“Out of the Shadows”: Reflections on Human Trafficking Education Through a Public Pedagogy Project

Human trafficking is globally widespread, however establishing its scope and context remains difficult. With limitations on understanding human trafficking coupled with sensational media portrayals, misperceptions of the problem persist. To that end, a campus wide educational initiative to share survivor stories and offer students a more authentic understanding of human trafficking was developed. An approach driven by the principles of public pedagogy, m-learning, and the use of earned media to support messaging informed project development. Entitled “Out of the Shadows,” the project sought to engage students using unconventional public displays related to human trafficking. In this case, novel presentation of blue figures across the campus space invited curiosity, drove media interest, and encouraged viewers to explore these presentations through integrated m-learning. Project outcomes, limitations, and the viability for this approach for criminal justice education are considered.