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Abstract
Background: The role of the lecturer has changed to one where they must engage and motivate students to learn the subject material.
Aims: To investigate whether the use of short movie references to pharmacology during lectures could stimulate learning in undergraduate students.
Methods: One- to two-min film clips from popular movies containing a reference to the subject being covered were incorporated into Powerpoint presentations and shown at different times during pharmacology lectures. At the end of the lecture series, a student survey was conducted to assess the impact of the movies on student motivation, engagement and learning.
Results: Three positive effects were noted. First, students related theory to (simulated) practice by recognising that what they had learnt was actually being used. Second, students were motivated to attend lectures to see what clip would be used. Third, the clips provided a sectioning break, which helped to maintain the engagement of students throughout the lecture as well as the organisation of the lecture by the lecturer.
Conclusions: The use of short popular movie references was a novel way to motivate and maintain the interest of large classes of undergraduate students throughout lectures.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Sab Ventura
Dr SAB VENTURA, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Monash University, Australia.
Andrys Onsman
Dr ANDRYS ONSMAN, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Advancement of Learning and Teaching, Monash University, Australia.