Film as an Educational Tool

I have been mulling over the idea of using film as an education tool for students for some time now and over the past week I have started to think about it more in ernest.  I should describe what I mean.  When I say film as an educational tool I do not mean showing students films that relate to content in the class, or as a reward or anything like that.  Rather I mean students should be making films to exhibit learning.  This originally came from an experience I had in the classroom where instead of requiring students to write a reflection (I called it an artist’s statement) at the end of a unit I offered the option of writing, or recording sound or creating a short video.  Later I offhandedly said to my students “For your artist’s statement you can write longhand, type and essay, record a video, write a song or a poem or whatever tickles your fancy as long as it covers the following points”.  The points are listed in their book as well as in a rubric and I covered them verbally.  I did not expect it, but when the artists statements were turned in as normal I got many typed essays and videos and low and behold I got one poem and two songs.  I believe this points to the nature of current students’ environment and where they are comfortable working and expressing themselves. 

A while back I was reading a graphic design back (by a while back I mean probably six or seven years now) and a particular statement stood out to me.  To paraphrase:  Graphic design is not longer about static images, if you create a logo or symbol, eventually someone will spin and twirl it.  If we extend the definition of students all the way through university then I feel comfortable is saying that students today have grown up in an environment of moving images.  It is not novelty but a way life is presented to them.  Naturally they should then feel accustomed to receiving and also sending information in this manner.  In fact they are so comfortable with this platform that I have found students often do a better job of meeting class requirements when allowed to communicate in this manner.  To set the stage:  In my class part of the requirements of the every unit is to reflect.  Often times there are audible groans in the classroom when the work ‘reflection’ escapes my lips.  The sad thing about this is first, reflection is shown to be a very valuable learning tool as it promotes metacognition in students and second, reflection can be quite exciting but students have learned that reflection is the same as describing.  Sincerely, when I read a description of what happened in class I also groan because I was there, I saw what happened in class and do not need to revisit.  What reflection should be about is describing meaning and pinpointing areas where a multitude of possibilities became an idea worth pursuing and where for artistic reasons the student took a direction different from the design.  It is my belief that as students come to recognize these moments (and there are more than I have just written) then we as teachers develop better honed thinkers.  Through giving the students an option to record a short film for their reflection instead of writing, I have seen students respond to the above mentioned moments instead of just describing what happened.

This is a singular event, film can be used to go beyond reflection and can also be a tool for exploration and of course, expression.  However I want to stress for the time being that a film as a thinking tool does not need production value which is a problem I have run into with film in the classroom.  At times with both students and enthusiasts of film, production value has gotten in the way of content.  From a simplistic point of view with basic tasks, clarity in communication is more valuable than a good looking film.  In most cases the better video reflections I have received are shot on the Mac program Photo Booth and usually features the art work and the student.  So long as the video and audio are clear  the job can be done and high marks can be earned.  This is not to discount the value of production but in circumstances I have described it is not important. 

But there are places where production value is important.  Making an eye catching film is the content of other education domains.  Drama and ICT for example.  Seeing as these are the places where the art of film are of paramount importance I believe this presents an excellent opportunity for true cross-curricular education.  The thinking skills and techniques that are being instiledl through these classes can be put to use by making it easier to operate the hardware/software and to better communicate a message.  Additionally, the platforms for sharing are increasing all the time.  You Ku and You Tube aside, film festivals and even student film festivals continue to grow every year.  I believe this give us a teachers the opportunities to exhibit to students how intellectual and technical skills are linked to valuable participation in the global community.

To conclude, I hope I have made my point that the value of using short film is great for a generation of students who understand and communicate in this method.  As teachers we should be giving the students the thinking process, technical skills and the platform to develop their minds and their abilities.