Culturally Responsive Instruction: Teaching physics through the lens of photography By: Sienna A. Smoot (Ed.D)
I propose that there be an option provided to students that affords them an integrated Physics course that fosters culturally responsive teaching (CRT). One way of doing this, is to introduce physics through the lens of photography.
Every child is a born scientist. Their innate desire to touch and taste things is evidence that they are natural explorers who are driven by curiosity and interests. Nevertheless, when our children step into the education system, their natural desire for learning is deduced to their ability to pass a test likely not written by someone of their culture. Their curiosity is boxed in by projects designed and developed by the educator. Our children are attempting to display what they know without respect for the culture that they know.
In recent years, there has been a major push for CRT, which is a researched-based approach that creates connections between what our children learn and their culture, experiences and language. Educators are encouraged to innovate and insert culturally-responsive activities into their curriculum. Nevertheless, how does one insert a culture they do not know themselves. There are various projects in the works that address that. One such project is the MILOEDU.com project created by Gary Mack and Lybroan James. After attending this training, I was able to view teaching some aspects of Physics from a culturally responsive perspective.
I am a science teacher in Hawaii and I am also a part-time model. Specifically, I teach high school Physics. I am also an adjunct faculty at a local medical college here in Hawaii. I know my “ISH” when it comes to science, culture and curricula. Physics is the study of the motion of matter, force, energy and their behavior through space and time. This definition is simplified best by saying that Physics is the study of the universe and all that is moving around in it. Among all of the other sciences, Physics focuses on the “how” things happen. How does light work? How does the skin react to light? How does a photographer capture an image or theme with light?
Nevertheless, it does not matter what I know. What matters is the environment surrounding the student that fosters creativity and innovation via culturally responsive teaching. Among the environments that can deliver a cultural, equitable, relevant and real world learning experience is the learning space of photography.
I often work with Brooklyn photographer Jihaad Muhammad owner of https://annurmedia.com/ . I watch him set his lens, adjust and direct the lighting. Photography is a consistent struggle to get the skin tones, theme and lighting where it needs to be. The culture of the photographer bleeds through the lens and it shows in their work. Photographers spend a lot of time teasing out the imperfections and color nuances. They find the best angle to capture the structures of the objects in their focus. Photographers manipulate, bend, and refract light in order to get a perspective about the object with appreciation for the meaning of the photograph.
The shape and thickness of the lens, time and the velocity of light are all essential to the quality of the photograph. Sensors play a role in precision in obtaining optimal focal length. Some cameras use light fields to capture the image. A light field is a set of all light rays in every point in space. This means that the camera does not have to focus first before taking a picture. It captures all light vectors.
What does this have to do with high school physics? In short, all of these ideas are also taught in high school physics. There are traditional labs that have been used for decades. Then students generate a lab report and move on to the next chapter. Where is the creativity and culture in that experience? What if students produced a portfolio of photographs that display their understanding of optics? Think about how meaningful that kind of experience would be to the student. So again, I propose that there be an option provided to students where they can be afforded an integrated Physics course that fosters CRT. One way of doing this, is to introduce physics through the lens of photography.
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