Inspiring classrooms with ‘The Thinking Game,’ a documentary on AI
How a documentary about a groundbreaking discovery can transform classroom engagement and learning
‘The Thinking Game’ is a captivating documentary that chronicles the extraordinary journey of Sir Demis Hassabis, co-founder of Google DeepMind and a 2024 Citation Laureate, and his relentless pursuit to crack artificial general intelligence. Directed by Greg Kohs, this 83-minute film takes viewers inside one of the world's leading AI labs, capturing pivotal moments such as the development of AlphaFold, a groundbreaking program that solved a 50-year-old biological puzzle. The documentary not only highlights scientific breakthroughs but also explores the personal and professional challenges faced by Hassabis and his team.
ProQuest recently interviewed Kohs, where he shared, “This mission of this film isn’t to scare, but to teach through a very compelling story. So, while dangers of AI are explored, the film is ultimately positive and inspiring.”
‘The Thinking Game’ premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, where it received critical acclaim for its insightful portrayal of the AI revolution. Distributed by Film Platform, a leader in documentary films, it’s available for streaming in college and university classrooms through Academic Video Online, from ProQuest, part of Clarivate.
Sparking Student Curiosity
Kohs' films focus on curiosity. He states, "A topic is merely that—a topic—but the human story behind it is what connects the viewer to the content and engages them in learning more about it." This approach to filmmaking closely aligns with the methods used by many faculty members in their courses to engage students: employing a narrative to captivate the viewer's interest in a topic and connect them to the material on a human level.
In the case of 'The Thinking Game,' Kohs was intrigued not only by Demis Hassabis' work but also by understanding what motivated him to pursue his distinctive path in developing artificial general intelligence. Kohs believes that if viewers can identify with subjects like Hassabis, it may ignite their own curiosity and extend it into their interests. Kohs asks, "Who knows what brilliant ideas are currently being developed by students across the globe?"
Kohs emphasized that he aims to learn while making his films, and he hopes the viewer will as well. He uses filmmaking to explore topics he is unfamiliar with, and through observing the individuals involved, he gains understanding in the subject matter. In filmmaking, as in teaching and learning, the human story enables the audience to relate, process and comprehend the content being presented.
‘The Thinking Game’ In the Classroom
Educators can use ‘The Thinking Game’ to spark discussions on topics such as AI, ethics in technology and the role of perseverance in scientific discovery. Additionally, the documentary's visual storytelling can help students grasp complex concepts more easily, making it an excellent tool for interdisciplinary learning. Importantly, the documentary's real-life examples of scientific perseverance and innovation provide a compelling narrative that captures significant moments in time.
Kohs describes the unique combination of looking forward to what’s next but also looking back. “There is footage in the film from three years ago (and, at the time, top secret) of tools that weren't even imagined that are now in our hands. We were filming the development of AI assistant tools. It's an important historical document that will be appreciated for years because the impact of the discovery that was documented.”
While the educational benefits are real, Kohs sees something much more profound in the film. “It’s really about inspiring clever, young people to pursue their passion, to persevere despite challenges. Demis’ story is so compelling. I learned so much from watching him operate. The way he deals with people and his leadership style is a lesson for us all… no matter what your field is.”
The Value of Documentaries In Education
Documentaries offer a dynamic way to enrich traditional teaching methods, providing real-world perspectives that can make abstract concepts more tangible and relatable. They promote critical thinking, stimulate discussions and cater to diverse learning preferences. As with ‘The Thinking Game,’ it can also be an important historical look into an emerging topic for students and faculty to leverage in future research and study. As digital media becomes increasingly prevalent, documentaries are becoming an essential resource in education, helping to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Indeed, research has shown that documentaries can be effective classroom tools. A systematic review of literature published in the Review of Educational Research concluded that adding video to traditional teaching methods provided strong educational benefits. Research published in the Journal of Research Initiatives indicates that film and video may assist students with learning differences to access the curriculum better.
How Libraries Can Support Classrooms with Documentaries
Academic Video Online is the most comprehensive video subscription available to libraries, offering over 85,000 titles spanning a wide range of subject areas, including anthropology, business, counseling, film, health, history, music, and more. Curated for the educational experience, Academic Video Online provides a massive depth of content and various content types, including documentaries, films and demonstrations, making it a valuable resource for academic institutions. The platform provides tools to aid students and faculty in exploring this content, from LTI integration with Learning Management Systems providing single sign-on access to students, to clip and playlist features that allow faculty to curate and assign content specific to their courses.
Subscribers to Academic Video Online also build their owned collection through a program called “Build by Choice” that enables libraries to choose titles from the subscription for permanent access.
Academic Video Online is Part of ProQuest One Academic
Academic Video Online is a popular stand-alone resource and it is also part of ProQuest One Academic, where it is available alongside ProQuest Central Premium (news, journals and more), Academic Complete (eBooks) and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. This interdisciplinary solution makes an extraordinary range of content available via a simple user interface to support a variety of learning environments.
Try Academic Video Online For Free
Academic librarians, empower your faculty and students with the transformative power of documentaries in education. Explore Academic Video Online with a free trial and discover how streaming video can elevate teaching and learning at your institution.
