Educational Media Reviews Online

This series of videos addresses several valuable personal characteristic qualities such as courage, perseverance, empathy, citizenship, and honesty. Five of the seven programs in the series, Profiles in Perseverance, Profiles in Honesty, Profiles in Citizenship, Profiles in Empathy, and Profiles in Courage are reviewed here. Each program is begins with a discussion between host Dr. Hal Urban and an assembly of teenage students. The participants define the individual highlighted term (i.e. honesty, etc.) and then asked for feedback on when they have witnessed this trait in their own lives. Students share their personal stories and struggles that involve the obligation of “doing the right thing” when there is pressure to do otherwise. In addition, each program introduces some well known individuals who have highly demonstrated at least one of the characteristics and whose social activism and courageous deeds were the impetus for change. In a reflective manner each reveals how they overcame obvious hurdles. These conversations allow the viewer the opportunity to gain insight in to the lives of those who are identified as being exceptional, therefore holding a place in history.

In the next segment, the host and his teenage participants continue the discussion and each contributing more information concerning the trait being discussed. Later in the video, celebrated teenagers are interviewed, telling their heroic stories of struggle and triumph. Each teenager diagnoses a social problem and comes up with a real solution. The video concludes with a summary from the host.

All the videos come with an accompanying Teacher’s Resource Guide. Learning objectives are clearly defined in the beginning of each guide following a set of student activities that are thought provoking and will engage students in the use of critical thinking skills by integrating language arts. The guide contains a great deal of applicable information, is not redundant, and is written with attention to how students learn, connect and apply information.

The audio and video qualities are excellent. The dialog between the host and teenagers flows naturally and is believable. The conversations are real and unscripted creating a comfortable ambiance. The students in the video are culturally and ethnically diverse making it easy for young adults to relate. This series is highly recommended with great potential for use in many collections. These materials would be beneficial to teachers, media specialists, counselors, and school administrators who have the responsibility of teaching and assisting students with character education. Reviews of Profiles in Respect and Profiles in Responsibility, the other two titles in the series are also available in the EMRO database.