Best Educational Documentaries for Students
Documentaries offer a powerful and engaging way for students to learn about a wide range of subjects. Unlike traditional textbooks, documentaries can bring history, science, culture, and current events to life through compelling visuals, personal stories, and expert interviews. This article explores a curated selection of documentaries that are particularly well-suited for educational purposes, aiming to spark curiosity and deepen understanding across various disciplines.
Documentaries on Education and the Educational System
Several documentaries critically examine the state of education, particularly in the United States, offering valuable insights for students, educators, and policymakers alike.
"The Cartel"
This documentary investigates the causes of underachievement in American public schools and explores potential solutions. It highlights the fact that American public schools have been growing progressively worse. Based on 2006 data from the Department of Education national testing, only 35% of American high school seniors are proficient in reading, and fewer than one-in-four, 23%, are proficient in math. The film points out that America ranks last in educational effectiveness among large industrialized countries despite the highest spending per student in the world. "The Cartel" questions how the richest and most innovative society on earth suddenly lost the ability to teach its children at a level that other modern countries consider "basic". The film uses New Jersey as an example of a state that spends more than any other per student. With spending as high as $483,000 per classroom (confirmed by NJ Education Department records for 2005-06), New Jersey students fare only slightly better than the national average in reading and math, and rank 37th in average SAT scores. It also highlights that not even half of NJ's high school freshmen, despite the state's enormous "investment," are academically ready for college four years later. The film emphasizes that much of the public considers teacher salaries and overall education budgets to be the same thing, but in many cases, 80-90% of the spending goes somewhere besides teacher salaries. Independent audits confirm that billions of dollars are wasted. Directed by Bob Bowdon, "The Cartel" features Bob Bowdon, Bill Baroni, and Rick Berman.
"Race to Nowhere"
"Race to Nowhere" unveils the silent epidemic of cheating that has become commonplace in schools, the disengagement of students, the prevalence of stress-related illness, depression, and burnout, and the unpreparedness and lack of inspiration among young people entering college and the workforce. Vicki Abeles and Jessica Congdon directed this film.
"The War on Kids"
Directed by Cevin Soling, "The War on Kids" demonstrates how American public schools have failed in their mission to provide education, erode the country's democratic foundation by denying the most basic civil rights to youth, and often resemble prisons. It features Randy Cassingham and Laurie A. Couture.
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"American Teacher"
This documentary tells the collective story of the 3.2 million teachers who spend every day in classrooms across the country. Weaving interviews of policy experts and startling facts with the lives and careers of four teachers, American Teacher tells the collective story by and about those closest to the issues in our educational system. Brian McGinn and Vanessa Roth directed the film, which stars Erik Benner, Neil Cavuto, and Matt Damon.
"GO PUBLIC: A Day in the Life of an American School District"
"GO PUBLIC: A Day in the Life of an American School District" follows fifty different subjects, ranging from teachers and students to administrators and community volunteers, for one full school day. This documentary provides an in-depth look into a racially and economically diverse urban school district and shines a light on the many dedicated people, the myriad of opportunities available and the complexity of effectively serving the needs of all students. James O'Keeffe is the director.
"Doing it for Me"
"Doing it for Me" is a unique documentary, exploring the dropout crisis in Washington, DC from a young person's point of view. The film offers audiences the opportunity to empathize and engage with the complicated circumstances that lead young people to drop out. Across the 2011-2012 school year, only 61 percent of the city's young people graduated high school within four years and 1,953 youth left school without indicating if they were enrolling in another program. One in 10 DC youth aged 16-24 is not in school and unemployed. Jessica, Victoria and Precious' journey to better their lives, their education, and their friendship is an inspiring story that offers hope in the power of education, art and storytelling to change lives. Leah Edwards and Precious Lambert are the directors.
"Room to Breathe"
"Room to Breathe" tells a surprising story of transformation as troubled kids in a San Francisco public middle school are introduced to the practice of mindfulness meditation. Topping the district in disciplinary suspensions, and with overcrowded classrooms creating a nearly impossible learning environment, overwhelmed administrators are left with stark choices. Do they repeat the cycle of forcing tuned out children to listen, or experiment with a set of age old inner practices that may provide them with the social and emotional skills that they need to succeed? The first question is whether its already too late. Confronted by defiance, contempt for authority figures, poor discipline, and more interest in 'social' than learning, can a young meditation teacher succeed in opening their minds and hearts? Russell Long is the director.
"Beyond Measure"
"Beyond Measure" follows a new vanguard of educators across the country who are pioneering a fresh vision for American schools. Pulling from expert research in education, child development, and cognitive and neuroscience, these leaders are creating a new type of classroom. They're leading schools that redirect our focus away from homework, prizes, top grades and test scores. And they're making room for curiosity, engagement, creativity, collaboration and independent thinking.
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Documentaries on History, Science, and Culture
Beyond the realm of formal education, documentaries can serve as invaluable resources for exploring history, science, and culture in an engaging and accessible manner.
"Civilisation"
Kenneth Clark's landmark 1969 series, "Civilisation," offers his personal perspective on the history of western art and philosophy, providing an extraordinary cultural tour through the centuries. The series stars Kenneth Clark, Ian Richardson, and Ronald Lacey.
"Connections"
Follow James Burke through the history of science and technology in this collection of 10 1-hour episodes, starting with "The Trigger Effect." James Burke, Kenneth Kendall, and Bruce Boa star in the series. Historian James Burke walks the viewer through the tenuous threads of history that link seemingly obscure scientific breakthroughs and the events and products that exist today. James Burke, Steve Davis, and Mandy Maxwell star in the series. In the conclusion to his groundbreaking series, James Burke continues to make incredible connections to history's most important discoveries and inventions. James Burke and John Carrigan star in the series. James Burke explores key moments in Western History where new knowledge in science changed the way the modern Western world thinks. James Burke, Roger Avon, and Peter Sproule star in the series.
"The Day the Universe Changed"
One of the greatest achievements of television, "The Day the Universe Changed," aired in 26 episodes from 1964. Use of extensive archival material and sound effects combined with contemporary classical music from this area. Michael Redgrave, Ralph Richardson, and Emlyn Williams star in the series.
"Life"
"Life" (2009) is a global view of the specialized strategies and extreme behavior that living things have developed in order to survive; what Charles Darwin termed "the struggle for existence." The series stars Oprah Winfrey, David Attenborough, and Doug Allan.
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"Planet Earth"
"Planet Earth" is a documentary series on the wildlife found on Earth. Each episode covers a different habitat: deserts, mountains, deep oceans, shallow seas, forests, caves, polar regions, fresh water, plains and jungles. Narrated by David Attenborough. Sigourney Weaver, David Attenborough, and Nikolay Drozdov star in the series.
"Life on Earth"
David Attenborough's groundbreaking study of the evolution of life on our planet. The series stars David Attenborough.
"How the Universe Works"
This educational show explores many scientific questions and topics about the universe (Big Bang, the Sun, the planets, black holes, other galaxies, astrobiology etc.) through latest CGI, data and interviews with scientists. Erik Thompson, Alex Filippenko, and Laura Danly star in the series.
"Dangerous Knowledge"
"Dangerous Knowledge" is a documentary about four of the most brilliant mathematicians of all time, Georg Cantor, Ludwig Boltzmann, Kurt Gödel and Alan Turing, their genius, their tragic madness and their ultimate suicides. David Malone directed the film, which stars David Malone and Roger Penrose.
"The Power of Myth"
Mythology scholar Joseph Campbell spent his life learning the "one great story" of humanity. In his final years, he gave a remarkable series of talks exploring all he had learned about myths, symbols, spiritual journeys, and more. Hosted by Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon, each lecture is an invitation to sit at the feet of a master storyteller. Susan Sarandon and Joseph Campbell star in the series.
"The Century: America's Time"
This award-winning, twenty-six part PBS television series offers new insight into the turbulent events of these hundred years through the revealing personal testimony of the people who lived them. Sean Barrett, Veronika Hyks, and Theodore Roosevelt star in the series.
"All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace"
"All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace" is a series of films about how humans have been colonized by the machines we have built.
"The Story of Maths"
The history of mathematics from ancient times to the present day. Narrated by Oxford mathematics professor Marcus du Sautoy, the series covers the seminal moments and people in the development of maths. Marcus du Sautoy, Leonhard Euler, and Eleanor Robson star in the series.
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