Using films in the classroom
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This document discusses using films in the classroom and provides details on three workshops. The workshops will teach students how to use films efficiently to achieve educational goals. Workshop 1 will focus on using Disney films to promote awareness of gender, racial, and bodily stereotypes. Workshop 2 will explore how to use historical films and TV shows to teach history skills like critical thinking and empathy. Workshop 3 will discuss how superhero films contain messages about society and can be used to develop critical thinking in students.
Using films in the classroom
- 1. Using Films in the Classroom Film has always been a popular method to use in the classroom, since it has several benefits. It has the ability to motivate and inspire pupils, it provides a visual context, it allows pupils to empathize more easily. Beyond these obvious perks of the use of film, there are several other skills that can be practiced via this medium. It can heighten the pupils’ critical thinking, expand their lexis, broaden their cultural and historical knowledge, etc. That being said, it is not always easy to implement film in a relevant and appropriate way. More than once, films tend to be used as time-fillers, in order to subdue pupils, or to kill time. During these workshops, the students will be taught how to efficiently make use of film during class. There will be a general overview of the basic principles of using film, scaffolding, the different phases in a lesson when making use of film, types of activities, and so on. Next to the general didactic component of teaching with film, each workshop will have a specific theme. Workshop 1: “It is not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting ideas and thinking”: how to use Disney to create awareness about stereotypes. Disney has always been an extremely popular medium, especially in primary education. The visual and musical aspects of classic Disney movies hold a certain appeal over children and adults alike. These classic movies have lived on far beyond their production phase and are part of a collective cultural identity. Beyond the glitter of Disney, however, often lies a stereotypical vision of society, one that no longer seems to match how our society has evolved over the decades. In this workshop, the students will be taught how to use Disney to bring about awareness about these stereotypes and how one can counteract these. They will learn how to practice critical thinking in their pupils. The focus of this workshop will lie on the gender, racial, and bodily stereotypes within the Disney universe. Besides that, we will also focus on the use of songs in Disney, and what moral and critical value they hold. Workshop 2: “Prepare for glory”: using film to teach history Historical movies have always been extremely popular, and are produced with clockwork regularity. In the past years, movies such as 12 Years a Slave, Lincoln, 300, Elizabeth I, etc. have been commercial and critical successes, and are often used in class to teach history. Besides movies, historical TV series have been increasingly popular as well, and are continuing to find their way into the classroom. Although there will always be voices that rule against the use of film in a history classroom, there are multiple benefits by making use of this medium. It is, however, not easy to use film efficiently. It should go far beyond than using it simply to fill time or to sedate pupils. In this workshop, we will study how one can use historical film or TV efficiently and practice a wide range of important skills. An obvious skill is to determine historical accuracy, but the skills that can be practiced stretch much further than the discipline of history on itself. Critical thinking, empathy, and perspective are all aspects that will be discussed during this workshop.
- 2. Workshop 3: “With great power comes great responsibility”: what superhero films tell us about society? The past decade witnessed an explosive boom in the superhero genre. Several superhero films are released every year. Their success at the box office shows that there is still no fatigue surrounding the genre and that these blockbusters remain as popular as ever. What is often overseen, though, is that these films often hold a strong message about the culture and time period they were created in. You might stare yourself blind on the visual effects, spandex suits, and often over-the-top supervillains. These superhero films contain strong historical elements, and often hold elements that can be seen as a critique on society. The duality between superhero and villain often find a parallel in our own world. Therefore, these films can be used to teach critical thinking, and pushes pupils to think outside the box. Above that, using superhero films will prove to be a great success in class, since it is something pupils will have a strong interest in. During these workshops, the students will be taught how to make use of these superhero films in a relevant and educational manner.