integrity, relationships—human and alien, other life forms and cultures, and our responsibility to technological change. It is interesting in and of itself, but it also presents ideas and alternatives. These arguments are all the same objectives for teaching future studies." 
Science fiction has always asked what comes after Homo sapiens. A superhuman version of our species, or a dying planet devoid of intelligent life? This list of 35 essential posthuman novels will get you started answering the big questions too. |
