Kaur-Dhillon, Nihal

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1

Using smartphones to create films in the English composition classroom: Digital filmmaking as a pedagogical tool
(2014) Kaur-Dhillon, Nihal; Leonard, Mary; College of Arts and Sciences - Arts; Carroll, Kevin; Landers, Matthew; Rivera, Rosita L.; Department of English; Orengo, Moises
The aim of this thesis is to investigate and identify the effectiveness of digital filmmaking using smartphones in the English Composition classroom at the University of Puerto Rico- Mayagüez in the academic year of 2013. The goal was to create awareness about the need to implement digital literacy starting in freshman English composition classrooms and to create a concrete film unit. The theoretical approaches used in shaping the methodology and the analysis, are grounded in constructivist principles and the practice of performance knowledge. Both freshman English INGL 3103 and INGL 3104 were premised on participatory simulations creating real-world filmmaking roles for students, which followed a concrete and replicable model of a month long classroom filmmaking unit. The research questions sought to discover if smartphone filmmaking was a useful teaching tool and how the results could contribute to the emerging field of New Media Literacy. Results show that digital literacy using smartphones produced a challenging, yet entertaining new unit for freshman English students. A discussion of the limitations of the research undertaken and recommendations for further research concluded the study.