Blair Witch 2016 and Education 2022

 You might be wondering if this is a Halloween related post? It is not! Stay with me on this one - I believe my reflection is timely and relevant.

I haven't thought much about the original 1999 Blair Witch movie, unless recalling moments that I felt fear. I don't enjoy the Horror or Thriller genres, and I don't believe I ever will. Freddy Krueger has taken up permanent visual data files that I can't seem to delete, and I don't relish feeling fear 'for the fun of it'.

During time well spent yesterday, with a true academic scholar and super fan of the Horror Genre, my tattoo artist and friend Brian Level recommended that I watch the 2016 version.  In a conversation that started about the band that was streaming, that then naturally meandered through other topics of "Boston", "Horror legends", "Legacy Tours and underground tunnels", "tombstones" and "video game music" (ok so maybe there was a theme there!), we ended on Blair Witch.

Fast forward to late last night, when I opened Netflix and searched for "Blair Witch", half hoping that it wasn't available. I started the 2016 movie and tried to rationale the experience and to approach the movie through an analytical/academic lens, as Brian does.

If you haven't watched it - I recommend it! 

Either way, I'm going to give a few spoilers - so here we go:

1) When in the woods, that seemed to swallow the characters in an eternal maze, daytime seems to disappear. The dimension of time seems to become elusive. Time, or the lack thereof, is the number 1 complaint I hear from teachers and colleagues. "There's never enough". I believe the message here is to focus on your circle of control and to maximize the time you have. 

• Rethink transitions, the time lost as we always wait on 1 or 2 to get everything together. (Doesn't every horror movie include one person who injures themself and needs more help?) What about everyone else who is ready and waiting and packed what they were told to bring?
• Plan your questions in advance and have each student answer solo or with a partner instead of asking for volunteers. If your question is worth asking, then every student should be accountable for answering it. "Did you hear that?" becomes as rhetorical as "Does everyone understand?".
• Set up procedures and routines and don't deviate. This allows all students to focus on what is important and not how and where to put their materials away in the 4th class arrangement. Chaos always ensues in movies when they deviate from the plan - when no one remembers who is in charge of the batteries for the flashlights.... well, am I right?

2) When they finally find the house that was captured in earlier footage, there are doors at every turn. With unmarked doors being opened in a frenzy, it's not even clear to the viewer if they are going in the right direction or headed to mortal danger. The lack of 4th wall at this moment was very unnerving, yet brilliantly directed.  The multiple doors as options speaks of the multiple opportunities, we have right in front of us to make an impact. 

• Speak to that new family as they patiently but insecurely sit in your lobby waiting to enroll their child in your school.
• Sit with a child at lunch who has no one to sit with (the most socially segregating time of a child's school day).
• Listen to why homework wasn't turned in - or seek to understand instead of judging.
• Attend a school/community event where your will see your students outside of your four walls - build into that relationship.

3) The new 'in color' adventurers came with every high-tech gadget available to help them find the lost sibling. At the end of the day - technology doesn't win. It added some comfort to the group, and perhaps more footage for a third rendition of the movie. The educational parallel - good teaching still involves 'teaching'. You can be a 1-1 district, with gamification galore, but unless you know your students, the standards and how to make that comprehensible, your fancy smart board won't magically equal achievement.

My final note: 

In this very high-tech, instant gratification era where students always seem to be one step ahead of us, teaching still requires art and science. Know your what, explore the how - but please know your why!

If you don't enjoy horror - don't watch it. If you don't love teaching - don't do it. If you do, there are plenty of us here to help you find your way, maximize your time and get back into focus.