I think watching documentaries can be a great way to supplement traditional classroom learning. If you're anything like me when it comes to learning, then you'd know how much I dread classes that just go strictly verbatim off the textbooks. Yes, it's important to read your textbooks, but I want more out of my learning and educational experiences than textbook reading! I also think watching documentaries can really help the self-learner, or person who prefers learning things in a more independent setting or environment.
I can honestly say that documentaries can make learning way more fun than reading a textbook all day, or listening to a monotonous professor all day, or anything else you can think of that can make class not worthwhile enough to go to. You know, you don't have to stick to just documentaries for your learning and educational needs! I just put documentaries on the spot because they're movies about reality and real-life situations. However, other genres of movies can be used to supplement traditional classroom learning, or can be of help to the self-learner, or person who prefers learning things in a more independent setting or environment.
You just have to make sure it fits, or is relevant to, the topic of study or interest. In some situations, you may also have to see how age appropriate it is as well. Documentaries allow us to learn through audiovisual techniques. We listen to what the people have to say about the topic. That is where the audio part comes in. It allows yourself to use your sense of hearing! We watch and observe what is going on in the documentary. That is where the visual part comes in. It allows yourself to use your sense of sight!
If a documentary is done well enough, the other senses can kick in, too. It allows you to use your sense of touch, taste, and smell. You can touch and feel what they feel. You can taste what they taste. Finally, you can smell what they smell. This allows you to really get into the documentary and the fun of learning through this process.
