METHODOLOGICAL WEBINAR: Teaching Sustainability through film-making
Abstract
This workshop delves into the use of filmmaking as a tool to engage and educate students on climate change. It will highlight the benefits of incorporating films into teaching, offering valuable resources for integrating film and filmmaking into the teaching curriculum. Participants will engage in a hands-on session, where they’ll create a short video to explain an aspect of climate change, giving them a “taster” of the University of St Andrews’ new accredited VIP module on using film to discuss climate change in relation to heritage sites. The workshop will also explore the role of storytelling in education, emphasizing how films can target visual learners and broaden accessibility. Given that climate change is often underrepresented or portrayed negatively in modern media – leading to a loss of agency and a sense of helplessness – this session aims to encourage balanced, empowering narratives. Participants will learn how to guide students in creating documentaries that communicate complex climate issues ef ectively, fostering critical thinking and deepening their understanding of the subject. The workshop will conclude with a practical task, where attendees will create a short video, gaining insight into the skills required for impactful filmmaking.
Bio
Tom Dawson is an archaeologist working in the School of History at the University of St Andrews. For the past twenty years, Tom has researched the impacts of climate change on coastal heritage. He works with communities to record threatened sites, using film to document projects and inform the public about climate risks. He has also made numerous appearances in front of the camera. He has used his experience of working in TV to create filmmaking modules for St Andrews students. His latest venture, in collaboration with Anastasia Ellis, is a module which invites students from various Departments and years of study to work together to create a documentary explaining climate impacts, using heritage as a focus.
Anastasia Ellis is an evolutionary developmental biologist, working in the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews. During her PhD Anastasia discovered a passion for heritage and community development and has designed and developed several university programs on how to promote and preserve local heritage sites. Working closely with university students and local charities, Anastasia facilitates these crossuniversity collaborations, to develop students’ understanding and awareness of local and culturally important heritage sites, as well as the sustainable practices needed to ensure their longevity. Her latest collaboration is with Tom Dawson, whereby they have created a module to examine climate changes’ impact on heritage site through the medium of film.