Videos as teaching tools: a demonstration

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words does a film clip merit? In our experience that number is very high when videos are used as teaching tools. The medium of video is able to convey complex issues more quickly and comprehensively than text, speech, or static images. And the use of film ‐ particularly popular film ‐ can be a powerful way to capture students' attention and thus promote learning and retention. Indeed, participants often rate a 5‐min video clip as the best part of a 1‐hr workshop or class! Here we will demonstrate the effectiveness of video by showing several clips and then asking symposium participants to simulate a class discussion. Included will be scenes from "And the Band Played On," a movie about the search for the AIDS virus. These scenes will provide examples of the use of film to show clinical symptoms, both positive and negative aspects of competition in science, methods of conflict resolution, and the impact that a single, dedicated individual can have.