[Lesson Plans Banner]

Multi-disciplinary Instructional Photography

Marianne Tierney
Our Lady of Grace School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Subject: Special Education
Grade: K-8

"We learned to use our 'mind's eye' in many subjects to develop imagery and thinking skills. We developed a greater appreciation for pictures, not only for their information but also for their feelings."

Purpose and Description of Project

Marianne Tierney, a teacher with the Multi-disciplinary Instruction Program (MIP) for underachieving students in nonpublic schools in the Allegheny area, developed creative ways to use photography to help students with learning difficulties gain academic and photographic skills. She intended to enrich her instructional activities beyond "most remedial programs [that] hardly tap such rich resourcefulness inherent in children who struggle with bare facts in school." As a means of achieving this goal, she organized an after-school photography club at one of the schools she regularly traveled to by van where she worked with students who were "near borderline and exhibited many characteristics of Learning Disabled populations." Her Multi-disciplinary Instructional Photography was offered to students who were interested in photography, who could attend weekly meetings, and who were caught up with their school work and wanted to do a few outside projects. After brief interviews, 30 students ("regular" students as well as Tierney's) were chosen to participate.

Activities

The club's activities were numerous and varied, but generally fell into three categories: (1) learning technical aspects of photography, light, and film; (2) completing major projects such as biographical sketches of teachers, sequence activities, and language arts projects; and (3) spin-off projects on, for example, writing bibliographies, creating teaching tools, and developing a slide presentation on the MIP van and its program.

At their meetings, students shared their favorite recent photos, demonstrated how to operate their cameras, brought written resources for discussion, and received technical instruction in photography, while carrying out their projects independently. They photographed numerous school activities and a few even worked with the yearbook staff. The central focus of the individual activities was to let the students "explore creative ideas even if they did not seem totally functional."

Materials, Resources, and Expenses

The school's teachers contributed ideas and offered to be interviewed for the biographical sketch projects. The school library provided references, as well as a meeting area for the club, and the school loaned the slide projector for the MIP presentation. The club worked with many camera owned by the school. Students provided film and developed their own photos for about the first four weeks. This taught them to shoot conservatively when they realized the expense involved. By the end of four weeks Tierney knew who was seriously interested in the club and purchased film accordingly. Students helped plan an even distribution of the film and developing services.

Outcomes and Adaptability

Evaluation of the students' efforts took place at the weekly meetings and Tierney noted that the products demonstrated their "'photographic eye,' a sense of judgment, and the ability to recognize and replicate characteristics." Tierney was most pleased that students began to realize that subjects and learnings overlap, that one subject does not stop before another one can start. As time went on, students left the club to participate in other school activities. Of the original number, "12 remained true troopers," and Tierney was surprised to find that most of these were "her" special students. They took great pride in seeing their work displayed and used around the school. While they were working to achieve goals related to understanding photography, taking good quality photos, and producing exhibits, portraits, slide shows, and visual aids, they uncovered skills and confidence they didn't know they had.
| More Lesson Plans | Digital Learning Center - Educators |