Video Clips
Active Learning – Break It Up!
Video Clips: Video clips bring training and teaching to life and can be used to help emphasize
ideas and lessons, and promote discussion. Funny and entertaining clips can make learning more
enjoyable.
Tips for Using Film Clips
Select and view the clip (YouTube clip, news clip, etc.) so that you understand what the scene is
about. Don’t EVER let anyone else show a film clip in your class that you haven’t previewed
previously.
Test the multimedia equipment in the room prior to showing a clip in class. Prepare students in
advance with reaction or discussion questions or a list of ideas on which to focus.
Set up the scene for those who haven’t watched the film (or have a student who knows the film
well set it up for the rest of the class).
Use the scene to introduce and motivate the topic (rather than review the topic) so that the
energy from the media flows into the classroom process.
Obviously the scene should be relevant to the topic, but students will let you really “stretch” the
relevancy issue (they love the mental break in the classroom!)
Generally using more than five minutes of film clip in a classroom leaves you at risk of the
perception that you’re substituting movies for teaching. Or, post the hyperlink on D2L and request
students view the clip on their own prior to class.
After the film clip, spend some time discussing relevant points in the clip (and
come back to these points later in the class!)
Students can work alone or in pairs to discuss their reaction, answer questions, critique, or apply a
theory related to the current lecture topic.
Links to related articles:
Using Movie Clips in the Cost Managerial Accounting Classroom.pdf
Tips for Presentations with Movies.pdf
For other Break It Up ideas, refer to Brain Teasers/Paradoxes, Case Studies, Concept Mapping, Games, and
Stump the Professor, and Writing Responses.
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) encourages educators' professional
development in all stages of their careers and supports educators in order to create excellent learning environments
for students. For assistance in implementing active learning strategies in your class, or to share your ideas with
others, feel free to call or stop by CETL in OL1142.
CETL • Old Library 1142 • University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire • Eau Claire WI 54702-4004
Phone: 715-836-2385 cetl@uwec.edu