Powerful learning tool or ‘cool factor’? Instructors’ perceptions of using film and video within teaching and learning

This study builds upon previous research that explores the use of film and video in a pedagogical context by explicitly asking instructors about their attitudes towards and motivations for employing such texts in their teaching, as well as the challenges they face in the process. Data were gathered through an anonymous, online survey of instructors across disciplines at seven Ontario universities. Commonalities were found amongst participants in the purposes cited for using film and video as well as in the challenges that accompany use of this pedagogical tool. For example, instructors in four of our six Faculty groupings commonly noted drawing on film and video to engage student attention, and the two most frequently selected challenges in five of our six Faculty groupings were ‘technical difficulties screening films’ and ‘problems finding appropriate materials’. We consider the implications of these findings for teaching and learning and suggest areas for future research.