Media in Teaching and Learning

Media can be used in almost any discipline to enhance learning, both in class, and also for out-of-class assignments. Short film and television clips, written articles, and blog postings can be viewed to reinforce concepts and spark discussion. Songs and music videos, especially when the lyrics are made available, can be used to the same effect.

The Advantages of Using Media:

• Many media sources (feature films, music videos, visualizations, news stories) have very high production quality capable of showcasing complex ideas in a short period of time. This helps develop quantitative reasoning. Learn more about this technique using the Teaching Quantitative Reasoning with the News module.

• Media offers both cognitive and affective experiences. It can provoke discussion, an assessment of one's values, and an assessment of self if the scenes have strong emotional content. 

• The use of media sources help connect learners with events that are culturally relevant. As a result, a positive consequence of utilizing media is that instructors must keep their materials and examples up-to-date. 

• News stories can be used to connect theories taught in the classroom with real world events and policies.

The Advantages of Media for Students:

• Popular media (films, music, YouTube) are a familiar medium to students that helps gain attention andmaintain student interest in the theories and concepts under discussion. Students can see the theories and concepts in action. In more than a figurative sense, theories and concepts leap from the screen.

• Students can hone their analytical skills by analyzing media using the theories and concepts they are studying.

• The use of media in the classroom enables students to see concepts and new examples when they are watching television, listening to music, or are at the movies with friends.

• Students can experience worlds beyond their own, especially if the media is sharply different from their local environment.

For the complete article, click here: http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/media/why.html