Coach Smith here, tuning in after a week-long computer crash.   I missed
much of discussion on picking AV products for BF classes, so here are some
general guidelines:

 

1.	When picking an AV product to use in a BF class, first decide WHY
you're using a passive media product in the first place. Yes, some concepts
are better conveyed when seen on videotape / DVD than could be explained
with charts, demonstrated with dolls, or shown by a nursing mother-baby
dyad. What are your learning objectives? What do you want the participants
to DO DIFFERENTLY after they've been to your class? It's all about outcomes!
Part of this step is deciding how much of your precious class time you will
allocate to passive learning. People only retain about 10% of what they see,
and 20% of what they hear. Even the best videos and DVDs are passive
learning devices. (I only use video segments for concepts I can't reasonably
replicate in a classroom any other way, such as watching a premie at
breast).
2.	Then, decide whether you want to convey a WHY or a HOW-TO concept. I
strongly recommend focusing more on HOW-TO concepts because most women stop
BF because of "not enough milk" or breast pain - both of which are "how-to"
concepts. Latch-on techniques, hand-expressing, holding a baby - those are
HOW TO subjects. Lovely images of mothers & babies breastfeeding are "WHY"
concepts - "everybody else is BF, so you can too" kinds of ideas.  ('Why'
concepts promote the IDEA of BF; 'how-to' concepts help women actually DO
it.) 
3.	THEN, and only then, investigate what products are available for
conveying the concept. Buy or borrow several DVDs or videos on the topic you
want to present and screen them all carefully. Better still, arrange a
review party and invite several people of different backgrounds, ages, etc
and have them evaluate the products. (I published a scoresheet for
evaluating AV materials in the 1995 JHL.) Take your time on this, and do it
every year or so. Even the best materials eventually become outdated or
obsolete.
4.	One more tip. Watch the entire DVD/video every time you show it in
class. Don't sneak out of the room. 

 

Of course, there is no one single "perfect" DVD or video for all BF class
situations. Reading the reviews in JHL is a good place to start looking for
what's available. There are some great products available that can meet
specific learning needs very well, and there will probably be more developed
in the future. 

 

And finally, be sure to comply with all international copyright laws when
purchasing and showing DVDs/videos. Don't cheat and buy a "personal" copy of
a DVD or video if you intend to show it to all your weekly BF classes. 

 

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC

Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre Ltd.

6540 Cedarview Ct, Dayton OH 45459 USA

(937) 937-438-9458 / fax (937) 438-3229

 <http://www.BFLRC.com> www.BFLRC.com

 


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