I love digital photography and teaching children!! This blog is going to be all about ways that I can combine my two passions. Here's a little of why I chose this as my area of interest:
I have so much fun being able to take endless pictures and not worrying about whether or not I should take so many! Here's what I mean: I went on a two week tour of Europe back in the summer of 1997...way before I had a digital camera. I had to keep up with film, worry about running out of film, and constantly think "is this shot really film worthy"?? Because of course when you come back, you also have to go to the expense of having that film developed to see if it turned out or not. What a bunch of worry and hassle! I came back from visiting France, Switzerland, and Italy and had 200 pictures and after waiting a week to have them developed not all of them turned out so well. Now enter the digital camera....taaadaaaa! My world has changed! Now I could go on a two HOUR trip to the beach and come home with OVER 200 photos and not bat an eye lash!! Why? Because it's free and there's that whole instant gratification thing. Right away I know whether or not I should try the shot from a different angle, or if my subject blinked, or if there's a funky shadow. Then when I get home I can IMMEDIATELY download them to my computer to view on a large screen. I can pick and choose the ones I want to keep and not have to spend any money on developing a photo that I don't absolutely love! I also enjoy the ease of editing the photos, organizing them on my computer, and turning them into slide shows to share with friends and family.
Not only do I love digital photography as a personal hobby, but I also love it as a teacher. I am constantly taking photos of my students when they are doing fun projects, have made adorable artwork, or are having fun at a classroom party or field trip. I made a slide show of their field trip to the Diamond D Ranch last fall and they loved it (see below). We used it as a writing prompt as well (no more I can't remember!!). Now I am working on ways to get them involved in taking photos, too. It's been a lot of fun!
I'm looking forward to using this course and blog to learn and share more about digital photography and how it can relate to education, specifically the education of primary aged children like my own first graders. I think one of the things that helps them to learn most is being able to connect concepts to the real world and digital photography is a great way to do that. So here we go!!
Sabrina :o)
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4 comments:
Hi Sabrina! I love your idea of incorperating digital photography into the classroom! I, too, love to take pictures, so I can see where your passion for photography comes from and how rewarding of an experience it will be for your students as well, particularly for the age group of students you teach. It's a great way for students to take the information and make a connection to it. Great idea!
I have always wanted to incorperate digital photography into my classroom as well, but have never had the resources to do so. I'm curious to know, does your school provide digital cameras for your students to use, or do you provide those? Also, does your school have the software your students would need if they wanted to upload photos and make slidshows? Just a thought. That has been the restriction for me and my thoughts of creating any sort of lesson that dealt with digital photography.
You have a great area of study Sabrina and I'm really looking forward to reading your future posts.
Jenn
Hi Sabrina,
I am also a picture-taker! I have used photography in the classroom for several years now. We usually do a culminating PowerPoint of something at the end of the year.
I was also in the Digital Photography class...I think you said you were. I really wished we could have shared our pictures more. Anyways, I hope to be able to share some tips and things with you that I use at my school as well as hearing a lot of your ideas too! Glad to be in a group with you again! We're destined to be colleagues! :)
Annette
Hey Jenn!
My school does not REALLY provide the resources. I am one of about ten teachers that are part of the Microsoft Peer Coaching program, so I got a laptop, digital camera, and laser projector to use in my classroom. Otherwise, our school owns two cameras that our technology teacher loans out OR you can use your own camera. So that DOES become a barrier for most teachers. As far as programs, I usually just use Microsoft Picture and Scanner Wizard to upload my pictures (it pops us when you plug your camera/memory disk to your computer) to the My Pictures folder on my computer. Then it is really easy to find them for use in Power Point...or my favorite program for slide shows is MS PhotoStory which is a free download from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx
If you are interested I have some slide shows on how to do these things and also some SIMPLE lesson plans that I would be happy to email you (created for my digital photography class). It is really more doable than it sounds. :-)
Sabrina
Hey Annette!
I am so looking forward to working and learning with you, as well. I look forward to your tips!!!
Sabrina
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