“From humble beginnings, Frantic Assembly has emerged as one of the boldest and brightest stars in the theatrical firmament. Given unique insight into the devising process from ‘first thoughts to first night’ this lively and engaging film celebrates Frantic Assembly’s approach to production and offers in-depth interviews and practical demonstrations that will excite facilitators and inspire students as they begin their own ‘devising’ journey.”
Grade levels: Adult
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Griffiths: Cognitive Bias & Gambling
‘Pokies’ are now a part of community life. They create an addictive stream of money for governments, but can also wreak havoc within communities, families and individuals. In this program, Mark Griffiths, international renown gambling and gaming expert talks about his case study ‘The Role of Cognitive Bias and Skill in Fruit Machine Gambling’, discussing the origins, aims and methodology of his study, as well as his findings and the implications of his findings for cognitive psychology and understanding gambling addiction and rehabilitation. This is a thought-provoking examination of one of modern society’s most complex ills.
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Maguire: Navigation & the Human Brain
Ever arrived home with almost no recollection of how you got there? Quite often we find our way around our planet with astonishing ease, almost not conscious about how we do it. The human mind is an incredible tool for navigation but how does it actually work? In this excellent program, psychologist Dr. Eleanor Maguire discusses her seminal study ‘Navigation-Related Structural Changes in the Hippocampus of Taxi Drivers’, looking at its context and aims, groundbreaking methods, surprising findings and what they suggest about navigation, memory and the plasticity of the human brain. This DVD includes navigation footage and original scans from the study.
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Baron Cohen on Autism
Simon Baron Cohen is a world figure in psychology and autism in particular. Professor of Developmental Psychopathology in the Departments of Psychiatry and Experimental Psychology at the University of Cambridge, he is the Director of the University’s Autism Research Centre, and also a Fellow of Trinity College. In this program Baron Cohen discusses his case study ‘Another Advanced Test of Theory of Mind’. Cohen explains the aims and origins of his study, illustrates his ‘Eyes Test’ methodology, explaining why the eyes were chosen, and talks about his findings and their implications for understanding autism. The DVD is intercut with illustrative footage of autistic children, their parents and autistic adults.
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Carolyn Jackson – Lads and Ladettes in School
Much has been made of the very necessary push for equality between genders in a school setting. But instead of promoting good behavior and function in students, has it inadvertently led to lower standards of behavior in both male and female students? In this program we explore the rise of ‘Lads’ and ‘Ladettes’ in school – what’s driving this, what the effects are and just how teachers can deal with this most effectively. Respected psychologist Carolyn Jackson talks about the origins, methodologies, findings and the implications of her work into these contemporary issues for teachers and schools.
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Conflict in the Modern World: Origins of World Wars I and II
How does a world war start? It’s roots lie in a tectonic battle of international power and influence, a conflict so overpowering that it can drag entire countries into it’s terrifying vortex. In this program we examine specifically how World War I and II started with the powder keg of struggling European colonial powers, politics and alliances. A fascinating look at one of the most important periods of modern history.
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Generating and Protecting Business Ideas
In business, a good idea can be worth millions. But how do you generate and then protect crucial ideas effectively from competitors? In this excellent program we explore how businesses develop and protect business ideas. Split into three defined sections and including input from new and established entrepreneurs including Philip Taylor, Sir James Dyson and leading patent lawyer Carin Burchill, the program looks at sources and development of business ideas, spotting trends and finding a niche market, copyright, patents and trademarks. This is a fantastic resource for inspiring viewers to reach for the skies and succeed.
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Legal Structures
Businesses are not just different in what they do; they also have different legal structures. But what are legal structures? Why are they important? And how do you choose the right legal structure for a new business? This program brings the answers to these questions to life with real world case studies, expert interviews and clear explanations of key terms, including the differences between, and advantages and disadvantages of limited and unlimited liability organizations. We also examine the role of legal structures in sole traders, partnerships, private companies, PLCs and not-for-profit organizations. This program is a fantastic introduction into the world of legal structures.
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Evil and Suffering – A Religious Perspective
This program discusses the concepts of evil and suffering in relation to the existence of God. It attempts to resolve the theological and philosophical dilemma of the inconsistent triad and gives some possible explanations of evil and suffering in the face of an omnipotent, omni-benevolent and omniscient God. This topic is discussed by a range of specialists and academics who explain how the existence of God and suffering can coexist, with reference to the theodicies of St Augustine and Irenaeus. Contains some mildly disturbing imagery that you may wish to prepare younger students for before showing.
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Crimes Against the Environment
Can capitalism be a part of the solution? Could social pressure rather than laws be what compels us to become more ‘green’? Crimes against the environment take many forms, but it is a complex area of criminology. This excellent program, presented by Dr Steven Taylor, explores green crime and includes interviews with experts Dr Gary Potter and Dr Matt Follett. It introduces transgressive criminology and the wider concept of harm, which can be applied to problems like rainforest destruction and global warming. It looks at how Marxism and Beck’s late modern concept of risk can be applied to crimes against the environment, and investigates the paradox of economic growth and consumption versus the need to curb global warming and deforestation.