In this digital era, education is not just lecture and blackboard sessions within the four walls of a classroom. The influence of handy gadgets, education apps as well as smart school software is taking education to a new level. The role of teachers changes from just one side dictators to more of a guidance and support giver when students utilize the pros of the digital era to learn on their own.

Moreover, schools are taking good initiatives to utilize the advancements in technologies to give their students the best benefits of smart classrooms. With the use of projectors and friendly apps, they are giving an opportunity for students to watch movies in classrooms that better depict some areas of study that are difficult to understand with just textbook assignments. The watch list also includes some really inspiring movies that can change the way students see the world and helping them to live as better individuals.

The only thing more curious than the bots are kids. Celebrity appearances and a music video at the end of each episode only add to the fun. Here are some movies that I feel can contribute to the fun in the class:

1. Brainchild: This science-based show answers all sorts of questions kids tend to ask

2. Buddi: With kindness, curiosity, and childlike wonder, five best friends explore their colorful world and find the extraordinary in everyday things

3. Carmen Sandiego: That’s right, gumshoes! The story of the legendary professional thief has been remixed into a cartoon series. But in this iteration, Carmen is trying to thwart evil. Those of us who grew up playing the computer game and watching the game show will love introducing the globe-trotting Carmen to a new generation of kids

4. Cutest Animals: Discover 72 of the cutest animals on earth and how their adorable features help protect them

5. I am Kalam: Introduce students to other cultures with this film about a child who is inspired by the life of India’s president

6. Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History: Comedian Kevin Hart uses his silliness for good, teaching viewers about some of history’s unsung black heroes

7. Life on Our Planet: This documentary follows David Attenborough, a famed naturalist, who maps how steeply the planet’s biodiversity has diminished over his lifetime

8. A Plastic Ocean: Documentary filmmaker Craig Leeson discovers a startling amount of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans

9. A Year in Space: Follow astronaut Scott Kelly’s year on the International Space Station

10. Amelia: A Tale of Two Sisters: Eight decades after her disappearance, Amelia Earhart’s incredible accomplishments are still celebrated, thanks in large part to her sister Muriel

11. Big Miracle: A biographical drama based on a true story. Drew Barrymore stars in this film as a reporter writing about whales trapped in the Arctic Circle

12. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Based on the book of the same name, this movie tells the real-life story of William Kamkwamba, who saved his village by inventing a windmill

13. The Mars Generation: Teenagers at NASA’s Space Camp dream of traveling to Mars while experts reflect on the future and history of NASA

14. My Octopus Teacher: Follow filmmaker Craig Foster as he spends a year forging a relationship with a wild common octopus in a South African kelp fore

These are only some from the whole bunch. You can always explore and find more such educational movies that you find appropriate to use in your classroom for teaching purposes. There can be many regional movies too! With the advent of technology, it has been very easy to find movies on the internet. Thanks to technology that 'subtitles' have been a very common thing to movies while watching them online or while downloading them.

About the author

Renuka Purohit is an educator in India. Any views expressed are personal.