BP9_2009102_Flickr

As a high school photography teacher there are many ways we could use Flickr in the classroom, if it were not blocked by our district firewalls.

A google search turned up http://www.jakesonline.org/flickrinclassroom.pdf, which suggested Single Image Analysis, Single Image Writing Prompt, Virtual Field Trips, Visual Documentation of Student Artwork, Creation of Digital Visual Portfolios, as possible lessons that I could use in class. But, since Flickr deals with images these are just some of the ideas that would relate to our class curriculum.

After creating an account students can even use their iPhoto to upload directly to Flickr. In our AP 2D Design Class, students could be uploading their Concentration works to Flickr and allow other students to log-in and comment on their technique, quality or direction. Students peer evaluating each others work in this and the Breadth and Quality sections tend to drive the quality of the artists growth and discipline. Evaluating others work also tends to improve the focus of the evaluators' work as they learn from the mistakes of their peers.

Currently we use class time to have these discussions, moving this discussion online to Flickr would allow the conversation to continue and constantly evolve throughout the school year rather than the times selected in class. Plus, Flickr supports RSS feeds so students can subscribe to each others Photostreams or to a group one and automatically get fed new photo's to be commenting on as they are posted.