New Approaches in Teaching History: Using Science Fiction to Introduce Students to New Vistas in Historical Thought (Teaching History Today and in the Future)

Science fiction literature and film are an underappreciated source for the teaching of history. Finding material that can excite a student’s curiosity can be a key towards greater student engagement, especially among students who are taking history as a requirement, rather than from interest. The discovery that they can read or watch science fiction as part of their classwork often comes as a pleasant surprise. Beyond its popularity, however, utilizing science fiction for class assignments has certain pedagogical advantages: it introduces students to new vistas in historical thought, helps them learn how literature and film can be applied as a primary source, and can encourage participation in projects that are enjoyable.

Each chapter provides case studies focusing on a different subject in the modern history curriculum and in addition to providing an analysis of specific texts and/or cinematic sources, gives suggestions on assignments for the students.

Frederic Krome is a professor of history at the University of Cincinnati Clermont College. In addition to using science fiction films and texts extensively in his teaching, he is the editor of Fighting the Future War: An Anthology of Science Fiction War Stories, 1914-45 (2011), which provides an introduction on how to use science fiction as a primary source in historical research.