Presenting our new 'Film Introductions for Film Studies' series

Our new Film Introductions for Film Studies series is available to download now. This series offers PowerPoint introductions to popular set text titles from the Eduqas/WJEC and OCR curricula, including Vertigo, Do the Right Thing, Belfast, Casablanca, Sunrise and District 9, with even more titles for both GCSE and A Level to be added in the future.

Below, Grace Eardley, an experienced film educator, introduces this exciting new series of resources.

As teachers, the feeling of starting a new topic or introducing a text to a class can be exciting but also daunting.

You might think about the innovative ways you're going to dazzle your classes this year but also experience a sense of stunned befuddlement as you question where to start - planning to meet the needs of your students and the exam requirements.

If you're anything like me your thinking goes along these lines: What do my students already know? How do I grab their attention and foster enthusiasm for the subject? Are my introductory lessons going to be too basic for the experienced film afficionados in the class? This is where I think the Film Introductions for Film Studies series can step in.

Firstly, I'm going to start by giving an overview. This series will:

• Introduce some of the set text films for Eduqas/WJEC and OCR A Level Film Studies

• Include extensive slide notes providing context for the films and discussion points - the PowerPoint resources are designed and written by experienced educators

• Provide a jumping off point and making the most of the time before students watch the whole film - each resource is designed to be used as an introduction

• Include several adaptable activities and extension suggestions contained within the slide notes.

And all of the titles focused on are available to stream for free* with Into Film+ in all school and educational settings.

Building Knowledge and Confidence with Key Scene Highlights

These resources offer numerous valuable features for you and your students, with one standout being the use of highlights from the films. These highlights are introduced early in the learning sequence and serve as an engaging way to ease students into the film before watching the full version with Into Film+.

Into Film+ highlights are paired with carefully planned activities designed to enhance student engagement and meet exam requirements.

For example, during an exam students might be asked to consider the socio-political context of a film, or a director's unique vision, before watching the embedded highlight - the carefully structured activities surrounding the highlights prevent overwhelming students with "dry theory". Instead, they foster curiosity and encourage independent research and critical thought.

Adaptable and Versatile

The adaptability of the activities is another key feature of the Film Introductions for Film Studies series. Each resource has around 14 slides with a range of activities for students and teachers to engage with. The detailed slide notes contain optional extensions and links to related content.

Educators can choose to complete all activities in each resource as part of a series of lessons ahead of watching the whole film, or pick and choose the activities most suitable for the class - making for a shorter pre-viewing experience. The information and extensions in the slide notes not only give you options to stretch and challenge students, but also provide some great ideas for homework or independent learning activities - saving you some very precious time!

Addressing issues noted by Film Studies Examiners

The final advantage of the resource series is that it addresses the ongoing issue of students simply "downloading" or "parroting" theory in written exams, without thoroughly addressing the question.

This, as examiners have noted, is often by students who haven't taken the opportunity to practice writing "exam style" questions which help them develop answering exam question requirements. The adaptable discussion and some of the written activities in the Film Introductions Series, serve to support students grasp answering questions specifically in an exam settling.

Again, these activities are presented in an easy and digestible way for both students and teachers.

Support your Film Studies students now with this brand-new resource series, free to download.

Grace Eardley is a secondary school teacher and educator with over 10 years experience teaching and examining Film and Media Studies. She is currently undertaking a PhD. Her thesis explores the experiences of young people and teachers in an after school film club.

*Screenings for an entertainment or extra-curricular purpose require a PVS (Public Video Screening) Licence from Filmbankmedia. State-funded schools in England are covered by the PVS Licence.

The core Into Film programme is free for UK state schools, colleges and other youth settings, thanks to support from the BFI, awarding National Lottery good cause funding, and through other key funders including Cinema First and Northern Ireland Screen.