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“Third Times the Charm” Science Fiction at Wofford College

Dive into the world of science fiction at Wofford College with Dr. Deno Trakas and Prof. Steve Zides. This innovative learning experience combines humanities and physics in thematic course pairings, fostering interdisciplinary thinking and hands-on learning. Students engage in story discussions, film viewings, writing exercises, and quizzes to explore concepts like precognition, determinism, future technology, and more. A rough topical outline guides the community through fascinating topics such as genetics, quantum mechanics, space travel, and artificial intelligence. Assessments include daily discussions, quizzes, exams, lab experiments, and creative projects, culminating in a final electronic portfolio showcasing students' best work. Connect with Dr. Trakas and Prof. Zides for an enriching academic adventure that blends imagination with critical analysis.

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“Third Times the Charm” Science Fiction at Wofford College

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  1. “Third Times the Charm”Science Fiction at Wofford College Dr. Deno Trakas (English Department) Professor Steve Zides (Physics Department)

  2. Learning Communities at Wofford Thematic combinations of two (otherwise) disparate courses Common student enrollment Dual faculty instruction Student preceptor involvement Emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking and experiential learning

  3. Typical Week in Humanities 101 Monday <story discussion> ---- “Private Eye” Tuesday <evening film> --------- “Minority Report” Wednesday <film discussion> ----- “Minority Report” <writing exercise> Friday < story discussion> --- “Different Kinds of Darkness” < story quiz> ----------- “Private…” and “Different…”

  4. Same Week in Physics 104 Monday <reading discussion> -- The Standard Model and precognition Tuesday <evening film> ---------- “Minority Report” Wednesday <reading discussion> -- Properties of light <physics quiz> ---------- EM waves, telepathy and psycho-kinesis Friday <reading discussion> -- Optics and the human eye

  5. Minority Report In the future, criminals are caught before the crimes they commit, but one of the officers in the special unit is accused of one such crime and sets out to prove his innocence.

  6. Minority Report Precognition and determinism Future technology Right to privacy Refinement through iteration

  7. Rough Topical Outline Genetics and the Brain Particle Physics and Determinism Space Travel and Extraterrestrial Life The Solar System Future Technology and Artificial Intelligence Quantum Mechanics and Time Travel Related Films Gattaca Minority Report StarMan Sunshine Blade Runner Back to the Future Topical Ordering of the Community

  8. Iteration Theme in Science Fiction “Ripples in the Dirac Sea” by Geoffrey Landis When a mathematician invents a time machine he learns that there are physical laws that cannot be changed, including “Actions in the past cannot change the future.” But what happens then, if you try to use your own time machine to escape your own frightening destiny? What is life like hanging on to the infinite moments in time between when you are, and where you must inevitably be?

  9. Humanities 101 Assessments Daily interactive discussions Weekly quizzes Weekly writing exercises Critical analysis papers (two) Creative science fiction scenes (two) Final electronic portfolio of student’s best work

  10. Physics 104 Assessments Daily interactive discussions Weekly quizzes Weekly lab experiments Three major exams

  11. “Third Times the Charm”Science Fiction at Wofford College Dr. Deno Trakas (English Department) trakasdp@wofford.edu Professor Steve Zides (Physics Department) zidessb@wofford.edu

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