Teach Them to Play:

Harnessing Chance, Construction, +

Imagination in the Photography
Classroom
Rachael Hulme
Jacob Cecil

*make sure to get an object as you come in the door

#SPEVegasPlay

objective:

Participants will explore the theme of constructed reality

through hands-on engagement with materials and gain
knowledge of the use of play as a pedagogical tool in
the photography classroom.

#SPEVegasPlay

Rachael hulme
Edgewood High School
Harford County Public Schools, Maryland

rachael.hulme@hcps.org
ehsphoto.org
@ehs_photo
@balloonsatbreakfast

Jacob Cecil
River Hill High School
Howard County Public Schools, Maryland

jacob_cecil@hcpss.org
cecilrhhs.weebly.com
@cecilrhhs
@aphototeacher

Rachael
Harford County
Jacob
Howard County

What do these choices say about you and

your training as a photographer?
Are you a MAKER or a FINDER?

er

ak

r
e
d
n
fi

activity #1
#SPEVegasPlay

activity #1
you will need
1. your object (that you
received at the door)
2. a picture-taking
device

#SPEVegasPlay

lets reflect
How did you approach making that image?
Did you go with your first instinct, or take time to think
& arrange?
What kind of environment did you place it in?
Did you alter or adjust it afterward?

activity #2

activity #2
you will need
1. your object
2. your picture-making device
3. to visit one of the 3 tables
in the room

when you visit a table, you

will find these materials:
props

flashlights

things to modify
the light

new friends to collaborate with

activity #2
You will work in groups at a table in the room
to create a still life setup. You will
then experiment with different types
of props, light, and shadow, using the
flashlights at the table to create images.

time: 10 minutes

lets reflect
What did you discover?
Did collaboration play a part in your making?
How could you adapt or extend this activity in your
classroom?
What kinds of technical and conceptual skills does
this teach or refine for students?
How does this model behaviors natural to
professional/practicing artists?

how can we teach play?

play in contemporary

art

&

contemporary

art education

play in contemporary art

PLAY

Andrew B. Myers

John Baldessari

play

Gabriel Orozco

Pierce + Stacy Thiot

constructions

Gregory Crewdson
Robert + Shana Parkeharrison
Ryan Schude

Cindy Sherman

Laila Essaydi

Pedagogy
of

play
#SPEVegasPlay

play in contemporary
(art) education

play as behavior, habit, &

way of being
experimentation
risk-taking
construction of ones own
knowledge through experiences

constructivism
a theory of knowledge
states that knowledge is created
through interaction with experiences

constructionism
a theory of learning inspired by constructivism
is student-centered, hands-on, project-based
learning

re-thinking our roles

as educators

educator as facilitator of
experiences
educator as question-poser
I dont know, lets find out together

thoughts on play

Before setting a problem, give students time to play with the

equipment. Students will often plan a fantastic inquiry but
stumble at the first hurdle. Let them play before they plan. This
will pick up and address many misconceptions before they start.
Give them direct, hands-on access to explore and generate their
own questions. Pose the questions around the room and get
each other to answer. They are in control.

Jenkin, Matthew. "Play in Education: The Role and

Importance of Creative Learning." The Guardian.
Guardian News and Media, 2013

thoughts on play
to see play, and by extension the
Iuseprefer
of dramatic inquiry, as a well
researched and effective pedagogical
tool that develops children's learning
where other more traditional, direct
instruction and open discovery methods
Jenkin, Matthew. "Play in Education: The Role and
are less useful.

Importance of Creative Learning." The Guardian.

Guardian News and Media, 2013

Unit overview
facilitated by rachael with
jacobs students at river hill
high school in spring 2015
since adapted by both for our
individual classrooms
we hope you will do the same! all
materials will be available on
jacobs website at the end of the
presentation
#SPEVegasPlay

Unit overview
the photographic

cookie

short for cucoloris

- is something used for casting shadows to create

a p a t t e r n of light.
- helps to make staged photographs look more natural
by breaking up the light.
#SPEVegasPlay

constructed realities: modifying the light

the photographic

cookie
You will work in groups at your table
to create a still life setup. You will
then experiment with different types
of cookies, and use the flash(es) on your
groups devices to create 2 images.

prop1 (prp)

n.

1. An object placed beneath or against a structure to keep it from falling

or shaking; a support.

2. One that serves as a means of support or assistance.

3. (theater, film) An item placed on a stage or set to create a scene or

scenario in which actors perform. Contraction of property".

usage notes: Props are often non-functional. A prop that is required to

function is a "practical" prop.

#SPEVegasPlay

constructing the
prop

+cookie

#SPEVegasPlay

Good morning!
Today is about

problem-solving.
We will divide into two groups per table.
You will come up and draw a prompt that
dictates the photographic problem your group
will solve. At 9:37, return to class to share.

An Uncomfortable Situation

a paradise

a trap

NOOOOOOOOO

you + virtual trespassing

You will spend the remainder of class
investigating geolocations. Try to find all of
these using a device (be prepared to share!):

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Someplace empty
Someplace secret
Someplace wonderful
Someplace scary
Someplace abandoned
A rope or tire swing
A body of water
Anything else interesting

*Photo III: a location that could

be used in your Humble Epic

Instagram
app location
tag + Google
maps

Foursquare.com
flickr.com/map

google.com
thing +place

google search for memories

google search for memories

google screenshot via jacob

student testimonials

student testimonials

student testimonials

final student work

examples

Jillian

Haley

Haley

Nick P.

Nick

Heather

Allison

Hannah

Leah

What are we teaching?

resource
management

ST

RA
TE

improvisation

technical

deconstructing
artistic
processes

PLAY

artistic
behaviors

conceptual

narrative
strategies

GI

ES

what we discovered
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deconstructing artistic processes and habits

that are natural to us as professional artists
teachin

g a pro
cess, b
uilding
Not con
the Find
verting
ers res
everyon
ources
e to a M
aker

Thank you!
"Teach Them to Play: Harnessing Chance,
Construction, and Imagination in the
Photography Classroom
March 2016
#SPEVegasPlay

ns

tio

es

qu

Rachael Hulme rachael.hulme@hcps.org @ehs_photo

Edgewood High School

Harford County Public Schools, Maryland

E
H

Jacob Cecil jacob_cecil@hcpss.org @cecilrhhs

River Hill High School

Howard County Public Schools, Maryland

R
H

RESOURCES:
http://cecilrhhs.weebly.com/constructed-reality.html
http://www.ehsphoto.org

R
h
h

"Teach Them to Play: Harnessing

Chance,
#SPEVegasPlay