YouTube, Hollywood, and Physics
As I stated in a different section of this site, it all started many years ago at a AAAS conference held in Boston. While I was there I went to a session about using Hollywood Movies in the physics classroom. The presenter showed Road Runner clips and clips from popular movies and discussed the relevant physics concepts that he was able to present to his students. From interesting concepts to data for problems, the movies provided all sorts of interesting topics for him to teach from. I was hooked! Of course, this was back in the day of VHS videotapes and the presenter was unable to share his videos. So, I put this teaching idea on my wish list and figured at some point I would have my chance.
Little did I realize back then just how much things would change when it came to accessing videos...thank you YouTube! If there is a physics idea that you are looking to highlight in your classroom, you do not have to go any further than YouTube...your source for all things video! Now, I am not saying that YouTube is the best and most wonderful source for videos, but it certainly is the most convenient. I also watch a lot of children's movies with my two sons and there is a lot of good content there, as well...you just need to own the movie and be prepared to do some creative editing, too. With YouTube you can link to the video from your powerpoint or you can upload it to your computer using any number of online editing programs that are available. The videos are all short in length, most of them no longer than ninety seconds, and highlight some physics concept and provide a nice break
to the lecture. What would be more interesting for your students: the traditional end of chapter textbook problem or analyzing a skateboarder that has just fallen 15 meters and survived?
Now, you might be saying why should I show videos in my classroom...don't the students watch enough TV at home, and play enough video games, and just waste time surfing the web or Facebook? Oh, I agree...I agree! But, there is the old saying that if you can not beat them join them, right? I figure it is a lot easier to meet the students where they are at, then to battle them sometimes. What is the harm in showing web based videos as a teaching tool in your class? What is wrong in dissecting a clip from a movie to determine just how realistic (or, more than likely, unrealistic) the scene may be? Personally, I enjoy the times when my students tell me that I have ruined going to the movies for them because all they think about is how bad the physics is in the movie. As the often hear me say when they mention this...I WIN! They are doing physics outside of school and isn't that the point?
In this section of the website, I am just going to link a selection of videos that I have used and identify the physics and content and a little description of what is in the video. Of course, if you are looking for some other clips/ideas or would like to know how to obtain and edit clips, please feel free to email me and I will be happy to help you in any way that I can. The last page in this section is a list of many of the Hollywood movies that I use to help teach my classes, as well. I have given a description of the scene and an example of where and how I use the scene in my lesson. I would love to share the clips with you, but I am sure that this would violate some sort of copyright law, so I am not going to go there. Although, I do know that it is legal for us to use short clips from Hollywood movies under the Fair Use guidelines. So, with a little time and money you will create your own vast library of movie clips to use. There are also a couple of books and websites that are out there that you can purchase to get ideas for scenes, too. I started with a website called Intuitor to get some ideas, but now I am constantly looking for clips whenever I am watching TV or movies. Have fun with it...your students certainly will!
