Visual Communication Design feedback, Wesley College
Student Jason Moore with some of his cityscapes.
Student James Hodgins with a 'stereotype' photograph of himself.
Wesley College Visual Communication Design student Paul Lee, who has an interest in photo-journalism, says the course has greatly increased his confidence in photography.
Wesley College teacher Cliff Woodroofe says a photography context is a good match with the new Visual Communication Design course.
Mr Woodroofe said there had been some concern by photography teachers, including himself, that the existing Visual Communication-Photography (CAF) course wouldn't have a place as part of the 50 new Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) courses.
"I undertook action research for the new Visual Communication Design course because I wanted to make the photography context work- and it did," Mr Woodroofe said.
"Photography is a combination of art and science and there is a very strong link between the course and both art and design," he said.
"The history and depth of photography lends itself to study of the medium in the context of art. Photography is a universal language and there are lots of parallels with art, particularly in the evolution of art movements.
"The technological shift towards digital photography has resulted in an explosion of interest in photography, rather than a decrease.
"As a school, we made the transition to digital photography six or seven years ago, but we didn't dump traditional, darkroom photography. In fact, students think the practical, darkroom photo development process is magical.
"Unfortunately, time constraints make it difficult to utilise film-based photography in the new course.
"During action research, I found that opportunities for students to create photographs were less overt than in the existing CAF course. Teachers will need to create their own repertoire of photographic opportunities for students because of the absence of photographic content in the course."
Mr Woodroofe said the semiotics content that students learn in the new Visual Communication Design course will also help them with other courses, including English, particularly in literature, and in Media Production and Analysis.
"The course is more about communication and design concepts than it is about technical approaches or the art and science of photography."
Mr Woodroofe said many of his students were following a TEE pathway and often chose photography as their sixth subject, because it was something they thoroughly enjoyed.
He said tasks undertaken throughout the course included communication theory, photographing a 'still life' of personal significance to the student, an exploration of personal identity and exploring and photographing cultural 'stereotypes'.
Student Paul Lee said the theory he learned in the Visual Communication Design course gave him a lot of confidence when shooting photographs.
"Without having an awareness of how to set up photos and recognise the messages contained within the photos, my shots wouldn't have been very good," Paul said.
"The skills I have learned in the course have allowed me to be more precise in taking photos and it has made photography more fun," he said.
Student Jason Moore said the course had too much theory for his liking.
"I don't like planning my photos; I prefer to just take them," Jason said.
Mr Woodroofe said the challenge for both teachers and students in the new course will be communication theory and semiotics in the higher units (2a, 2b, 3a and 3b).
"Units 1a and 1b drew on my knowledge from my own undergraduate studies. In order to assist students reach tertiary entrance in this subject, teachers may need to look closely at their own training and professional development in these areas," he said.
"There is a wealth of material to use, but it is not what photography teachers are used to teaching.
"Teachers preferring the practical aspects of photography may wish to explore the VET alternatives that are now available."
* In the new Visual Communication Design course, students analyse, research, plan and discuss visual communication design, considering how messages are encoded and decoded in specific media and communication contexts.
