ERIC Number: ED204253
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1976
Pages: 35
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Step through the Looking Glass: Perpetuating Creativity through Speculative Fiction and Contemporary Art. (A Unit Using Speculative Art Forms as Vehicles in Understanding the Nature of Technological Change).
Cronberg, Bob; Petrzalek, Linda
This publication outlines a unit of study which uses speculative fiction and artistic expression to help students in grades 7-12 view technology and understand how it changes. Speculative fiction is defined as that type of fiction that deals with different assumptions and projections about the future. Throughout the unit the art form highlighted is surrealism. The authors note that although a step-by-step approach to teaching the unit is not provided, an outline and suggestions for activities are provided. The developers have placed more responsibility on the teacher because they believe that something of value must involve a good measure of work. Topics in the unit include man controlling technology, looking into space, the nature of change, man as a robot, mindless technology, the impact of organizations on the environment, cities of the future, and creating a better future through technology. Some examples of the many activities suggested follow. Students pretend they are a space ship and draw a picture of the way they look, collect articles from magazines and newspapers that reflect man's control or attempted control over nature, and write and illustrate a story explaining how they sometimes feel like a machine. Students also analyze surrealist paintings, do a collage fantasy, write a short story about a robot that they control, and are involved in many classroom discussions. The publication concludes with bibliographies of teacher and student resources. (Author/RM)
Publication Type: Guides - Classroom - Teacher
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A