Instructional Ideas

Because the 290-page book is comprised of 19 chapters, each with several sections, the book is well-suited for jigsaw activities. In these activities, individuals or small groups of students are responsbile for reading a section of text and then presenting it to larger groups.

The book is an excellent source of ideas for focusing research: Because many of the topics are of contemporary social importance, the topics are relevant and there are ample sources for library research. In addition, Agin includes rhetorical questions at the end of many sections. Ostensibly these are included to engage readers, but they are also useful for beginning researchers to answer through library research. Also, the topics and questions can be used to focus original data collection and analysis.

Agin takes a decidedly non-objective stance on many of the topics. This is not a criticism and this does not pose a threat to the text as a valuable resource for science education. Agin is (afterall) advocating for real science as a tool for advancing society. The stance Agin takes on each topic can focus classroom discussion, online discussion, or formal debates.