Purpose:

This activity is designed to help students apply concepts addressed in class to other situations.

Objectives:

• Develop understanding of the complexities of teaching situations
• Apply learning and motivation theories to a fictional situation
• Reflect on differences/similarities between portrayal of teaching and learning in media with personal experiences

Student Project:

This activity involves choosing and watching a popular movie that portrays teaching and learning and using that context to understand some of the theories and concepts discussed in the text and in class. You may end up watching the movie more than once throughout the semester, as you consider the story and characters in light of various concepts. A short "starter" list of possible movies follows. Your instructor may provide other selections.

To Sir, With Love Dead Poets' Society Conrack Teachers Kindergarten Cop Stand and Deliver Mr. Holland's Opus Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Dangerous Minds Blackboard Jungle Man Without a Face Summer School Clueless The Principal The Breakfast Club Billy Madison

Assessment:

A series of short papers or journal entries could be compiled based on the following questions to consider. These papers/journals could be submitted for a grade or provide the basis for class discussions.

Questions:

1. Is this teacher effective? If so, what characteristics demonstrate effectiveness? If not, what could be done to improve effectiveness? Provide examples and make connections to your own experiences and course content.
2. Comment on the developmental level of the students. Be sure to consider all aspects: physical, social, cognitive, moral, etc. Relate this to course content. For example, what impact does cognitive development have on instruction and assessment? How might social development affect the teacher's choice of instructional strategies?
3. What is the general impression conveyed by this movie in its depiction of teachers and students? What impact has this movie had on you as a future teacher? What behaviors would you like to model in your own classroom? Why would you want to model these behaviors or characteristics? Provide examples.
4. Comment on motivational issues presented by teachers and students. What aspects of motivation theories discussed in the text do you find in the movie? How might you resolve motivational issues of teachers and/or students?

Variation:

1. Share your answers in groups of three to four (groups should include individuals who have watched the same movie) and discuss the similarities and differences of the answers of each group. Then discuss why these similarities and differences exist. Develop a group review of this movie in response to each question.
2. Share answers to questions in mixed groups (those who have watched different movies). What common themes emerge? What impact does media portrayal of teachers have on the public perception of teachers? Share with the class.
3. Work in small groups of two to four people who watched the same or similar movies. Compile lists of educational psychology concepts and descriptions of those concepts that appear in each movie. Perhaps, organize these lists by movie segment so that they are can be played in class. Post the lists to the web or publish in another format.