@conference {1508524,
	title = {Using science fiction in teaching Artificial Intelligence },
	booktitle = {AAAI Spring Symposium 2008},
	year = {2008},
	abstract = {Many factors are blamed for the decreasing enrollments in
computer science and engineering programs in the U.S., including the dot-com economic bust and the increase in the use
of {\textquotedblleft}off-shore{\textquotedblright} programming labor. One major factor is also
the lack of bold new vision and excitement about computer
science, which thus results in a view of computer science as
a field wedded to routine programming. To address this concern, we have focused on science fiction as a means to generate excitement about Artificial Intelligence, and thus in turn
in Computer Science and Engineering. In particular, since
the Fall of 2006, we have used science fiction in teaching
Artificial Intelligence to undergraduate students at the University of Southern California (USC), in teaching activities
ranging from an undergraduate upper division class in computer science to a semester-long freshman seminar for nonengineering students to micro-seminars during the welcome
week. As an interdisciplinary team of scholar/instructors, our
goal has been to use science fiction not only in motivating
students to learn about AI, but also to use science fiction in
understanding fundamental issues that arise at the intersection of technology and culture, as well as to provide students
with a more creative and well-rounded course that provided
a big picture view of computer science. This paper outlines
the courses taught using this theme, provides an overview of
our classroom teaching techniques in using science fiction,
and discusses some of the lectures in more detail as exemplars. We conclude with feedback received, lessons learned
and impact on both the computer science students and noncomputer-science (and non-engineering) students.},
	author = {Tambe, Milind and Anne Balsamo and Bowring, Emma}
}
