Peer Review

Culture Unplugged

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Sep 4, 2018 by Sociology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

What we learn matters, but how we learn matters more. Culture Unplugged is about social documentaries and short films about the human experience for a global audience. Quoted from the site itself:

"Cultureunplugged.com presents short length + feature length documentary / film content from independent film-makers and grassroot productions to a global audience, to not only promote the art of film-making, but above all to spread awareness and promote the collective contemplation over global/local challenges. It is an online venue that hosts a festival 6 months every year with themes such as:"We Speak, Here", "Humanity Explored","Green Unplugged" and "Spirit Enlightened".' This is a web based database of posted collected short documentaries on social and global humanitarian and sociological issues. The collection is divided into categories which each contain several videos available in the public domain. These can be used to raise student consciousness and to enhance various assignments."

Type of Material:

Collection - films, documentaries.

Recommended Uses:

This material could be used as a lecture launcher amd a reflective/applied paper assignment. The instructor may have to provide background conceptual/theoretical concepts to observe. This resource would likely be used mostly by the instructor who would select specific films to fit the course requirements.

Technical Requirements:

High speed internet and browser which can support the graphics required in the films.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The main goal is to increase awareness of various social issues told and produced by local persons from around the world. This gives a variety of impressions and opinions derived from a local perspective and documenting local culture. This can make the study of the subject matter more real for the students. Further goals would have to be placed in the context of the individual course context and assignments.

Target Student Population:

High School, College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Use of the internet.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The highlight of Culture Unplugged is the variety of topics and flexibility of locating the right resource. Often we only have a few options, this site provides many options. This site offers the opportunity to submit films during the festival and could make an interesting group/class project.
Concerns:: The use of these films and documentaries are limited only by the creativity of the instructor. It would be difficult to use it as a stand alone learning tool since the large amount of material could be overwhelming without proper instructor guidance.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: These films can enhance student learning by providing a visual framework for the application of relevant concepts/theories. They offer students the opportunity to explore topics from a global perspective.
Concerns:: The instructor will need to develop supporting material -- learning objectives, assessments, guides. There are no instructional notes for the student or instructors.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: It was easy to navigate the site with the topic index. The format was consistent and professional. There was not a lot of buttons making it more user friendly.
Concerns:: Uses are limited as is the case for most instructional materials.

Other Issues and Comments:: New material is being added on a regular basis. They offer a film festival that invites people to submit their own films. Guidelines for submitting are easily found on the website.
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