More and more we are finding teachers using digital cameras in the classroom to aid them in instructional methods. Digital cameras offer a variety in lesson plans and student participation. No longer are prints taken and then sent off to be developed with hopes that most will come back clear and usable. Now, prints are shown immediately, easily manipulated and only quality photos are printed. This makes including digital cameras into lesson plans fun and gives the teacher and students a chance to express a different level of creativity.
Students are benefiting from the use of digital cameras because they love to take pictures of themselves! It is this factor that makes lesson plans more intimate. Students are able to add graphics right on the camera, which saves them the trouble of scanning and then editing. This promotes time management and efficiency. Students can witness first hand the ease and lack of waste when printing their own photos.
With every new advancement, however, there are some concerns with using a digital camera in the classroom. First, is that they cost money and students need to have a clear understanding at the appropriate and inappropriate uses. It is suggested that the teacher organize a sort of training program for the students where they are taught exactly how to use it, what is expected of them and what will be considered inappropriate. The teacher may decide to test the students on the information and once they have passed they may then begin using the camera. Second, teachers should always be careful when taking pictures of students. Proper permission slips need to be filled out and kept on record. Some parents will strongly object to their child's photo being taken and it is the teachers job to know and appreciate those wishes.
There are a few suggestions offered to teachers in regard to bringing the digital camera into the classroom. First, don't be scared. It is no secret that in this day and age technology can be intimidating. If you are worried about your knowledge you can ask a student to help you. This will make them feel like an important part of the learning process. Second, start slowly. Introduce the camera much before you plan on incorporating it into a specific lesson plan. This will allow time for the students to get used to it and may prevent some experimental goofing around when it comes time for instructional use.
This article provided many different ways to incorporate the use of digital cameras into lesson plans. I am citing a couple of those examples below.
1. Give students a portion of a digital picture and have them guess what the picture is of. A great site with examples of this is: http://takeacloserlook.homestead.com/ - Paula Fleischer, Peachland Elementary.
2. Give students a list of items to look for in the classroom or in the school. They must take pictures and compile a presentation (slide show, web page, etc.) of the things they found during their scavenger hunt to prove they found them all.
3. Photograph places in the community (parks, libraries, etc.). Have students compile reports to go with the photographs and print a brochure about their community.
4. Take pictures during the day to give a photographic record of classroom procedures. Print the pictures out and post them so students can review the procedures as needed.
5. Have each kindergartner choose a letter. Then, go on a walk around the school or in the neighborhood. When the child finds something that begins with that letter, take a picture of the child with that object. Use the pictures to create a class alphabet chart.
I encourage everyone to check out www.wacona.com/digicam/digicam. There are many more wonderful ideas for incorporating a digital camera into your lesson plans!
13 comments:
Good job group 5~! You guys shared a lot of information. I liked the digital camera lesson plan section; basically five steps to help. I really like how you gave the links to use, so we can check it out ourselves. I just have one concern. I like how you break your paragraphs up, but maybe-just a suggestion-you could write headlines for each paragraph. That way we can read the headline and know what you are going to be talking about right away:) But overall, the blog looks very well done and the pic. is cute---Lindsay Boyer
I glad that your article pointed out that fact that you need permission slips before you take students pictures. Even though the cost of a digtal camera is a little high, it is still cheaper in the long run than having to develope film also a lot easier. Taking pictures in the classroom really allows a child to get involved in the lesson. Great job
I htought your article was very informative. I really liked the 5 steps to help incorporate digital cameras into your lesson plans. I also liked the links you provided at the end showing great examples! Over all I think the lay out of your blog is great and is very easy to follow.
I enjoyed reading your article. You made a great point about testing the students about digital cameras first before they get to use them. Also, I enjoyed the different ideas of how to use digital photography in the classroom, such as giving kindergarteners a camera and having them take pictures of words beginning with certain letters.
I really liked the idea of having children take the camera and walk around and take pictures of different places where they may find the letter they are learning about. This is a very neat idea and would be allot of fun. This will be something I will use in my classroom. I am learning so many fun and new ideas about different things to use in the classroom.
oh goody. I loved that this blog informed me on the steps a teacher should take when teaching something on or has something to do with digital cameras. Although they are exciting and easy to handle, they can also bring conflict when handled wrong. So its important that we as future teachers know this information and this blog clarified that for me.
I like how your article said to introduce the digital camera before a teacher actually wants to use it in a certain lesson plan so students can familiarize themselves with the camera. I thought this was a very interesting and helpful point. This would prevent some mishaps with the camera and maybe the students will not feel the need to be silly with the camera.
Great job! Your guys had a lot of really good information. I like how you broke it down and provided ways for cameras to be included in lesson plans. I also liked how in your post you made it clear that students should know how to use cameras as well as you can't just take pictures, without the consent of people! I enjoyed reading your article!
Great job! I liked how you said that digital photography allows students to "express a different level of creativity." I hadn't thought about it that way before. I also liked how you told about the concerns with using cameras in the classroom. Great job!
Brought up a good point about how digital imagery avoids prints being sent out. Cameras now a days can be easily manipulated. In the classroom students need to be trained before using the camera and sometimes parents do not approve of photos being taken of their child. It brought up real facts about cameras in the classroom.
I thought it was good how you talked about the concerns about using a digital camera in the classroom. The digital cameras can be expensive, and you do have to make sure that the students in your classroom have permisson to have their picture taken. The use of digital cameras have a positive impact on the classroom, but precausions must be take.
Great Job Group Five! I liked how you broke your article up a little bit but it still seemed kind of lenghty. I would just suggest using things like bullets and numbering. I liked that you pointed out the benefits, concerns, suggestions, and lesson ideas! I think you did a really good job and gave a lot of important information! Great Work Team Five!
I thought your blog was very interesting and enjoyed reading everything your group had to say and your oppinions. I really enjoyed the 5 steps you guys gave to use the cameras within the lesson plans. thats a great example to give to our class especially since we all will be doing lesson plans one day! Great job
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