Example #2 of Uses of Technology in the Social Studies Classroom: Movies and Documentaries

As I have mentioned before, teaching social studies is being done wrong in many classrooms. As I have also mentioned, technology can help change that. Last post I mentioned the use of podcasts. This post, I am going to talk about movies and documentaries. Movies and documentaries can be educations best friend or worst nightmare. They can be used in a great way, or a terrible way. When it is used correctly, film can be used as supplemental material in an entertaining way. It can help visual learners understand the content better. It can also be a nice educational and useful break from taking notes and lecturing. However, teachers must make sure that the film is accurate, helpful, engaging, and not just an excuse for the teacher to take a break from teaching. I remember I had to watch short clips in eighth grade science class that were probably at least ten years old and incredibly boring. The teacher would not say anything about the clips, she would not have us answer questions on a worksheet, or discuss it after it was done. Lazy teachers love movies, and so do great teachers. So, how does a great teacher utilize film in the classroom?

A teacher should not flip an old camera 

like this on and let the kids watch a movie

with no discussion or supplementary material

Teachers can use documentaries, short films, and movies in the classroom. However, if it is best to not show a long movie or long documentary. I would recommend keeping it under thirty minutes at a time. Films can be used to further explain a historical event that is talked about in class. It can be used as a visual textbook. I think that is the best way to describe what film should be used as in class: a visual textbook. It should not be used as a break for teachers and it should not be used as a reward for some classes and not others. Furthermore, film should have supplemental material with it. For example, students should have to answer some questions during the film or write a reflection paragraph after the film. Another option is to have class discussion or group discussion about how the film related back to the recent lessons.

Another way films can be used in the classroom is by using a flipped classroom format. The largest and most obvious con is the issues of accessibility. However, if a teacher can find a way around that, it is a great way to utilize film in the social studies classroom. This will give more time for students and teachers to work on worksheets about the film in class and discuss the film as a class.