In the fall of 2006, FEP established its education program development team, headed by A. D. Coleman and Colleen Thornton. They began in-depth research into visual arts education and mainstream educational trends in "visual literacy". Curriculum and teaching methods designed for grades K-12 used in public schools, museums and cultural institutions in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York City, and Texas are currently under study and the team’s preliminary ‘white paper’ is in preparation.
In looking at a wide variety of "visual literacy" offered to youngsters and young adults, we find most do not directly address the inherent and complex power of photographic communication. Those that feature photography often prefer to focus on the "fun part": taking pictures. This is to be expected since people routinely use cameras to capture every aspect of their daily lives. But what does this ubiquitous documentation mean to young people, especially in the context of the core curriculum they must master, their understanding of the world around them and how history affects them and their futures? How has this invention shaped the course of human affairs across time, from the 19th century into the 21st century? These are big questions that a program in “Photographic Literacy” can help to answer.
What we have discovered so far is that FEP is uniquely positioned to fill this void in the field of "Visual Literacy" education. FEP will endeavor to redress this lapse be creating our own in-house "Photographic Literacy" program that capitalizes on existing curriculum and arts education initiatives. FEP will make use of established best practices in the field. The spirit of the 2001 "No Child Left Behind Act" will be central to our mission.
In the state of Minnesota, where FEP is incorporated, collaborative alliances within the state's education infrastructure and with its nationally recognized fine arts community will be formed. It is envisioned that both pre-packaged and bespoke programs can be developed to support the varying needs of educators, docents, and most importantly, the students.
Our ultimate aim is to develop and deliver an exceptional educational tool that it can be broadly adapted and exported to other places in the USA and abroad.
Beginning in 2007 FEP will seek the necessary funding and programming resources, both locally in Minnesota and at the national level, to support this new educational initiative.
Keep an eye out for periodic updates on the “Photographic Literacy” Program’s development and the coming FEP Research Center.
Your feedback is encouraged, so please contact us with your comments and ideas.
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