The Role of Interest in Learning Science through Stories

A major aspect of the power of a historically based science story derives from its ability to cultivate interest in the reader or listener. In this paper, we review the research on interest originating from diverse scholarly areas and apply it to the understanding, construction, and effective use of science stories in both formal and informal learning environments. Significantly, the raising of interest in science addresses the vital concern of declining engagement with school science, which might be thought of as a decline in interest. Prototype stories and methods to incorporate them are included.