Cassandra Volpe Horii is the Associate Vice Provost for Education at Stanford and co-author of an innovative book on teaching through photographs. Martin Springborg, the Interim Dean of Liberal Arts and STEM at Dakota County Technical College, also contributed to this work. Together, they discuss how documentary photography can transform teaching practices, revealing the emotional depths of learning environments. They emphasize the importance of personalized classroom spaces, reflection in education, and the insights gained from visual documentation.
The collaboration between students and instructors through documentary photography projects can significantly enhance engagement and understanding in higher education classrooms.
Authentic representations of classroom interactions through photography reveal the complexity of learning environments, promoting a richer understanding of educational dynamics.
Deep dives
Collaborative Educational Projects
A significant insight from the discussion involves the creation of collaborative projects that engage both instructors and students. The initiative began when a teacher sought to break the monotony of traditional teaching, leading them to collaborate with students on a documentary photography project. This unique approach allowed both parties to share their experiences in higher education and fostered a deeper understanding of the teaching and learning dynamic. The success of this project not only rekindled the teacher's passion but also highlighted the potential of such collaborations to enhance engagement in the classroom.
Visual Representation of Learning
The podcast emphasizes the lack of visual media representing teaching and learning in higher education, exposing a gap in documenting classroom experiences. The guests conveyed how traditional images often failed to capture the complexity and emotional depth present in educational settings—showing only polished, staged moments rather than the authentic struggles and breakthroughs. By photographing actual classroom interactions, the project found new ways to illustrate the diverse emotional landscape of learning, thereby providing a more holistic view of the educational process. This visual narrative aids in creating a stronger connection to the teaching practices and the environments in which they occur.
Intentional Design of Learning Spaces
The conversation highlights the importance of thoughtfully designed learning environments that reflect real-world applications. Insights were shared about how physical and technological spaces can either hinder or enhance active learning experiences. By observing various classroom setups, the guests noted that students often personalize their environments, enabling engagement even in traditional lecture settings. This led to a call for educators to be more intentional in their spatial choices, ensuring that the design of learning spaces aligns with the learning outcomes and the dynamics they wish to foster.
In episode 8 of Social Learning Amplified, Eric Mazur invites Cassandra Volpe Horii and Martin Springborg to talk about their newest book, What Teaching Looks Like: Higher Education through Photographs. Eric, Cassandra, and Martin discuss what photographs of different learning environments can teach us.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode