burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Whenever I teach or train, one of the first things I explain is the Pareto Optimality, or 80/20 rule. Then, unapologetically, I tell my students that I teach to the top 20% of the class. The rest can strive to be in it.

MOST teenagers will never care to "get" the concepts behind the exposure triangle, signal-to-noise ratio, dynamic range, inverse square law, color temperature and white balance, the color temperatures of various light sources, discontinuous spectra, hue, saturation, lightness, sharpness, and many of the other finer technical points of photography... at least to the point of using them in a controlled manner on a daily basis.

MOST teenagers just want to "take pictures" rather than "make photographs." But a few of them WILL get it. They'll realize that if they learn to control the variables, they can control the outcome of nearly any photographic situation, so it IS worth learning that "complicated stuff."

That is why I think it is worth exploring the limits of smart phone photography, first, and then moving on to the "harder stuff." When they see and feel the control they have, and the qualities they can get by choosing aperture, shutter speed, focal length, and all the other settings, they start to get it.

When explaining controls, it's important to manipulate one variable at a time, to understand its effect on the image. Exercises need to be designed to SHOW these effects.

I like to remind students that everyone had an uproar of indignation when the Chicago Sun Times fired its Pulitzer Prize-winning photography staff and gave all their reporters iPhones. But you know, drastic and unfortunately cruel as that was, it was a smart business move. Newspapers are shrinking rapidly, and that aging, prestigious photo staff was expensive.

Photography has been democratized. Everyone with a smart phone is a photographer of sorts. Photography has become just a convenient, pervasive, and ubiquitous visual language.

Our kids or grandkids live in a world where not just reading and writing, but photography, videography, and audio recording are essential, along with email, text messaging, and social media usage. The smart phone is the immediate access clearing house for ALL of that activity. So versatility and flexibility are at least augmenting, if not supplanting, specialization — in some areas of life.

If those reporters can learn to take good photos with their iPhones, a few of them will graduate to better cameras, and eventually pick up the dSLRs left behind by the long-departed pros.

fdoyle3 Loc: Glenolden Pa.

I found out the local high school was starting a photography class I donated several cameras lenses and lab equipment to them!

Jana-TAS Loc: Washington

If the school is expecting that of you there is no way for each & every student to have expensive cameras if they want the best for them. If they do the School District themselves is going to have to make the effort. I would first start educating them in the classroom on how to work with digital photography then when there is the interest (if there truly is) when weather is better near end of winter when Spring migration is happening then get them outdoors for nature photography. Like it was said above most are taking photos with their phones so unless there is the true interest it's really not necessary for the educators to make the schools to spend the money but just only do 1 or 2 for the school and just for the kids to share. Then just educating them on how to edit the photos using the photoshop after taking the pictures.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

I wanted to update this thread.

It is rare that we encounter unsolicited acts of true kindness and charity in today's society. But I have encountered such a member here on UHH who is both kind and generous.

After reading this thread he sent me a PM with info that he wanted to donate a Canon Xsi and TWO lenses to our photography class! I sent him the needed info (my name and school address) and low and behold the camera, 2 lenses, 32gb SD card, 2 batteries, a related DVD, an "Xsi for Dummies" book, software, boxes and strap were waiting on my desk first thing this morning!!!! :D

This kind gentleman's user name here on UHH is "redelk". I and my school are truly touched and grateful for his true act of kindness. Thank you SO much Ted!

Paul

RRRoger Loc: Monterey Bay, California

Ask Canon, I am sure they or their dealers will supply the cameras.

This is exactly why there are so many Canon Rebel Cameras.
Every new buyer sees them everywhere and no one who buys one knows better because they never tried anything else.