Teaching History With Film: The Perspectives and Pedagogies of Historians

• In Event: Media, Imagery, and History Education

Abstract

This study focuses on historians’ perspectives of, and pedagogies with, film. Though many historians have written about film and its potential as a medium for engaging in important issues in history (e.g., O’Connor, 1988; 1990; Rosenstone, 1995, 2006), little has been done to examine their actual practice with film in their own teaching. Through observations of classes, interviews, and an analysis of course related materials, we found that the participating historians used film in ways that engaged their students to develop historical empathy as part of social history courses and in deep and critical deliberations of important issues in history and historiography. These findings provide k-12 teachers with a model for more sophisticated practice with film in their history classes.

Author

• Jeremy D. Stoddard, The College of William & Mary