science ( the Technology & Engineering components of STEAM ). All of this is enveloped in elements of magic appreciation , and most students leave the class with very strong attitudes about what makes for good and bad magic ( the Art aspect of STEAM ). It turns out that when students are exposed to the full breadth of magic , they find themselves drawn to magic that is narrative- or character-driven .
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the course is that it is immersive . I often teach it during our January Term , when students take a single course that meets three hours every day for the month of January , and I include multiple excursions that allow students to experience magic “ in the wild .” Further , nearly every class period includes a guest speaker from the world of science or magic . Students are learning about
the content from the people who are on the front lines . Magicians who have visited my class over the years include James Randi 5 , Mac King , Christopher Carter , Steve Bedwell , Kenton Knepper , Simon Aronson , Danny Orleans & Jan Rose , David Parr , and Joe Diamond ( among others ). Scientist visitors to the class have included much of the leadership of the Science of Magic Association and some researchers whose work may speak to magic without explicitly invoking it , including Gustav Kuhn , Steve Macknik ,
Susana Martinez-Conde , Amory Danek , Jay Olson , Matt Tompkins , and Larry Rosenblum .
I have had great success with the course . It has inspired students to begin learning magic , to
5 ) Video from Randi ’ s visit is available at https :// bit . ly / Randi-ASU .
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Christopher Carter demonstrates muscle reading .