Abstract

This presentation reports on the use of films as an aid to teaching. In many health related programmes there are a range of students, many of whom have no prior experience of sociology. Without previous experience it can be challenging for students to apply sociological concepts to health related issues, resulting in many of the students becoming disengaged. Meyer and Land (2005) discuss threshold concepts and argue that certain concepts are important to ensure mastery of the subject. This paper will discuss how films were used as a means of teaching and consolidating social construction as a threshold concept in undergraduate
students studying Public health. The students were encouraged to identify and justify discourses which were evident in the film and any contradictions which were evident.
Drawing from the work of Foucault, the use of films in the teaching and consolidation of discourses and discursive practices will be considered, in particular the challenges of identifying a film which explored health related issues. The criteria against which films should be selected and the instructions given to students will be outlined. Using the film 'Untouchable' and drawing from examples of student work, the range of discourses identified will be outlined. Drawing from student work and student evaluations, the ways in which this identification, developed an understanding of key sociological concepts such as discourse; social construction and the formation of discursive practices will be analysed. The presentation will conclude with a general consideration and evaluation of the method as a teaching tool.