I make a short speech on the first day of class indicating that the students 

will be able to see things better on a big screen projection in a classroom 

than they would in their dorm/fraternity/apartment screen.  (I don't believe 

home theater setups have invaded student residences, but I could be wrong).



Like Amy, I also say something about how watching the film together fosters 

the creation of a class community for the semester as they experience a film 

together.



Matthew Bernstein,

Emory University

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Holberg, Amy" <[log in to unmask]>

To: <[log in to unmask]>

Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 8:52 AM

Subject: Re: [SCREEN-L] Viewing policy for film studies courses?





> I've taught at a number of institttions where separate film screening 

> times are the norm for film stduies classes, and I haven't encountered an 

> attendance problem. The places I've taught have all treated screenings 

> exactly like other sorts of labs, which means they're officially scheduled 

> and included on the student's final university class schedule. I'm not 

> sure what the situation is where you teach, Aaron, but I hope there is 

> some sort of official aupport for your screenings.

>   I still put a statement on the syllabus that film screenings are 

> required, and explain that watching a film actively for a class is 

> different from watching it at home where it's easier to forget it's a 

> class text (and you don't get audience response from class peers, etc.) 

> just to make the importance of attendance that much clearer, but I really 

> do think that the culture of the schools is a primary factor.

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Film and TV Studies Discussion List on behalf of Delwiche, Aaron

> Sent: Sun 8/21/2005 7:06 PM

> To: [log in to unmask]

> Subject: [SCREEN-L] Viewing policy for film studies courses?

>

> Hi,

>

> I'm putting the finishing touches on a syllabus for an introductory film 

> studies course. According to the university course bulletin, students are 

> expected to attend weekly film viewing sessions on Tuesday evenings.

>

> What policies have other instructors adopted with respect to mandatory 

> film viewings? Do you take roll during viewing sessions? Do you force 

> students to attend the viewing sessions, or are they allowed to watch the 

> films at their own leisure? Do you require students to attend a certain 

> percentage of evening sessions?

>

> I would be grateful for any thoughts from other instructors who teach 

> courses with a film component. What approaches have you found to be 

> successful? What approaches have not worked?

>

> Thanks,

> Aaron

> 



----

For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives:

http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html