EDUC 1503 - Film School: How Hollywood Gets Education Wrong

3 credits

[Meets the Core Curriculum Writing Practice Requirement] What makes a good teacher? What makes a good student? For years, Hollywood movies and bestselling novels have purported to answer these questions. Unfortunately, they often get it wrong. Using the basics of film, literary, and cultural analysis, this course is designed to help students deconstruct the popular images and myths that surround the work of teachers and students alike. Ultimately, students will recognize how American conceptions of teaching and learning have been conditioned by the media, and they will emerge with a clearer understanding of how they can best participate in educational reality as opposed to merely being voyeurs of educational fiction. Intended for freshmen and sophomores, this class also introduces students to the building blocks and language of film analysis, critical theory, educational studies, and sociology.