New Research Provides First Insights into Benefits and Challenges of Using Films in Classrooms
Study Shows How K-12 Educators are Leveraging Movies to Better Engage Students
St. Louis, Mo., [Oct. 2019] — With the launch of a landmark survey and report, Swank Motion Pictures announces its commitment to helping K-12 educators leverage the transformational power of movies through FILM (Film-Infused Learning Model), a new approach to integrating movies into teaching and learning.
Swank’s Teaching with Film survey found both significant benefits and challenges to using films in the classroom, including:
- 80 percent of K-12 educators state they are using movies in the classroom to support discussions and encourage deeper topic engagement
- 99 percent of respondents reported films are being used as part of instruction at least 1-5 times per month
- However, 55 percent of educators say that DVD players are being phased out or have already been eliminated at their schools
- Over half of schools and districts either block or restrict access to personal streaming sites in class.
“Our survey shows that many teachers can’t harness the storytelling magic of movies because of limitations in classroom technology and resources,” said Tim Swank, CEO of Swank Motion Pictures. “Yet research demonstrates that films and documentaries offer multiple benefits, from enabling teachers to illustrate concepts and build skills to providing experiential learning opportunities and helping students develop cultural competencies.”
Report Lays Out Best Practices for Engaging Students with the Film-Infused Learning Model
SWANK’s report on the survey, titled “Lights, Camera, Action: How Schools Are Using Film to Unlock 21st Century Outcomes,” captures best practices for teachers seeking to optimize the FILM approach. These include how to:
- Review standards and align film choices to support students in their critical thinking journey
- Determine how a film can enrich and extend a lesson plan
- Identify a key concept, event, or skill that a movie could energize or enrich
- Consider using a film as the basis for a project-based learning lesson
- Consider using a film as the basis for a flipped classroom approach
The report also addresses how educators can manage the logistics of film usage, including how to:
- Determine whether to use a film in part or in its entirety
- Ensure appropriate copyright compliance
- Research and provide student learning guides and handouts
- Utilize discussion guides, lesson plans, assignments, and tools
"Swank’s report brings to light what teachers have long known, which is that movies can drive critical thinking,” said Doreen Bergman, director of educational programs at OCM BOCES. “Students learn best when they take in information via multiple modalities. And since they come to school with different levels of preparedness and diverse backgrounds, films can also have a powerful impact in the classroom as an equalizer.”
To read the full report, click here.
The survey and report come on the heels of the announcement of Swank’s new streaming platform for education. Swank K-12 Streaming delivers movie streaming for education, with a convenient and controlled platform enabling educators and students to access high-quality assigned films from any connected device. The technology is cloud-based and integrates with Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas and other Learning Management Systems (LMS), with subtitles, closed captioning and alternate languages available. No extra equipment or hardware is needed, and setup is fast and free.
Swank deployed its Teaching with Film survey from June 10 to August 12, 2019, questioning educators, administrators, principals and library media specialists at the school and district level as to their use of films.
About Swank Motion Pictures
Founded in 1937, Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. is the world's largest non-theatrical distributor of motion pictures for public performance and the acknowledged leader in the field. Swank Motion Pictures provides both public performance licensing rights and licensed movies to numerous non-theatrical markets, including U.S. colleges and universities, K-12 public schools and libraries, and other markets. For more information on Swank K12 Streaming, please visit https://www.swank.com/k-12-streaming/.