It may sound like a counterproductive idea to include TV in a classroom, given kids spend hours consuming content on screens nowadays. Kids are accustomed to consuming information via screens, and using classroom TVs for educational purposes can be beneficial. With the right planning, you can incorporate movies, TV shows, current affairs, and documentaries into the classroom. It is a great way to retain your students’ attention, show them topics relevant outside of the classroom, and spark exciting discussions.
Choose a Scene
Choosing a short clip to share with your students is far more beneficial than watching an entire episode or feature film. Also, a five minutes scene is more effective than having an entire episode available as it distracts the class.
Using Themes
If you’re dealing with a specific topic, picking a few different shows or movies that share the same theme is a good idea. This will make the class more engaging, allowing you to offer various perspectives on the desired topic.
Current Affairs
Using current events to illustrate historical events and political concepts helps students understand the ways the subjects they are taught are connected to the world around them. It is a wonderful method to share a few minutes of some comedy newscasts covering the major events of the week on the classroom TV display.
Humor is a great way to help with remembering important notes on current affairs. Aside from satirical news shows, award-winning shows like The Wire and House of Cards can teach young people about socio-political issues like inequality.
Period Drama
History can be very boring. Especially when students find it difficult to contextualize the course material and connect it to the modern world. This is unfortunate because history is a very important and colorful subject when taught well. TV shows and movies will give life to historical concepts and events, thereby encouraging students to read about them.
Economy and Business
Concepts of economics and business studies can seem very alien to students since they are taught in abstract and unrealistic ways. Instead of repeatedly going over business basics, how about watching a Shark Tank episode on the classroom TVs? Learn business planning, profit margins, and negotiation skills in a fun and engaging way.
Language Courses
Language is one of the best subjects to teach through TV shows and movies. Foreign language series show real usages, such as slang and colloquial grammar, offering a more realistic experience than the rigid and often outdated language taught in class. Short clips of shows and movies that use structure can transform language learning into real-world conversations that students want to follow.
Use Show as a Trailer
Rather than using a movie or TV show that covers the whole topic to be studied, a short clip from a popular series can be specifically selected as a trailer to introduce the new topic. Using clips that contain these concepts in an entertaining or comedic way is an exciting way to get your students’ attention and introduce the topic.
Documentary
Modern documentaries are far from old-school episodes. Netflix has world-class documentaries on environmental, political, and social issues. To make the lesson even more interactive, you can involve your students in a selection of relevant shows, movies, or research.