Creative activity and its impact on student learning – issues of implementation

Abstract

The use of filmmaking as a creative learning tool within the academic curriculum has been pioneered at the University of Sheffield. Filmmaking has been found to promote a lively, exciting and challenging environment in the classroom. It produces highly motivated students and makes learning fun by giving them a sense of empowerment and achievement. Perhaps more importantly, it allows students to tap into their creativity and imagination – abilities identified by many as the passport to a successful future. This paper covers a number of examples which describe the benefits to student learning; these include close engagement with their subject leading to insight and deeper understanding, as well as a range of transferable skills. This successful practice is looked at in relation to issues of assessment, evaluation and cost. Using a methodological approach that employs qualitative feedback interviews with students as research data, as well as referring to the literature, it presents a case for sustainable implementation.

Keywords:

• creativity
• filmmaking
• assessment
• evaluation
• cost

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank all the students who have been involved in the projects described here, and the academic colleagues I have collaborated with, in particular Professor Michael Hattaway, who set me off on this learning journey. I would also like to thank colleagues at LeTS who have supported and helped me in this venture.

Notes

1. The departments involved in 12 filmmaking projects are English Literature, Architecture, Information Studies, Biblical Studies, Law, Sociology, Hispanic Studies.

2. Students made comments such as the following, ‘I think that making a film has greatly helped my understanding of Galdós’s work. The course has greatly helped my confidence, and my group work, organization and communication skills are also a lot better. I really enjoyed it’ (Hispanic Studies student).

3. The grants were for three English Literature projects and one Architecture project. These were the earliest projects.

4. Excluding the cost of LeTS staff time, Learning and Teaching Development Grant funding for these projects ranged from £1650 to £2811.