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Examination of Our Community
James B. Vathis
Stephen Decatur High School, Berlin, Maryland
Subject: Career Education
Grade: 12
"They, (The Students) enjoyed photography as a new medium
for learning and welcomed a chance to excel outside traditional
academic activities. "
Purpose and Description of Project
The twelfth-grade students selected two local industries -- chicken
farming and fishing -- to research from the raw product to the marketable
product; they prepared slide/tape presentations on these activities.
The overall goal was to improve the students' abilities to analyze,
provide leadership, plan, and organize sequentially; it also gave
them a chance to view local job opportunities and to practice
the communications skills they would need for future job interviews.
Activities
After students brainstormed a list of possible topics, discussed
the pros and cons of each, and selected the two topics to be explored,
they split into two groups and picked leaders. These groups then
split into subgroups, each with its own leader.
Students performed most of the work on their own time. They were
first required to write a storyboard to determine what photos
were necessary. Then they took the photos and practiced their
communications and questioning skills by interviewing employees
of the industries being studied. Finally, they developed and organized
their slides, and wrote and recorded the script. The best slides
were printed in photo form for a bulletin board display.
Each group evaluated its own activities as well as those of the
other group. Vathis found that students were more useful in critiquing
the work because they were aware of who did and did not contribute.
He then compiled the student evaluations and prepared his own
short evaluation along with the final grade.
Materials, Resources, and Expenses
Local fishermen and chicken farmers served as the primary human
resources. The school's art instructor also provided advice and
direction.
Students used the usual photographic developing, printing, and
mounting supplies for slides and photos. A cassette tape recorder
was used to tape the script. Because each group used a school-owned
camera,
the few additional expenses were for one roll of
film
per group, one cassette tape, photochemicals and
paper.
Outcomes and Adaptability
Since the project was conducted largely outside class, the students
had to plan their time, develop a mental picture of what they
wanted to show photographically, and discipline themselves to
complete the work as scheduled. Students assumed this responsibility
willingly. They welcomed the chance to do a hands-on project that
allowed them to excel outside traditional academic activities.
They enjoyed photography as a new medium of expression. Vathis
noted that because they completed the entire activity themselves,
the students appreciated the project more.
Vathis program would be easy to replicate because most towns have
at least two industries to examine. More topics could be added
to maintain the beneficial small-group atmosphere within even
larger classes.