Spe2016-Teach Them To Play

student work from in-class play & experimentation

*make sure to get an object as you come in the door #SPEVegasPlay

Teach Them to Play: Harnessing Chance, Construction, +

Imagination in the Photography Classroom

Rachael Hulme Jacob Cecil

Participants will explore the theme of constructed reality through hands-on engagement with materials and gain knowledge of the use of play as a pedagogical tool in the photography classroom.

#SPEVegasPlay

objective:

Edgewood High School Harford County Public Schools, Maryland

[email protected] ehsphoto.org @ehs_photo @balloonsatbreakfast

Rachael hulme

Jacob Cecil River Hill High School Howard County Public Schools, Maryland

[email protected] cecilrhhs.weebly.com @cecilrhhs @aphototeacher

mailto:[email protected]

Jacob Howard County

Rachael Harford County

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What do these choices say about you and your training as a photographer?

Are you a MAKER or a FINDER?

maker finder

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activity #1

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activity #1

you will need…

1. your object (that you received at the door)

2. a picture-taking device

maker

let’s reflect‣ How did you approach making that image?

‣ Did you go with your first instinct, or take time to think & arrange?

‣ What kind of environment did you place it in?

‣ Did you alter or adjust it afterward?

activity #2

activity #2

you will need…

1. your object 2. your picture-making device 3. to visit one of the 3 tables

in the room

when you visit a table, you will find these materials:

flashlightsprops things to modify the light

new friends to collaborate with

You will work in groups at a table in the room

to create a still life setup. You will then experiment with different types

of props, light, and shadow, using the

flashlights at the table to create images.

time: 10 minutes

activity #2

let’s reflect

‣ What did you discover?

‣ Did collaboration play a part in your making?

‣ How could you adapt or extend this activity in your classroom?

‣ What kinds of technical and conceptual skills does this teach or refine for students?

‣ How does this model behaviors natural to professional/practicing artists?

how can we teach play?

play in contemporary

art &

contemporary

art education

play in contemporary art

Pierce + Stacy ThiotGabriel Orozco

playJohn Baldessari

PLAYAndrew B. Myers

Robert + Shana Parkeharrison

constructions

Gregory Crewdson

Cindy Sherman Laila Essaydi

Ryan Schude

#SPEVegasPlay

Pedagogy

ofplay

play in contemporary (art) education

play as behavior, habit, & way of being

experimentation

risk-taking

construction of one’s own knowledge through experiences

constructivism

constructionism

a theory of knowledge states that knowledge is created through interaction with experiences

a theory of learning inspired by constructivism is student-centered, hands-on, project-based learning

re-thinking our rolesas educators

educator as facilitator of experiences

educator as question-poser

“I don’t know, let’s find out together”

thoughts on play

Before setting a problem, give students time to play with the equipment. Students will often plan a fantastic inquiry but stumble at the first hurdle. Let them play before they plan. This will pick up and address many misconceptions before they start. Give them direct, hands-on access to explore and generate their own questions. Pose the questions around the room and get each other to answer. They are in control.

“

”Jenkin, Matthew. "Play in Education: The Role and Importance of Creative Learning." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 2013

thoughts on play

I prefer to see play, and by extension the use of dramatic inquiry, as a well researched and effective pedagogical tool that develops children's learning where other more traditional, direct instruction and open discovery methods are less useful.

“

” Jenkin, Matthew. "Play in Education: The Role and Importance of Creative Learning." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 2013

Unit overview

#SPEVegasPlay

facilitated by rachael with jacob’s students at river hill high school in spring 2015

since adapted by both for our individual classrooms

we hope you will do the same! all materials will be available on jacob’s website at the end of the presentation

Unit overview

#SPEVegasPlay

cookiethe photographic

short for “cucoloris”

- is something used for casting shadows to create a p a t t e r n of light.

- helps to make staged photographs look more natural by breaking up the light.

cookiethe photographic

constructed realities: modifying the light

You will work in groups at your table

to create a still life setup. You will

then experiment with different types

of cookies, and use the flash(es) on your

group’s devices to create 2 images.

student work from in-class play & experimentation

prop 1 (prŏp)n.1. An object placed beneath or against a structure to keep it from falling or shaking; a support.2. One that serves as a means of support or assistance.3. (theater, film) An item placed on a stage or set to create a scene or scenario in which actors perform. Contraction of “property".

usage notes: Props are often non-functional. A prop that is required to function is a "practical" prop.

#SPEVegasPlay

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/item

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stage

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scene

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/actor

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constructing the prop

+cookie

Good morning!Today is about

problem-solving.

We will divide into two groups per table. You will come up and draw a prompt that

dictates the photographic problem your group will solve. At 9:37, return to class to share.

An Uncomfortable Situation

a paradise

a trap

NOOOOOOOOO

you + virtual trespassing You will spend the remainder of class

investigating geolocations. Try to find all of these using a device (be prepared to share!):

1. Someplace empty 2. Someplace secret 3. Someplace wonderful 4. Someplace scary 5. Someplace abandoned 6. A rope or tire swing 7. A body of water 8. Anything else interesting

*Photo III: a location that could be used in your Humble Epic

flickr.com/map

Instagram app location tag + Google

maps

Foursquare.com

google.com “thing” +place

google search for memories

google search for memories

google screenshot via jacob

student testimonials



final student work examples

Jillian

Haley

Haley

Nick P. Nick

Heather

Allison

Hannah

Leah

PLAY

STRATEGIES

What are we teaching?

technical

conceptual artistic behaviors

improvisation

deconstructing artistic

processes

narrative strategies

resource management

what we discovered

teaching a process, building the Finder’s resources

Not converting everyone to a Maker

deconstructing artistic processes and habits that are natural to us as professional artists

needing a balance of very specific decision making and

choice selection, avoid the literal, embrace the ambiguous

#SPEVegasPlay

Thank you!

questions

❓

"Teach Them to Play: Harnessing Chance, Construction, and Imagination in the

Photography Classroom”March 2016

#SPEVegasPlay

Rachael Hulme – [email protected] – @ehs_photo Edgewood High School Harford County Public Schools, Maryland

Jacob Cecil – [email protected] – @cecilrhhs River Hill High School Howard County Public Schools, Maryland

RESOURCES: http://cecilrhhs.weebly.com/constructed-reality.html http://www.ehsphoto.org



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Documents

Spe2016-Teach Them To Play