Optional Movies Outside of Class

This past week, I invited my corporations students for an optional evening screening of the 2005 documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.  I thought that the movie helped to identify a number of the most interesting aspects of the Enron culture, some of the worst business practices, and provided context for passage of SOX.  The discussion that followed (I sprang for pizza, drinks and chips along with the other corporations prof) was really great.  Turnout was probably only one third of each of our corporations classes.  From the students that attended, the feedback was great and I would like to try this again next year.  However, as the movie was optional, the turnout was lower than I anticipated.  Do people have experience with optional versus mandatory participation for after class movies?

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol 

Comments

[Ted McClure (Librarian, Phoenix School of Law)]

One of our Business Organizations profs made "Enron" mandatory. We have it on Course Reserve. Con Law uses "Poletown Lives!" and PBS' "Alexander Hamilton".