The Impact of Moving Image Education on Pupils’ Short and Long-Term Leisure, Education, and Career Choices

The aim of this CDA is to investigate the short- and long-term impacts of organised Moving Image Education (MIE) on young people’s present and future lives, culture consumption, education and career choices.

For the past two decades Creative Scotland (now Screen Scotland, formed from the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen in 2010) has provided teacher training, CPD, resources, in-class support and other MIE interventions in schools and other learning contexts across Scotland. This CDA will embed the doctoral researcher in Creative Scotland’s Film Education team under the supervision of Director of Film Education Scott Donaldson for 18 months, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the scope and impact of Creative Scotland’s MIE initiatives, programmes and provision, and the implementation of these in schools and as CPD.

The doctoral researcher will investigate the research question: what are the immediate and short-term impacts of MIE activities on pupils in Scottish schools today, as perceived by the pupils themselves and their teachers? This will be explored through participant observation of the work of the Film Education team; a series of case studies of ongoing MIE programmes in Scottish Primary and Secondary Schools; and semi-structured interviews with pupils and teachers. The doctoral research will also evaluate pupils’ digital, visual and textual literacy and analytic skills as well as their knowledge of various roles and career opportunities within the screen industries, with control groups of classes with no MIE provision.

Further, the doctoral researcher will explore the research question: what are the long-term effects of MIE? by comparing the present leisure and cultural activities, education choices and career trajectories of pupils who were involved in the formal MIE programmes and activities in earlier MIE programmes, notably Scottish Screen’s strategic MIE programme across all Angus schools during 2004-10, compared to their peers.

Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree in relevant subject are or discipline including, but not limited to, Education, Film & TV, Film Making and Screen Production; Media and Communication, Cultural Policy & Creative Industries, and Art and Design.
Applicants should also have a Masters-level degree that satisfies AHRC eligibility requirements for advanced research training, or equivalent professional/occupational experience.

Applicants should submit a Curriculum Vitae, including contact details of one academic referee, and a 2-page covering letter outlining why they are interested in this collaborative doctoral award and what they would bring to this project.

This should be sent in an email to [Email Address Removed] and [Email Address Removed] by the 14th of December 2018.

Interviews will be held on 14 January 2019. Interviewing will enable the identification of a candidate who will liaise with the supervisory team and complete a full CDA PhD studentship application form by 13th February 2019, for consideration and final evaluation by SGSAH. Those successfully nominated will not be automatically funded.