Whether you are a student, management consultant, trainer or a healthcare professional, explaining the relevance of key academic concepts can be difficult.

Showing scenes from movies can offer a visual portrayal of situations from which interested parties (students etc) can garner understanding and applicability to KM constructs and vocational situations.

I have been using movies in the classroom and training environment since September 2000. As part of the delivery schedule of my courses, a carefully selected clip from a well-known film is shown which enables participants to visualise the key concepts of an accompanying KM-related class (the difference between surface and deep learning). After viewing the clip, the participants can discuss the scenes and a brainstorming session can be carried out to confirm understanding.

Initial results from my own studies suggest that the approach increases participant motivation, attendance, participation, increases the virtual experience of the workplace and allows participants to develop through different intellectual maturation levels as they progress through their course. Film clips result in animated discussion and participants are more likely to remember concepts after the class is over.

For further details, email Dr Raj Bali and/or look at these links:

Movie Magic - details on my Film as a Teaching Resource project
What Movies Teach Us - just for sheer fun!