Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1980

Thesis Director

Gene W. Scholes

Abstract

This study examined two aspects of sixteen millimeter film utilization at Harper Community College in northeastern Illinois, near Chicago. The first aspect of the study dealt with quantitative film usage by each of the seven subject area divisions of the college. The second aspect dealt with instructors' motives for selecting and using a particular film in a given instructional situation.

The data on film utilization showed that approximately 14% of the titles in the collection were used an average of more than five times per year. At the same time, over 16% of the titles in the collection were used an average of less than once per year.

The largest number of film titles appropriate for use by individual divisions were held by the Social Science division, the Humanities and Fine Arts division and by the Life and Health Sciences division. These same three divisions also utilized the largest number of films during a given year.

The smallest collection of films appropriate to the respective subject areas were held by the Business division and by the Engineering division. The Engineering division had the lowest usage per title averaging 0.7 in 1972/73 when the study was conducted. The Business division, however, averaged 3.4 uses per title that year.

The motive for using a particular film as meant in this study is the purpose or influence which acts as the basis for the decision to use a certain film. Each division varied somewhat from the other divisions as to the most prevalant motives. Overall, however, the fact that a given film a.) motivated the students and b.) held the attention of the viewer were most frequently listed as the most important factors or motives in selecting a particular film at the college.

Additional items in the study include a discussion of the film experience and the matrix of influences affecting the student viewer; the positive and negative relationships between film utilization and the size of a given division, the size of a division's film collection, etc.; and concluding remarks regarding the intrinsic value of film and its capabilities to motivate the student, cause empathy in the student with the film subject, and provide satisfactory learning results.

Download

Share

COinS