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Visual Sociology and Photography Projects
Visual Sociology and Photography Projects
May 31, 2023

Numerous assignments on TRAILS ask students to make photographs or collect pictures in the form of essays, presentations, or other formats. This resource collection of Visual Sociology and Photography Projects showcases the range of visual sociology projects available on TRAILS. 

A young woman using a camera on a street
Person holding a cardboard sign that reads "will work for food."
Amanda Kennedy
Seeing Social Problems through a Sociological Lens
July 1, 2024
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Medium, Small
Abstract:

This assignment serves as the final project for Introduction to Sociology—asking students to practice the sociological imagination, apply theoretical paradigms, read and summarize sociological research, describe the process of socialization, and examine the impact...

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A close-up of the Pinterest app on a smartphone
Christine McCown
Pinterest and Self Presentation
February 23, 2024
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems, Social Psychology
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100, College 200, College 300, College 400, High School
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This activity utilizes Pinterest not only in an icebreaker activity for helping students build connections (particularly in online courses where the opportunity to interact with classmates is limited), but also to teach about subject specific concepts in an...

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A college classroom
Jerrod Yarosh
Utilizing Padlet to Curate and Integrate Student-Generated Examples
October 6, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Other, Teaching and Learning in Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This teaching practice involves utilizing student generated/curated content as a way to break down and modify the student-instructor relationship and transform it into a co-educational space. Students take the lead (with assistance) creating a collection of...

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Polaroid snapshots of an individual
Michael Buhl
A Visual Presentation of Self: Photo Essays as a tool for teaching Introduction to Sociology at a Public Community College.
April 7, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Children and Youth, Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems, Qualitative Methodology
Resource Type(s):
Assignment, PowerPoint
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This assignment has been utilized in an Intro to Sociology course in an effort for students to better understand how socialization helped to shape their own self/identities. Utilizing arts-based methods, students create a PowerPoint presentation that includes...

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Stephanie Medley-Rath
My Disney Autobiography – A Visual Sociology Project
June 28, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Other
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
This teaching artifact involves students visiting Walt Disney World within the context of an 8-week course. In the assignment, students practice visual sociology and conduct fieldwork observations on site. The course is focused on how our autobiographies are...
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A camera with the world reflected on its lens. The background is of a photographic collage of people.
Carol A Jenkins
Developing a Photographic Essay - Making a Public Statement About a Social Problem or Issue
October 21, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assessment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Each student will develop a photographic essay of a social problem important to the student (a personal, reflective, integrative public statement about a social problem). Essay development enables students to demonstrate the intersection of personal problems and...
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Laura Krull
Group Presentation of a Social Problem: Modification and Adaptation of Matt Reid’s Photo (Visual) Essay of Social Problems
February 21, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assessment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Working in instructor-assigned groups, students collaborate to produce an 8-10 minute presentation in which they use images to present a social problem. The students have previously completed individual photo essays, and now they must synthesize their individual work...
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Roman R. Williams, Kevin R den Dulk
WHERE’S WALDO? USING SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY TO ENGAGE STUDENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
May 8, 2019
Subject Area(s):
Visual Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
What happens when students transform their smartphones from a personal device to a tool for collective learning? In this set of assignments, students use a mobile app that combines photography and oral narration to examine sociological concepts outside the classroom....
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Stephanie Medley-Rath
Seeing Sociology v. 2 (Updated 2017)
August 29, 2017
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This is an updated and revised version of Seeing Sociology (Medley-Rath 2013). In this update, I have revised the instructions so that they are better organized with greater clarification to increase ease of use by instructors and students. In this update, I have...
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Matt Reid
Photo (Visual) Essay of Social Problems
November 29, 2016
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assignment, Essay
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
For this major experiential learning project, students are tasked with creating a photo essay (or an essay which uses some other form of imagery) to illustrate and explicate a social problem in our society. Students are free to pick whatever social problem they want...
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