Using Documentaries in Social Science Instruction in Schools as an Effective Source of Value Development for High School Students

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to assess how audiovisual aids, specifically, documentaries affect the formation of
adolescents’ values, attitudes and standpoints in the process of teaching/learning social sciences (Civic Education,
History, and Geography) at high school level (grades 9-12). In this day and age, students have become accustomed
to acquiring knowledge through media such as television and movies. Although books and text are essential in
learning, teachers should take notice of the new visual stimuli, too. Therefore, it is very important to find new
approaches and methods in teaching/learning process to support young people’s personal development through
their value formation, ethical and moral development. It is a quantitative research paper. In total, 204 students took
part in the survey. The collected data can be interesting for school teachers, who try to apply new methodologies
in social studies. The results reveal interesting facts related to the efficiency of teaching through documentary
films, as the subsidiary and supplementary method in the process of teaching/learning social sciences (Civic
Education, History, and Geography) at high school level (grades 9-12).