What is Using Films and Stories

A kaleidoscopic teaching method using a variety of media challenges the course facilitator to lead, guide, and offer insight so that listeners interpret and become the learners and purveyors of action. The teacher is not the focal point of the course; rather, the learner is directly, immediately, and continually self-challenged to discover a personal path of ethics that allows for good and effective leadership. The idea is not to be extensively detailed in the readings but to allow basic concepts to unfold and discussions to excite the expectations of the audience serving in part as a “chorus.” Brief overviews are used to incite active discussion based in part upon questions and examples that arise from the life experiences of the participants. Additionally, the lecturettes offer insights from different cultural and ethical perspectives in an attempt to avoid moral relativism and to help develop critical multiplism of ethical behavior in leadership and followership. Students are also given suggestions for further reading in matters of specific interest. Integrative assignments provide a personal cap to each session. The films are shown in their entirety. Questions on key points of ethical behavior are expressed before the film and discussed in small groups thereafter. In this sense, the work is that of “edutainment” as a part of the educational process. Materials in this chapter are based on teaching this course to Master of Business Administration (MBA) students.