Film As a Teaching Resource Joseph E Champoux, PhD Regents Professor of Management Emeritus The Robert O Anderson School of Management The University of New Mexico 23 October 2008

Film As a Teaching Resource Observations based on many years of working with film Observations based on many years of working with film Film scenes offer a visual portrayal of abstract theories and concepts Film scenes offer a visual portrayal of abstract theories and concepts Showing concepts through different film scenes shows the concepts application in different situations Showing concepts through different film scenes shows the concepts application in different situations Film has some unique features that make it an uncommonly powerful teaching tool Film has some unique features that make it an uncommonly powerful teaching tool

Viewer Responses Viewers are not passive observers of images on a screen Viewers are not passive observers of images on a screen Can have many different responses, some of which come from films unique features Can have many different responses, some of which come from films unique features Viewer responses often become an essential part of the film experience and something upon which we can depend in a teaching environment Viewer responses often become an essential part of the film experience and something upon which we can depend in a teaching environment

Teaching Functions of Film Films can serve many functions in a teaching program Films can serve many functions in a teaching program Functions that will work for you depend on your teaching style, teaching goals, and course content Functions that will work for you depend on your teaching style, teaching goals, and course content Overview of ways of using film as case, experiential exercise, metaphor, satire, symbolism, meaning, & experience Overview of ways of using film as case, experiential exercise, metaphor, satire, symbolism, meaning, & experience

Teaching Functions of Film Film as Case Film as Case Obvious use of film and perhaps the first that one thinks of when considering film for teaching Obvious use of film and perhaps the first that one thinks of when considering film for teaching Scenes from a well-acted, well-directed film present material more dramatically and engagingly than a print case Scenes from a well-acted, well-directed film present material more dramatically and engagingly than a print case

Teaching Functions of Film Film as Experiential Exercise Film as Experiential Exercise Some films lend themselves to inclusion in experiential exercises (exercise target) Some films lend themselves to inclusion in experiential exercises (exercise target) Using films instead of print materials adds the advantages and unique qualities of film to the exercise Using films instead of print materials adds the advantages and unique qualities of film to the exercise

Teaching Functions of Film Film as Satire Film as Satire Satire is an effective art form for burning concepts into a persons mind Satire is an effective art form for burning concepts into a persons mind Uses humor and ridicule to contrast pretense and reality Uses humor and ridicule to contrast pretense and reality Satire can leave an unforgettable image of concepts you are trying to emphasize Satire can leave an unforgettable image of concepts you are trying to emphasize

Teaching Functions of Film Film as Meaning Film as Meaning Excellent medium for giving meaning to theories and concepts Excellent medium for giving meaning to theories and concepts Visual and auditory effects can convey a message better than printed or spoken words Visual and auditory effects can convey a message better than printed or spoken words

Teaching Functions of Film Film as Experience Film as Experience The unique qualities of film described earlier can create strong experiences for viewers The unique qualities of film described earlier can create strong experiences for viewers Use this feature of film to introduce students to other countries cultures Use this feature of film to introduce students to other countries cultures

Ways of Using Film for Teaching Before Before Gives students a recallable visual image to which they can compare the topics under discussion Gives students a recallable visual image to which they can compare the topics under discussion Allows quick reference to examples shown in the film scene Allows quick reference to examples shown in the film scene

Ways of Using Film for Teaching After After Showing scenes after describing or discussing theories and concepts lets you use the scenes as a video case Showing scenes after describing or discussing theories and concepts lets you use the scenes as a video case Helps students develop their analytical skills in applying what they are learning Helps students develop their analytical skills in applying what they are learning

Ways of Using Film for Teaching Repeat Repeat Helpful when trying to develop student understanding of complex topics Helpful when trying to develop student understanding of complex topics Run scenes before discussion to give students a visual anchor Run scenes before discussion to give students a visual anchor Rerun the scenes as a video case and ask students to analyze what they see with the theories and concepts discussed Rerun the scenes as a video case and ask students to analyze what they see with the theories and concepts discussed

Types of Film and Likely Functions Live action films Live action films Most common and likely what one thinks about in this context Most common and likely what one thinks about in this context Can act as a video case Can act as a video case Animated films Animated films Might dismiss as simply childrens cartoons Might dismiss as simply childrens cartoons Highly crafted with complete directorial control Highly crafted with complete directorial control

Types of Film and Likely Functions Cross-cultural Cross-cultural Films from different countries Films from different countries Huge inventory from which to pick; and growing Huge inventory from which to pick; and growing Use as a vicarious visit to another culture Use as a vicarious visit to another culture Film remakes Film remakes Give a comparative view of time Give a comparative view of time Works best when the remake closely parallels the original film Works best when the remake closely parallels the original film

Copyright Issues The US view but likely holds internationally The US view but likely holds internationally Use legal copy of film (buy or rent) Use legal copy of film (buy or rent) Limit to about 10 percent of film running time Limit to about 10 percent of film running time Usually limited to a non-profit educational environment Usually limited to a non-profit educational environment

Copyright Issues For profit educational environment For profit educational environment Can use film scenes for which one has paid for the rights Can use film scenes for which one has paid for the rights Hard to do individually (time consuming) Hard to do individually (time consuming) Can turn to commercial sources for licensed film scenes (South-Western Cengage Learning BizFlix series) Can turn to commercial sources for licensed film scenes (South-Western Cengage Learning BizFlix series)

On-line Educational Environment A new and fast growing form of course delivery A new and fast growing form of course delivery Students view the film scenes on-line Students view the film scenes on-line Legal sources for on-line use Legal sources for on-line use 10 percent of a film in a streaming environment 10 percent of a film in a streaming environment Can integrate the BizFlix film scenes into an on-line course Can integrate the BizFlix film scenes into an on-line course

Film Scene Demonstrations Organizational culture: Top Gun Organizational culture: Top Gun Organizational socialization: The Hudsucker Proxy Organizational socialization: The Hudsucker Proxy Communication: Milk Money Communication: Milk Money Cross-cultural: Mostly Martha Cross-cultural: Mostly Martha Animated film: Ratatouille Animated film: Ratatouille On-line film scene: The Breakfast Club On-line film scene: The Breakfast Club