Aperture On Sight: Teaching Visual Literacy through Photography

About

Over the course of twenty classes, these students strengthened their visual literacy skills by learning how to analyze and interpret images—a cognitive ability that is decidedly valuable in today’s wired world. Aperture’s curriculum expands students’ visual literacy by teaching them to look carefully, articulate ideas using photographic language, and interpret and create meaning through an understanding of form, content, and context. The lessons encourage collaboration and inquiry-based learning so that students may connect personally with photographs made by both their peers and master photographers. These students learn how to visually communicate their ideas, construct and defend their interpretations, create photographs with intention and meaning, and make self-published photobooks that share their stories. It will be the visually literate among us who will be the most effective communicators in the digital age, which is why Aperture Foundation is committed to helping young people strengthen their visual literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills.