Dissertation
Photographing the Pandemic: Self-Determination, Systems Thinking, and Arts-Based Practices in a Photography-Integrated STEM Afterschool Program
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005148
Abstract
Arts-integrated STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education has long debated the role of the arts within this interdisciplinary approach: does arts-integration solely serve STEM outcomes, or can it also benefit the arts? This study explored one approach – photography-integrated STEM – that equally balances art concepts around photography, storytelling, and visual thinking with STEM concepts around COVID disease science and systems thinking. Over the course of seven weeks, I and a team of facilitators implemented a photography-integrated STEM afterschool program in a rural housing development in central Washington with 19 youth (ages 7-11). I asked how youth exhibited self-determination, systems thinking, and arts-based practices in the context of this photography-integrated STEM program. This study used a qualitative methodology influenced by design-based research, ethnography, photovoice, and grounded theory. Informed by my analysis of field notes, audio recordings, and youth art, I use an analytic art show to demonstrate how youth transformed photography-integrated STEM activity through acts of self-determination. As a result of self-determination, youth created expansive possibilities for learning with regard to visual literacy and systems thinking. I propose a relationship between systems thinking and visual literacy and suggest future research into both this potential complementarity and self-determination in diverse learning environments.
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Details
- Title
- Photographing the Pandemic
- Creators
- Elizabeth Grace
- Contributors
- Molly L Kelton (Advisor)Andy R Cavagnetto (Committee Member)John Lupinacci (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Teaching and Learning, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 224
- Identifiers
- 99901019233101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation