Education and Learning on Film

Course Description

FILM 3998: Special Topics - Education and Learning on Film addresses theories of analysis and critique movies that focus on educators and learners in private and public K-12 schools and university settings. Students will explore issues of socioeconomics of learners as portrayed in film, educational approaches depicted by actors, as well as dramatic and comedic techniques used to depict educational situations and tell the story of teachers and students in the movies we will watch. Students will be exposed to the power of persuasion, humor, message, and the desire to communicate. Students will write brief reflection papers and complete a final film analysis project. Prerequisites: Students should have basic computer and college level writing skills.

Course Learning Objectives

1. Critically analyze the ways in which films have authentically and stereotypically represent/present teachers, students, and education systems.
2. Critically reflect your own personal values, attitudes, and belief systems concerning teaching, students, and education
3. Develop critical evaluation and personal appreciation of film and media

Learning Activities

This course is divided into several learning modules with Open Educational Resources (OERS) of freely accessible readings and/or video viewings. Students will engage with the instructor in three individual appointments, write three module response papers, and complete a final case study project. All written work will be emailed directly to the faculty member. Due dates and calendar will be determined in the initial appointment meeting.

A choice of films accessible via Netflix or other streaming services or DVD will be available in each module along with resources specific to the module response focus of the individual module. The final case study project will be determined during the 2nd and 3rd appointments in collaboration with the instructor.

The modules for this course include:

Module 1: Films before the 1960s

Module 2: Films from 1960s - 1980s

Module 3: Films from the 1990s to present

Module 4: Case Study Project

Assignments and Grading

• Individual Appointments - 10% of final grade

• Module Response Papers - 60% of final grade

• Final Project - 30% of final grade

Module Response Papers

For Modules 1, 2, & 3 - you will write a module response paper using the module materials, you will be asked to write a 2-3 page reflection on the materials addressing the specific questions in each module. These papers should focus on depth of analysis rather than a summary of the course materials. You should use MLA style for citations.

Final Case Study Project:

Your final project should build upon your learning in the course and capture the spirit and essence of the course as a whole. You are encouraged to design a project that is meaningful to you both personally and professionally. We will make a final determination in our individudal appointments and through a brief 1-2 page project proposal.

You have several options to consider:

You could write a traditional scholarly essay that looks at education and learning in films that differentiates between form and content in a film; how our expectations shape our experience and interpretation of film; an analysis of filmmaker's intent with the cinematic tools they have used and a scene by scene analysis; or any other analytical approach you want to take.
You could provide an analysis of the films you have watched this term and outline a plan for a film about an aspect of education that you are interested in portraying.

The project parameters are limited only by your imagination.

Length: Contingent upon project form, but roughly equivalent to an 8-10-page scholarly essay (2000-2500 words, not including works cited/references).

Module 1: Films before the 1960s

Films to Watch for Module 1

(Pick 2 films from this list):

Goodbye, Mr. Chips ( 1939 ) - IMDB overview
Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941) - IMDB overview
The Corn is Green ( 1945 ) - IMDB overview
Bright Road ( 1953 ) - IMDB overview
The Browning Version ( 1951 ) - IMDB overview
Good Morning, Miss Dove (1955) - IMDB overview
Blackboard Jungle ( 1955 ) - IMDB overview

Readings for Module 1

Click the citation below to access the readings - if in our school library, please be sure to log into the university system

Watch the video on learning how to analyze movies and see the tips at the end of the website.

Ahn, C., & Leggo, C. (2019). Teachers in Film: Always in Process. Canadian Journal of Education, 42(1), 117–137., https://suny-esc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01SUNY_ESC/vq36nc/cdi_proquest_journals_2202743786

Read Introduction (pages 1-9) - Chennault, R.. Hollywood Films about Schools: Where Race, Politics, and Education Intersect, Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/empire-ebooks/detail.action?docID=307857.

Farhi, A. (1999). Hollywood Goes to School Recognizing the Superteacher Myth in Film. The Clearing House, 72(3), 157–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/00098659909599618

Read Chapter 3: The Shift: Teacher Film Narratives in the Post-War Period - Dahlgren, Robert L.. From Martyrs to Murderers : Images of Teachers and Teaching in Hollywood Films, BRILL, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/empire-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4843717.

Read Chapter 1: Blackboard Jungle: Narratives of Pedagogy and Experience - Leopard, Dan. Teaching with the Screen : Pedagogy, Agency, and Media Culture, Taylor & Francis Group, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/empire-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1114708.

Assignment for Module 1

Pick at least two of the movies listed above and consider the following in your analysis of the films - Analyze the role(s) of teacher(s) in the film as hero/superhuman/anti-hero/savior. What role(s) did the students play - heroes/victims/? How did the director use cinematic techniques to emphasize the portrayal of the roles of the teachers and students?

Module 2: Films from 1960s - 1980s

Films to Watch for Module 2

Films to consider (watch at least 4 films from the list below):
1. The Children's Hour (1961) - IMDB overview
2. The Miracle Worker (1962) - IMDB overview
3. The Trouble with Angels (1966) - IMDB overview
  - If interested, the sequel is Where Angels Go Trouble Follows! (1968) - IMDB overview
4. To Sir, With Love (1967) - IMDB overview
5. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie ( 1969 ) - IMDB overview
6. The Paper Chase (1973) - IMDB overview
7. The Marva Collins Story (1981) - IMDB overview
8. Teachers (1984) - IMDB overview
9. Stand and Deliver (1988) - IMDB overview
10. Dead Poets Society (1989) - IMDB overview
11. Lean on Me (1989) - IMDB overview

Readings for Module 2

Read Chapter 6: Learning from School Films (pages 148-161) - Chennault, R.. Hollywood Films about Schools: Where Race, Politics, and Education Intersect, Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/empire-ebooks/detail.action?docID=307857.

Grant, D. (2017). “Welcome to the Jungle”: Understanding the Archetypesand Cinematic Techniques of ‘Eddies’. Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education, 14 (1). https://repository.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1088&context=taboo

Holbrook, R. L., & Stoner, J. (2022). Revisiting Dead Poets Society as a Tool for Studying Applications of Power. Management Teaching Review, 7(2), 164–179. https://doi-org.sunyempire.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/23792981211002747

Read Chapter 8: The Mavericks: Inner City Schools and White Saviors - Dahlgren, Robert L.. From Martyrs to Murderers : Images of Teachers and Teaching in Hollywood Films, BRILL, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/empire-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4843717.

Assignment for Module 2
1. Pick at least four of the movies listed above and consider the following in your review - Pick a particular focus and look at the ways in which socioeconomic status, race, gender, power, influence, dependence, and obedience play in the films. Compare and contrast the way these issues are portrayed in the films you viewed. You might consider comparative scene analysis of the ways in which race, class, gender, power, etc. are portrayed.

Module 3: Films from the 1990s to present

Films to Watch for Module 3 (watch at least 4 films from the list below):

TEACHING AND LEARNING IN DIFFERENT PLACES

1. 1. Renaissance Man (1994) - IMDB overview (Army)
  2. Higher Learning (1995) - IMDB overview (University)
  3. Dangerous Minds (1995) - IMDB overview (Inner city)
  4. Finding Forrester (2000) - IMDB overview (mentorship outside of school)
  5. The Emperor's Club (2002) - IMDB overview (Prep school for boys)
  6. Half Nelson (2006) - IMDB overview (Troubled HS teacher)
  7. Precious (2009) - IMDB overview (Alternative school)
  8. The First Grader (2010) - IMDB overview (Kenya - adult literacy)

MUSIC & ART EDUCATION

1. 1. Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) - IMDB overview
  2. Music of the Heart (1999) - IMDB overview
  3. School of Rock (2003) - IMDB overview
  4. Mona Lisa Smile (2003) - IMDB overview

BASED ON TRUE STORIES

1. 1. Chalk (2006) - IMDB overview
  2. The Ron Clark Story (2006) - IMDB overview
  3. Freedom Writers (2007) - IMDB overview
  4. The Great Debaters (2007) - IMDB overview
  5. A Chance in the World (2017) - IMDB overview

COACHING

1. 1. Remember the Titans (2000) - IMDB overview
  2. Coach Carter (2005) - IMDB overview

SHORT FILMS & DOCUMENTARIES

1. 1. Waiting for Superman (2010) - IMDB overview (documentary)
  2. American Teacher (2011) - IMDB overview (documentary)
  3. Best Kept Secret (2013) - IMDB overview (documentary)
  4. Most Likely to Succeed (2015) - IMDB overview (documentary)
  5. My Old School (2022) - IMDB Overview (documentary)
  6. 1, 2,3, Eyes on Me (2020) - IMDB overview - short currently on MAX
  7. Pens & Pencils (2023) - IMBD overview - short currently on Max

Readings for Module 3

(Un)Natural Saviors and Motivators: Analyzing the Pathological Scripting of Black Male Teachers in Hollywood Films (2022)

Thomas, Daniel ; Johnson, Marcus ; Brown, Anthony - https://suny-esc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01SUNY_ESC/vq36nc/cdi_proquest_journals_2718484638

Read Chapter 7: Teacher/Student Interactions on the Silver Screen and Chapter 10: Conclusions: Toward a New Media Paradigm on Education - Dahlgren, Robert L.. From Martyrs to Murderers : Images of Teachers and Teaching in Hollywood Films, BRILL, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/empire-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4843717.

Assignment for Module 3
1. Pick at least four of the movies listed above and consider the following in your review - Consider films in the categories above and perhaps your own sorting of films to explore the difference between portrayals of films based on real life teachers/learners and those that are purely fictitious. You could consider the context of the educational settings and the ways in which learners and teachers interact.

Module 4: Case Study Project

We will discuss this project at length during our appointments and as part of the proposal you will write.

You can take a variety of approaches to this project as outlined in the course overview section or as we add to this page.

THIS LIST WILL BE ADDEDTO THROUGHOUT THE TERM

- Some ideas to consider - compare different films of the same title or films made from books or plays.

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