Investigating Home: Student Expression Through Film Learning

Abstract

This research is focused on enabling an opportunity for boarding students to create films about their identity, and what ‘home’ means to them. The study aims to understand whether using film making pedagogies allows these boarding students to communicate their stories and what affordances does the film learning have for the students. This research investigates four case studies which consist of boarding students from an independent Sydney girls’ school, engaging in a film making process. Because I am teacher-researcher, the process of creating these films of ‘home’ is explored through qualitative semi-structured interviews, ethnographic observation, and observation of film learning, using the artefacts of the students films themselves.

The findings suggest that when students are involved in film learning, there is an increase in self-reflection on home and identity, and also students gain confidence in their self-expression. By investigating as a group, students were able to see home as constructed in physical, metaphysical or emotional ways. Digital modal approaches assisted in having the students’ stories emerge with their peers’ input. Students were also able to see connections with their fellow boarders and feel connected as a community. The students explored the tensions between their two worlds which assisted their understanding of self, and also themselves as filmmakers. They also experienced being ‘seen and heard’ by sharing their films with a wider audience. The findings/conclusion of this research study makes suggestions for future study in the areas of student expression, home and film pedagogy.