- Description:
We are looking to strengthen our Digital Media course with the addition of DSLR cameras for the students to use. Currently, students are using point and shoot Sony cameras with very limited functionality. I am very limited in my ability to teach photography as part of our class because the cameras that we have cannot be manually adjusted well to teach different photography techniques. We are also wanting to expand on photography by adding a camera drone to catch moments from unique perspectives.
- Need Represented: This project will provide necessary technology to students for elective courses. The current cameras are very limited in functionality and do not meet the needs of a digital media course. This equipment will also support our competitiveness in TSA events.
- Academic Impact: Learning about photography and videography can significantly strengthen creativity in students. Students can explore different themes, styles, and narratives, fostering personal expression and encouraging them to communicate visually. Students will also build technical skills in photo and video editing that can translate to necessary skills for future careers. Photography and videography encourages students to assess scenes and subjects, think critically about framing, lighting, and context, and make decisions that impact the final image. Photography and videography will also encourage students to capture diverse stories, making them more aware of different perspectives, cultures, and social issues, which will in turn broaden their perspective of the world. The photography section of the course will end with a personalized portfolio project where students will develop a professional project.
- Student Population: Pipkin Middle School has about 340 students (projected to increase next year) in 6th-8th grade. Approximately 49% are female and 51% are male. 82% of the students are economically disadvantaged. The racial makeup is about 14% African American, 17% Hispanic, 56% White, 10% multi-racial, 1.5% Native American, 1% Asian, .5% Pacific Islander. Pipkin is an IB World School and focuses on global context in learning.
