You walk into class, tired from the days events, when you sit down to discover your teacher will be showing a movie. More often than not the first thought to come to mind are “thank goodness nap time.” When a teacher shows a movie in class is it truly beneficial?

While many students agree that movies in class are the perfect time to zone out of their daily learning in that particular class, movies offer a type of teaching strategy that unfortunately most students do not take advantage of.

It is not so much what a teacher shows in class that makes it boring but how they incorporate it into the class. In today’s world where screens are everywhere from the device in your pocket to ones favorite downtime activity, it only makes sense for media content to find its way into the classroom. However the technique of putting in a movie for everyone to lounge can be viewed as “lazy teaching” and easily enable students to lose focus or interest.

Many students would prefer a visual presentation rather a lecture. According to Edudemic.com “44% of high school students in a study scored higher in their exams when material was presented in video formant.” Therefore when a teacher incorporates a movie into the lesson students retain more on the information.

There are multiple ways to present a film to students to enhance their learning experience. Study guides, and following discussion can engage the students and make movie watching more productive.

As we move forward internet video will become even more prevalent in the classroom. When teachers take the time to plan out their lesson involving the video movie watching in class can aid the lesson rather than substitute for it. Students then will be less likely to zone out the movie and become more engaged in the learning experience.