You had me at "any method to reach students". OK, so it doesn't have quite the ring to it as that other, more familiar movie line, and the lead male isn't quite as sexy, but you gotta admit that there is something about this video that just makes an educator drool.
Ron Smith is teaching students using whatever means come to hand, trying out new techniques and technology, as well as old tricks - using his classroom like a laboratory. Ron talks about the fact that not everything he tried gave fantastic results, but that the differences in the individual kids had to be addressed. In other words, you keep trying different things until all the light bulbs are lit! This is always one of my overarching goals when I teach. It bugs me to let a participant who is willing to learn sit in confusion. I just can't take it. I will try one approach and then another until I hit upon the one that works. I use analogies a lot - whatever seems like it would make sense to that student. I try to make them laugh and cry to connect to their passion for the topic. I ask a lot of questions. I have used films, small group discussion, scenarios, probleml-based learning, and WebQuest and wikis, too. So far, I have not used the filming process (having the students film) because of time and tech constraints.
What works for you?
@Andrew - I totally agree that it is easier than ever to find the information that satisfies and agrees with your view on any subject. You can convince yourself that almost anything is true. One of the more important skills that I try to teach my children is to be objective and skeptical when you are consuming information. This is an elemental rule when consuming medical research as well. It's always important to know who has a vested interest in the results.
The rule of unintended consequences runs through almost all facets of life where governing forces exist. You've given a great example with the school system. Did you know that the same thing happens in hospitals? In order to meet standards set by the government agencies, which are very well intentioned, we are seeing more and more focus on "passing the test" instead of taking care of the patient. Nurses are pulled into positions that take them away from the bedside so that the records can be examined and scrubbed, the guilty punished, and the innocent are really just the guilty that haven't been caught yet. So, I have to strongly agree that what made America great was not government control, but creativity, ingenuity and the "melting pot" mentality which took everything in, adopting the best features of any culture, and making it a part of the whole.