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Filmmaking and Animation in the Classroom

Learn how to use simple filmmaking and animation to bring learning to life, and aid cross-curricular attainment and assessment.

29,741 enrolled on this course

A child holds up an iPad to film other school children who are creating frames with their fingers..
  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

This free online course will help anyone working with young people aged 5-19 to engage them in learning through simple filmmaking and animation. You’ll discover how film and animation can be used as powerful tools for encouraging active learning and enabling pupils to establish strong connections with any area of the curriculum.

Try filmmaking and animation in the classroom

During the course, you will:

  • learn how even simple equipment can be used to produce high-quality short films in the classroom;
  • apply this knowledge to the classroom, creating films that help raise attainment;
  • discover a range of top tips to help you hone your filmmaking skills;
  • learn how to produce simple films and animations with your students;
  • and learn how to use this creative artform as an assessment tool.

Learn with Into Film - the film education charity

The course has been developed by Into Film – one of the biggest educational charities in the UK – which works with schools to deliver free training, resources and after-school film clubs.

Filmmaking and Animation in the Classroom builds on Into Film’s successful Teaching Literacy Through Film course, developed in collaboration with the British Film Institute (BFI).

Skip to 0 minutes and 7 seconds Simon Richards: If you’re an educator looking for a new and exciting way to bring lessons to your pupils, a way to engage and enthuse them and a way that brings the curriculum to life, or you’d like to utilize a range of new technologies to speak to young people in a language they understand, then I would like to invite you to join Into Film’s new free online course with FutureLearn. (SR) I’m Simon Richards, Teacher Training Manager at Into Film, and over the course of the next three weeks my colleagues and I, as well as other education experts will teach you how to use film and animation in the classroom to help increase attainment in your lessons no matter what the subject.

Skip to 0 minutes and 46 seconds John Peto: It takes a student from the role of a consumer of learning and education into a creator of their own learning and education.

Skip to 0 minutes and 53 seconds Helen Caldwell: If school pupils are making animations to show how a volcano works, “I need to know this because I’m making this and I’m going to show it to these people” that’s a real driver for learning. (SR) We’ll show you a range of incredibly simple yet effective activities that cover research to planning and creating to evaluating. Producing content that will be fully in line with the National Curriculum.

Skip to 1 minute and 14 seconds (JP) We’ve seen time and time again young people really raise their quality of output raise their game in terms of the work they’re doing because they know this is going to be seen it’s going to be shared, it’s going to reflect directly on them as a person or team that made that film. So it’s a powerful tool in that sense. (SR) Through the course you’ll also have an understanding of how filmmaking can have a hugely positive impact on your pupils at every stage. So I hope you can join us on this course, ready to bring the wonder of film into your classroom.

What topics will you cover?

  • Explore how to make simple films and animations with pupils
  • Consider how to use filmmaking as a tool for assessment
  • Learn how to evaluate the filmmaking process ensuring progression
  • Devise a range of filmmaking briefs that can ensure filmmaking projects are curricular focused
  • Plan how to run in class filmmaking projects efficiently
  • Learn how to use a range of filmmaking software

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Assess pupil's learning through filmmaking and animation
  • Develop own and pupil's filmmaking skills
  • Produce a range of curricular focused short films and animations
  • Explore filmmaking frameworks for use in class with pupils
  • Evaluate own and peer made short films to encourage progression
  • Design in class filmmaking projects

Who is the course for?

Filmmaking and Animation in the Classroom is open to anyone who works with young people, aged 5 to 19, who would like to enrich their learning through the creation of films and animations.

Who will you learn with?

As a primary school teacher in South Wales Simon taught right across the KS 1&2 spectrum.
He was also the Teacher Training Manager at Into Film before starting his own training company - eCoach.

Who developed the course?

Into Film

Into Film is a UK-wide film and education charity, which puts film at the heart of children and young people’s learning, contributing to their cultural, creative and personal development.

The British Film Institute (BFI)

The British Film Institute (BFI) was founded in 1933 and is a charity governed by a Royal Charter. It has three priorities – education, supporting the UK film industry and unlocking film heritage.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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