SciFi to Diversify!

There's a lot of material to cover in the average Biology class... A LOT. So much so that students can get burned out on taking in so much information, especially if that information is coming directly from the text book and the average worksheet. So, what can we as educators do to increase student engagement, get students to enjoy digging into a massive pile of content? One answer: using science fiction in popular books and films, such as The Martian, to introduce new material and create new unit environments for students to explore. Instead of introducing cellular process content in the manner that the textbook lays out, introduce films and other science media and tie the content to it. For instance, the teacher could create a hypothetical scenario where the students play the part of a scientist, trapped on Mars and trying to survive until a rescue ship can make the long trip to the red planet, much like Matt Damon's character in the film. To introduce those cellular processes, the teacher could pose a question to the student scientists: How do we grow food on Mars? This creates an original, applicable, and engaging learning environment that ties content to current events, making the content fun and relevant to the students. This question, "How do we grow food on Mars?", can introduce students to Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, Human Nutrition, and even branch into basic plant morphology. There are many ways to tie the content in your classroom to exciting things going on in students' lives. Instead of plowing through that textbook, bring the content out of the book and into the real world!