Skimming the Surface: Documentary Film in the Social Studies Classroom

• In Event: Poster Session 8
  In Poster Session: Engaging Documentary Methods to Cultivate Reflective Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Documentary film has long been a mainstay of social studies education, and technological advances have vastly increased opportunities for film use in secondary classrooms in recent years. Yet relatively little is known about social studies teachers’ understandings and use of this medium in their teaching practice. This study collected data from 98 practicing social studies teachers in 20 states. Findings suggest that many teachers remain largely uninformed by documentary film theory and continue to use documentary primarily as an information-delivery system, often ignoring the values and perspectives embedded within films. Data suggest these teachers are only skimming the surface of possibility for documentary as a meaningful pedagogical tool to encourage critical thinking, active citizenship, and media literacy.

Authors

• Ellen Livingston, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Aviv Cohen, Teachers College Columbia University