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Tips for Teaching with Movies:Using Film to Provide Meaningful Learning Experiences

Jerald H. Walz

Elizabeth G. Creamer & Eric K. KaufmanVirginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

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Overview

Introductions

Reasons for using film in teaching

How film has been used by others

How we have used film in our teaching

Best practices

Another Demonstration (time permitting)

Questions & Answers

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Reasons for using Film

Movies are: Informative

Energizing

Educational

Entertaining

Enjoyable

Useful for teaching adults Engages learning styles

Values & appreciates learner’s prior knowledge & experience

Involves mental and physical participation

Focuses on practical application

(Graham, Sincoff, Baker, & Ackermann, 2003)

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Reasons for using Film

Movies: Engage learners at all levels

Provide a universal experience

Offer a hypothetical learning opportunity

Are easily available at low cost

Hold audience interest

Can be selected based on audience needs or interests

Present inspiration, challenge thinking, stimulate discussion

Also, Permit observation for reflection

Allow easy access otherwise restricted

(Graham, Ackermann, & Maxwell, 2004)

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How film has been used by others

Provide reward for students’ good behavior

Edu-tainment: tangential tie to content

Give instructor a break

Integrate “technology” with pedagogy

Fill time

Other (bad?) reasons

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Film in our Teaching

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Film in our Teaching

Teaching Grounded Theory Method

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Grounded Theory Process

Research problem & Research questions

Data collection &Initial CODES

Data collection &Tentative

CATEGORIES

Data collection & Focused coding

Refined CATEGORIES

Theoretical sampling

Selecting theoretical CONCEPTS

Diagramming concepts

Memos

Memos

Memos

Memos

Writing draft

Organizing Memos

(Charmaz, 2006, p. 11)

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Best Practices Plan ahead

Film, equipment, screen, projector, sound

Tie the movie directly with learning concept(s)

Practice makes perfect

Challenge students to dig deeper

Provide students a template for viewing

(Graham, Sincoff, Baker, & Ackermann, 2003)

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Best Practices

Provide context Explain relevant background

Describe the scene

Present major characters

Show the clip Not too little, not too much

Remain quiet & watch

Debrief Allow students to complete & review their notes

Ask prepared, open-ended, broad questions

Allow students to share their ideas

Reinforce major concepts or themes related to curriculum

(Graham, Sincoff, Baker, & Ackermann, 2003)

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Best Practices

Procedural sequence Pre-screen movies and scenes

Plan for the scenes to run five to 15 minutes

Cue DVD or video to starting point

Set the stage: introduce content, characters, relationships, and concepts to observe

Break at pause points

Debrief

(Graham, Ackermann, & Maxwell, 2004)

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Best Practices

Scene selection Use lesser-known movies or independent

films

Avoid often-used films

Choose based upon the audience

Consider genre: classic, fantasy, reality-based

Prepare a “back-up” option

Consider Copyright regulations & institutional policies

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Another Demonstration (time permitting)

What is Leadership? Position: is it where “leaders” operate

that makes them leaders?

Person: is it who “leaders” are that makes them leaders?

Result: is it what “leaders” achieve that makes them leaders?

Process: is it how “leaders” get things done that makes them leaders?

(Grint, 2010, p. 4)

What qualities of Leadership are portrayed in Gandhi (1982)?

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Conclusion

“Film is the glue that binds our academic pursuits with texts, discussion, and experiential learning, allowing students to discover ways to plug-in as active citizens moving toward positive change” (Hickam & Meixner, 2008).

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Questions & Answers

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ReferencesAttenborough, R., Williams, B., Taylor, R., Stanley-Evans, M., Briley, J.,

Kingsley, B., Bergen, C., ... Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (Firm). (2007). Gandhi. Culver City, Calif: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Bender, L., Van, S. G., Escoffier, J.-Y., Weinstein, B., Weinstein, H., Gordon, J., Armstrong, S., ... Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Firm). (1997). Good Will Hunting. Burbank, Calif: Miramax Home Entertainment.

Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Graham, T., Sincoff, M., Baker, B., & Ackermann, J. (2003). Reel leadership: Hollywood takes the leadership challenge. Journal of Leadership Education, 2(2), 37-45.

Graham, T. S., Ackermann, J. C., & Maxwell, K. K. (2004). Reel leadership II: Getting emotional at the movies. Journal of Leadership Education, 3(3), 44-57.

Grint, K. (2010). Leadership: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Hickam, B., & Meixner, C. (2008). Transforming leadership: Film as a vehicle for social change. Journal of Leadership Education, 7(2), 41-46.

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Contact

JERALD H. WALZ

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Blacksburg, VA 24060

jhwalz@vt.edu