Determining whether English teachers have pre-established learning objectives before or after showing a Hollywood movie in their classroom

Abstract

Teachers are showing Hollywood featured movies in their classroom more and more. Presumptions are made that teachers show movies as a different way for students to learn. However, through observation in the classroom it was this researchers belief that movies are being presented not as a learning tool but rather to entertain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether English teachers at two large Midwestern high schools had pre-established learning objectives for students before or after showing a movie. This study was conducted in spring of 2003 through a survey constructed by this researcher. Overall, the findings suggest that teachers do have objectives that correlate with the movie they show in the classroom. All the teachers that participated in the survey stated that they do show movies in their classroom. Some of the learning objectives that teachers listed were more structured while other learning objectives that teachers listed were more general.