Creating A High School Photography Course

[LeftBehind]

In Canada, every school is outfitted with a Student Initiated Learn and Courses form. Students can create a curriculum for a course, present it to the Administration, and with approval can become a real course, provided you have a teacher to Facilitate it, which can even mean one with a prep that will sit and watch. I'm writing up the Curriculum. Any ideas or important additions? Has anyone ever tried this at your school?

Intro​

Why people take pictures​

The history of cameras, etc
development of technology
film and digital

The Technology​

aperture
shutter speed
exposure
light metering
lenses and focal length
color temperature and white balance
Mega Pixels

Modes:​

AV
TV
Bulb
Manual
Program
Using manual
How to meter, etc.

Sensors:​

CCD
CMOS
Full frame, partial frame, cropping
Medium format
Composition
“Rules”, thirds, etc
Portrait
Macro
Nature and landscape

Post processing:​

Photoshop[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]©[/FONT]​

Cropping​

Resizing​

Pixels​

Industry and standards​

Portfolios​

Businesses , wedding etc.
Preparing for prints.

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Possible Assignments​

Take examples of:

​

Portrait​

Macro​

Still life​

Landscape - With and without foreground elements​

Urban​

Nature​

Animals​

Rule of thirds​

Leading lines​

Reflection​

Discussion and critique:​

Photo Theme of the Week:​

Close Up​

“Because We're Teenagers”​

Bright colors​

In the Neighborhood​

Window​

Elements​

 

[TimboAA]

I'm thinking back to my photography course I took in college. It was a Dark room course (which if you can do a section on this, it greatly helps understand the features of Photoshop)

I would start with assignments that have to do with "getting to know your camera." Shooting in all "manual mode." Understanding the light meter. Properly exposing shots. etc. Once that is done, then I would introduce elements of photography such as leading lines, rule of thirds, etc. Not until the fundamentals are done, would I then ask for specific things. Require a 36exp/shot minimum (Roll of film) each week. Each week, have them get a required 2-3 shots. that pertain to certain techniques of photography. Example, one has to have leading lines, another one needs to be balanced, etc. Stay away from macro unless they have access to macro lenses. Most kit lenses do not get close enough for my liking to take serious macro shots. Don't forget to discus depth of field and how the aperature can effect it.

Avoid the "programs" on the camera until using the camera is actually mastered. If they are using digital, discuss appropriate white balance settings, different metering modes. Oh yeah...ISO/ASA as well and its purpose.

In addition, if there is time at the end of the course, there could be a lesson on how to mount photographs. I think thats all I can come up with for now while the Red Sox game is on.

 

[Patrice]

Good idea. There is enough material there for 2 semesters.

Might be an idea to add 'lighting basics' to cover the basic use of studio strobes, shoe mount flashes and light modifiers.

You should change 'AV' to 'Aperture Priority' and 'TV' to 'Shutter Priority'.

 

[pandinus]

I think that for you could put in:
Building a portfolio, as an assignment. (Sort of a finale test if you will.)

But this is a good idea. Best of luck. =)

 

[Hertz van Rental]

What age range are you aiming at?
What level do you want them to work to?
Does the course lead to a qualification? If so, how do you propose to assess it?
What experience do you want the course to give the students?

When writing a course you need to determine the answers to all of the above questions before you can start. If you don't then you will find yourself putting in things they don't need and leaving out things they do.

Already in the intro you have included things that are largely superfluous.
Do students really need to know about the development of the camera? In all honesty cameras have changed very little since Fox Talbot: they are just boxes with a hole in. The technology behind the hole may have changed but the end product is still a picture produced by light coming in through a hole. When you learn to drive do you have to learn about the development of the automobile? Of course not. So why bother with the camera? You would be better advised to teach the History of Photography, looking at key photographers, then you can naturally end with looking at why people take pictures and the uses of Photography.

A good course should flow naturally and build on previous lessons and these should be reinforced by the assignments. So you should look more at the structure of the course and integrate the assignments.
Start simple and keep things quite tight.
For example, give them input on exposure and metering then send them out to take pictures (of what isn't important - the aim of the assignment is to learn about using the exposure meter in their camera). Then do a crit and look at 'correct' exposure, over and under-exposure, shadows and highlights. Then give them input on the exposure controls - shutter and aperture - and get them taking pictures to explore these (fast moving objects with slow shutter, using depth of field). Do a crit and then on to the next.
And so on.
The three main aims of a course (in terms of the student experience) is that it should move at a reasonable speed to avoid boredom, the students should see a progression in their learning and, most importantly, the students must be able to achieve the targets (at least in the early stages).

It is also a good idea to make the course modular.
First Term (Semester): learning the basics with tight assignments.
Second Term: more advanced skills with less defined assignments.
Third Term: specialist skills and input and the students should work on their own assignments.

Good luck.

 

[castrol]

We were never allowed to use anything but full manual for our assignments
back when I was in high school. That was a long, long time ago though...

 

[craig]

I think photography classes should be more about developing a style and direction. Students can learn what you have listed in a book. The key is a lot of interaction between the students and direction from the teacher.

Love & Bass

 

[f8lranger4x4]

I just finished with 3 photo classes in one semester and 2 had to be in the dark room. I love being in the darkroom with the chemicals and the smells but lets face it photography is going digital. Kids these days want fast results and instant gratification this is what digital photography is. So I would stick with the digital aspect. P.S. Full manual no cheating

 

[hirschizer]

I just finished with 3 photo classes in one semester and 2 had to be in the dark room. I love being in the darkroom with the chemicals and the smells but lets face it photography is going digital. Kids these days want fast results and instant gratification this is what digital photography is. So I would stick with the digital aspect. P.S. Full manual no cheating

the whole teenagers wanting to go to digital isn't right well at least for me i was pissed as anything when i took photography my first year in highschool and they never taught me the darkroom i'm now learning the darkroom for college and i love it.

 

[DSLR noob]

Under "Technology" add as the first thing "The anatomy of a Camera" and change this course name to "Digital Photography" as it seems geared towards digital.

 

[LeftBehind]

My school has no funding towards Photography, and I can't acquire much, if any. I started with film for about 6 months, mostly **** pictures, focusing on how film and processing works, then when I wanted to get more into taking pictures i got a digital so i could shoot more. Unfortionately I can not do the same for the students. It's grade 10, and 11. It's just a mix of students in my school that are interested in Photography. All of the things talked about above will be accompanied by taking pictures showing the understanding, and giving everyone a chance to experiment with these pictures.