Teaching with film denotes an approach where students are invited to learn from films instead of/besides typically assigned preparatory materials such as articles and books. These can include documentaries and/or fiction. Films do not serve primarily as sources of information; instead, students are encouraged to reflect on different perspectives that are communicated through the film, to compare/contrast these viewpoints, and to apply theoretical approaches to films. Learning and teaching with film usually increases student engagement in class and can help students to develop a fuller and more complex understanding of the issues under study (Kuzma and Haney 2001).

Reference

Kuzma, L.M. and Haney, P.J. (2001). ‘And…action! Using film to learn about foreign policy’, International Studies Perspectives 2:1, pp. 33-50.