Watching films in class does not always generate enthusiasm among pupils - especially when it comes to educational films. Students on the Cultural Education programme at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences have now shown that there is another way of doing things at the Anna Schiller School in Mönchengladbach.
The 30 students from the second semester brought highly topical films from the International Oberhausen Short Film Festival into the classroom for grades 7 to 9. "Discussing this type of artistic film in class and incorporating it into the methods of social work has hardly been common until now," says Dr Ömer Alkin, Professor of Applied Media and Communication Sciences at the Department of Social Work. "However, I am convinced that it is impossible to train social workers today without familiarising them with the power of images and sounds - such as in short films."
Films from all over the world were shown at the International Short Film Festival in Oberhausen and selected by Master's students of social work for their work with schoolchildren. The young people were then familiarised with the themes of the films through creative activities and interactive discussions. The films dealt with topics such as community, identity and environmental issues. "The filmmakers were delighted that their art found its way to pupils via our students," says Ömer Alkin. "At school, the young people were able to contribute their own perspectives - in other words, what feelings and images a film triggered in them." For example, the children and young people dealt with the topic of grief in relation to a Thai film - and created a jar for precious memories with the HSNR students.
Developing their own educational programmes and addressing key topics such as social cohesion, identity and racism - this is what the budding social workers take away from collaborations like this one. In turn, the students also gained insights into the social work profession and the importance of combining culture and education. "Projects like this strengthen both the students and the pupils and prepare them for the challenges of a diverse media society," says Professor Alkin.
It is also about opening our eyes: "Beyond our society, to global challenges and connections," says Alkin. "Films connect people of all cultures, they are a window into the world." As part of the film and lecture series "Postmigrant Audio Visions", he repeatedly invites film makers to bring film education to the university and, through this, to school social work or child and youth welfare services.
