In the modern day and age, education has transcended beyond the conventional or traditional methods of instruction and learning. Gone are the days when the use of technology in imparting knowledge seemed like a perfect pipe dream. One product of rapid technological advancement is the new concept of using movies as an education tool. What’s more, it continues to find new fans each passing day. Textbooks are continuously failing to entice and stimulate younger students. It is such traditional education methods that are one of the reasons that might push a student into hiring an essay online writer to help their write compositions.
The popularity of the academy awards every year also shows how highly the society values cinema. Most people watch films for entertainment. However, movies can also be great educational resources that assist students in understanding class material beyond the classroom environment. This article, therefore, highlights the potential of movies in educational processes.
Thus, the combination of learning with some source of entertainment is seemingly an ideal way of getting the most out of each aspect. Whereas this method has its criticisms, the pros far outweigh the cons.
- How movies assist in learning
The use of films in teaching can be challenging at times. However, if done soundly, it can potentially yield desirable benefits. Unlike textual content, movies empower the student to learn visually. For instance, the movie Gandhi enables a student to view a re-enactment of the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi, a prominent figure in history books. These visual clips offer a better understanding of those times and the era in addition to the lifestyle of this historical figure better than mere text. It also reinforces the student’s memory by a huge factor.
What’s more, movies are not only limited to the concept of books. Occasionally, outreach the curriculum and discuss topics which might not be directly related to the topics but important. One good example is the gender and class conflicts that form an integral part of Gandhi.
- They stimulate interest
In learning, interest is paramount. Some students fail academically not because they are fools, but because of their priorities. They do not value the importance of education and have an extremely diminished interest. Generally, students have a better response to watching films than reading. This aide in keeping them interested in a given topic and also limits distraction. This method of learning is particularly useful for unmotivated students who prefer visual stimulation to spoken words or written text.
Videos bearing subtitles have also shown to enhance reading and literary skills significantly. Nowadays, there are numerous novels receiving film adaptations, and as such, teaching literature is much versatile. A student can select the best studying medium that maximizes their understanding. They can even carry out meaningful debates on which medium they find most effective.
For other students, learning through the film is a great boon. Even those with serious learning disabilities have exhibited a positive response to movies and can easily relate to them. Students from poorer backgrounds with limited access to books and other reading material often how a diminished ability to read well. However, they willingly and enthusiastically discuss movies they have previously watched and can relate to the story. Film production is also becoming diversified by the day. More and more films have begun catering to interests of various groups and demographics the world over though being relatable. Movies can be deemed a universal language that has the power to overcome barriers of textual learning for every background.
- Great for visual learners
Different students have different learning styles. There are times when auditory or textual learning does not come easily to some students. Movies thus come to the rescue of visual learners. They empower them to understand concepts without any barriers to learning.
- Understanding concepts such as style, theme, and genre
Some students experience much difficulty in grasping the concept of genre, theme, and style when learning about them in an art or English class. Identifying these aspects of literature within a movie allows learners to better understand the concepts in a more familiar and entertaining medium. This, therefore, translates to better educational outcomes, including better test performance.
- Learning foreign languages though movies
Movies can assist students in a foreign language. Whenever they are learning a new language, e.g., French, it can be helpful to watch a movie in that language and attempt to follow on the actions as well as the words to decipher the contextual meanings of certain phrases. This will enable the students to apply the learned content practically.
Though movies are a competent method of learning, some challenges still abound. The older generations are still reluctant to accept its educational value. Most parents also believe that this method of teaching is inadequate. For conventional teachers, adapting to this new method can be tedious. Therefore, proper training and support are necessary to achieve full acceptance of this educational method.
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