Abstract

Popular film has been used to challenge students to learn to apply theory to practice in a wide range of disciplines, from finding a Cartesian circle in Proof to calculating the magnitude of negative acceleration of the DeLorean sports car in Back to the Future. Film can demonstrate theory in action, promote inductive reasoning, encourage classroom discussion, and help students to develop a better understanding of and to remember those concepts. While showing a complete film consumes significant class time, showing brief clips is inconvenient. Capture technology has made the process of using clips easier, allowing copying of clips to a DVD, storing and retrieval from a server, posting to programs such as Blackboard or Web CT, or simply inserting clips into PowerPoint presentations. In addition, current interpretation of copyright laws clears the way for legal and ethical use of this medium using this technology. Our presentation explains how we are using this technology in our Interpersonal Communication course and will hopefully spark the discussion of additional applications in the classroom.