SLO's / Reflection
Student Learning Outcomes
SLO 1: Written Communication
Outcome: Analyze and compose writing that effectively conveys ideas to academic audiences.
Reflection: Through this project, I learned to write clearly about complex photography concepts while maintaining academic voice. I analyzed primary sources (Berger, Bodurka) and synthesized their ideas to explain photography's cultural significance. Writing definitions for photography terminology helped me practice precision and clarity—essential for academic audiences.
SLO 2: Critical Analysis
Outcome: Examine and interpret texts, ideas, and information to develop informed perspectives.
Reflection: I critically analyzed how photography functions as visual language within a community. By examining community values (creativity, storytelling, technical skill), I developed a deeper understanding of how photographers communicate meaning beyond words. The research on sources like National Geographic and academic journals helped me recognize different forms of photographic discourse.
SLO 3: Engagement with Communities of Practice
Outcome: Understand how ideas are created, shared, and refined within professional communities.
Reflection: This project taught me how photography communities operate—through feedback, collaboration, and shared technical language. I learned that being part of a discourse community means not just producing work, but actively engaging with others' ideas, asking critical questions, and contributing to collective learning. The photography community exemplifies how professionals build shared knowledge.
Key Takeaways
- Photography is both art and technical skill—community discourse balances both dimensions
- Terminology matters; shared language allows communities to communicate complexity precisely
- Communities thrive on collaboration, feedback, and mutual support—not competition
- Academic sources and social media play different but equally important roles in professional communities
- Analyzing a real community taught me more about writing and communication than any abstract lesson could