Monday, April 15, 2013

Using Eating Disorder Videos to Facilitate Discussion

Are you a teacher who is trying to think of unique ways to teach your students about different issues such as anorexia and bulimia? Maybe you are the head of a youth group and you know that some of the teens are dealing with this particular issue and you want to find a subtle way to teach them of the dangers. Whatever the case may be, one of the best ways that you can get your point across is by showing them a few eating disorder videos. The great thing is that you can also incorporate other activities in order to make sure that they are getting the full benefits of the tapes or DVDs.
For instance, before the viewing you can talk to the students and ask them what they know about the topic. You don't necessarily have to expect them to know everything or even to say all of the right things at that point. Just getting them to talk about the subject is enough. After the short discussion you can then show them a few of these films.
During this time, the students will more than likely be very engaged as they will be learning things they may have not known before. They may also be hearing things that they've already heard. That's okay, because that will drive home some of the things they already know.
After viewing each tape, you can ask some of them to talk about some of the things they learned. This doesn't have to be a long discussion. This just helps you to see whether or not they were actually paying attention.
Once you are done showing them all of the eating disorder videos that you want them to see, you can then allow them to have a major group discussion. At this point, you can make a decision as to whether it's best for you to chime in or allow them to talk amongst themselves. Whatever the case may be, this type of discussion will allow them to get some new perspectives from their peers.
So, it's clear to see that eating disorder videos can be extremely helpful to teens. Not only can they learn from viewing them; they can also learn by being able to incorporate important discussions about the topic. You don't have to feel as though you are forced to discuss or present this often-difficult subject on your own. Using these tapes and DVDs can make things much easier for everyone.
If you've been thinking about incorporating eating disorder videos into your classroom, also consider using them as a springboard for further, more in-depth discussion. Find out more about these educational aids by visiting http://www.futurehealth1.com.