Participant-Led Photography as a Mediating Tool in Object-Oriented Learning in a Museum

ABSTRACT

This case study aims to develop a conceptual framework for learning in museums, in which digital photography used as a tool to study museum artifacts constitutes an integral part of participatory practices. Participant-led photography was used to study and analyze how teacher education students (N = 20) used digital cameras as tools in object-oriented learning during museum visits. The content analysis of 753 students’ photographs and photographic episodes from video data of museum visits provided a picture of the ways in which students used their cameras to mediate their relationship with the museum's artifacts and with each other and revealed how the students collectively advanced their understanding of the museum artifacts beyond grasping surface features to involve knowledge-seeking explanations of inquiry questions of their own design. The results encourage educators to trust in students’ agency, ideas, and efforts in creating knowledge around shared objects and to use the technology that students already possess and know.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Henriikka Vartiainen

Henriikka Vartiainen is a student in the Doctoral Programme for Multidisciplinary Research on Learning Environments funded by the Finnish Academy. Her research interests center on design-oriented pedagogy, learning in museums, and learning by collaborative designing. Address correspondence to Henriikka Vartiainen, Philosophical Faculty, School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Savonlinna Campus, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 86, 57101 Savonlinna, Finland. E-mail: [email protected].

Jorma Enkenberg

Jorma Enkenberg is Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Eastern Finland. His recent research interests are object- and design-oriented pedagogy and situated and authentic learning environments.