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A Convention called Willy Our chums at the Science-fiction & Fantasy Club of Wayne State College host a most splendid science convention each spring called WillyCon. Hmmmm. Well, as you could tell by the name, this convention is a little different from most SF cons in that the program they offer is intended to be educational in nature. The authors they invite as guests of honor for the convention are authors with a science background and/or ones who write "hard science." As part of this year's event, their author guest of honor, Julie Czerneda, will be offering a workshop for educators on using science fiction in the classroom to develop scientific literacy (and to integrate language arts with science). Formerly a researcher in animal communication, Julie has also written non-fiction, from biology texts to the use of science fiction to develop literacy. Most of her workshop will be based on information from two books: No Limits: Developing Scientific Literacy Using Science Fiction and Packing Fraction. No Limits: Developing Scientific Literacy Using Science Fiction is a book for teachers and students. Based on a series of in-class workshops, No Limits contains detailed information to help teachers use the speculation and creativity of science fiction literature to encourage their students to critically assess scientific information. It features original science fiction stories, by various award-winning authors, highlight specific areas of science. Lessons are provided to use these stories for analysis and as motivators to other in-class activities ranging from risk assessment to creative writing. No Limits is intended for use in science class but can also be the point of integration to Language Arts programs at any level. Including activities and lesson plans, the teachers' book contains science fiction short stories and art commissioned specifically for use in the classroom. (The same stories are provided for students in the companion anthology Packing Fraction & Other Tales of Science and Imagination.) Julie reports the workshops on which this book is based have been run successfully with students from grades 8 to 12. She also feels these concepts work well with elementary grades and Julie has promised to address this in her workshop. As we mentioned, the other book, Packing Fraction, is a companion volume to No Limits, while also acting as a stand-alone anthology. It contains SF short stories, verse, and art commissioned specifically for the project. Each story explores a particular scientific "what if?" premise. For example, the title story by Charles Sheffield explores the consequences of being able to decrease inter-molecular distance, to literally pack more atoms into the same space. Anyway, WillyCon will be held March 16-18, 2001. Ms. Czerneda will be there on the 15th and they plan to offer the workshop on the morning of Friday, the 16th, from 9-12 p.m. The cost for the workshop is $25. This includes a weekend registration to the science convention. The specific details are still being planned and a more detailed description and program for the workshop will accompany the confirmation of your registration. WillyCon can be contacted via e-mail at RoVick1@wsc.edu - the web address for WillyCon is over here. FREE
SF MAGAZINE |
OTHER CONTENT - March 2001
SFX
Network gets a lightsaber thrust through its heart Galactica
Lives - Has anyone seen my Battlestar?
2001:
Filming The Future Architectural
Survival
Swine
Before Pearls A
Convention called Willy
ET.
Real visitors, or real mad?
Cathy. 01/03/2001 Terry Hickman. 01/03/2001 Terry Hickman. 01/03/2001 Ron. 01/03/2001 |
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