Posted: April 21, 2001
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Survey: Use of Film in Minnesota High Schools

The survey form below was mailed out to English and Language Arts departments in Minnesota high schools during the first week of April, 2001.  The intent of the survey was to provide background for a high school outreach initiative by the Society for Cinema Studies.  The results of the survey are posted at:    MNSurvey.html

To comment on this survey, contact donald.larsson@mnsu.edu

Survey: Use of Film in Minnesota High Schools

Please take a few minutes to complete the following survey and return it in the enclosed, pre-paid envelope. Please return this survey postmarked no later than April 13. Thank you for your help.

1. Have you made use of feature-length fictional films and/or "art" films in your classes in the last five years?
_____ Yes (Please continue with Question 2)
_____ No (Please skip to Question 7)

2. If you answered "yes" to Question 1, how did you use these films in your classes? (Check all answers that apply)
______As part of a course about film as an art form, about filmmakers, or about film genres, styles or movements
______As part of a course in student film production
______As part of a literature course
______As part of a language course
______As part of a course in "critical viewing" or "critical thinking"
______As part of a course in "media studies"
______Other _____________________________________

3. What aspects of these films do you study and discuss in your classes?  (Check all answers that apply):
______Subject matter/theme/topic
______Portrayals of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
______Plot and character development
______Elements of film style (lighting, cinematography, editing, music, etc.)
______Adaptation from a literary work (novel, short story, play, etc.)
______Other_________________________________________

4. Please list up to five of the films that you have shown and discussed in class most recently.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

5. What media do you use to show these films? (Check all that apply):
______16 mm. film
______videotape
______laserdisc
______DVD
______Other ____________________________________

6. Do you use these films to help fulfill the requirements of the Minnesota Profiles of Learning?
_____Yes
_____No

7. If you have not used feature-length and/or "art" films in your classes, please mark the reason(s) why you have not.  (Check all answers that apply)
______Lack of proper equipment
______Lack of time
______Not appropriate to curriculum
______Difficulty of access
______Lack of training or knowledge about film
______Other___________________________

8. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements on a scale of 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree):

I have little or no contact with other high school teachers using film in their classes.
1 2 3 4 5

I have little or no contact with college or university film teachers.
1 2 3 4 5

I have strong support for teaching film from my school administration.
1 2 3 4 5

My school provides up-to-date and appropriate technology and other resources for presenting films in class.
1 2 3 4 5

Please add any additional comments you care to make regarding the use of films in your classes. Attach an additional sheet if necessary.

Please return this survey in the envelope provided, postmarked no later than April 13.

The results of this survey will be linked to the following webpage by May 1,
http://english2.mnsu.edu/larsson/larsson.html

If you would like your own copy of the results of this survey, please provide a mail or e-mail address to which they can be sent: Thank you for your help!

Donald F. Larsson, Professor Phone: 507-389-2350
Department of English, AH 230 E-Mail: donald.larsson@mankato.msus.edu
Minnesota State University
Mankato, MN 56001

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