Teaching Visual Literacy using Online Photo Sharing

Well I love the opportunities that online photo sharing sites create for the classroom. Being an art educator visual literacy plays a huge role in interpreting and finding meaning in works of art. Visual images are how people process the world around them, the good, the bad and the awestruck moments of life. As learners, students need to be able to understand the images they see by learning how to interpret, evaluate, and find meaning in them. Educators need to encourage learners to look for clues, communications, feelings, and meaning in the images they encounter and create. I found creating and using a Flickr account was a breeze, especially if you set up your Blogger, Google, and Flickr account all through your Google account it works  seamlessly together and there are less passwords to remember.

I would use Online Photo-Sharing Sites in many ways in my art classroom. One as an Art History and Art Criticism tool. I would teach a unit on Architecture, teaching the traditional "Elements of Architecture" i.e. columns, symmetry, facades, etc. and then have the students find or use photos I put in a Gallery which represented these elements. It would be a worldwide scavenger hunt from ancient Rome, to modern contemporary homes who still use those basic elements worldwide. I would add to the fun and have them map point their photos and annotations in Flickr. This lesson incorporates the following NETS standards.

• Communication and Collaboration a.interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media b.communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats  c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
• Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making b.plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project c.collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.
  (Taken from the ISTE NETS and Performance Indicators for Students  NETS
  
  SOME USEFUL LINKS
  Flickr Tour
  Flickr Resources
  Big Huge Lab Photo Editing
  
  
  Flickr Slide Share Ideas and Tutorial
  
  
  
  

Flickr Fun!

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