My peers and I worked to create a series of pinhole camera lessons, mixing science and the photography art-form together. The video documents our collaboration process. Along with photography and physics, we also imagined that biology, chemistry, social studies and more could be brought into such a project. I certainly learned a lot. I know others would benefit from this sort of collaboration as well!
My first project during my long practicum has been going pretty well. Here’s the assignment description I gave to students:
In groups, film each other being interviewed. Answers should only be about 30 seconds long.
We will discuss as a class what some techniques for creating an interesting interview might be. Make sure to implement some of these techniques in your filming (dynamic camera angles, formal and informal styles, etc).
Film each question in a different outdoor location. For example, the group will find filming location #1 and take turns filming each member answering question #1. They will then find filming location #2, and film everyone answering question #2, and so on.
Here are the interview questions. Each student in the group should answer all four questions:
What is your best idea for an invention that the world needs today?
What good deed have you done that you are most proud of?
What is your most important long-term goal?
What is the most interesting fact you know?
My teaching philosophy is revealing itself through the lesson plans. The visual arts classes I teach will apparently be filled with pop culture references teetering on the edge of unfitting (can you play Cards Against Humanity in public school setting?) and utterly in vogue (for those students who really want to base their projects on video game, memes and/or use of camera-phones).
The hardest part is coming up with a new artist for each lesson, and group-building activity. Will it pay off to treat the students each day like a CEO group at team-forming conference? I hope so.
Stay tuned for the Ephemeral Visual Arts Unit Plan to be posted here shortly. I’ve been keeping it soft and warm in my pocket all weekend…
[youtube=http://youtu.be/Y1JzFlkQYuw?t=1m57s]