Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Going Digital!

It isn't my week to post, but I would like to document this trial and error proposal as I go. This class has made me think of ways my students can use technology. I would like for my students to be able to learn something that they will definitely be able to use in their future. Since my students are not planning on a college career, that tool should be one that can be used in everyone’s home. That is why I have come up with the idea of photographs. We all take them, we all love them. So if my students can learn how to take digital photographs, how to modify them in a computer program, and how to print them out, it will be useful their whole lives. So the plan is to take my students to the park on Thursday afternoon armed with at least two or more digital cameras. There will have to be a lot of sharing, but the idea is for them to take photos of nature. Nature can consist of plants, and animals. It should be interesting to see what kinds of "nature" they choose to shoot. I want to be able to help them to use their photographs in photo shop in the school computer lab next week. I will be learning how to do the different changes this weekend, and will be teaching them as I learn. The end result will hopefully be a nice photo book for them to give to their parents, or a friend. It would be great if some of our pictures actually ended up in this year’s yearbook. I will be talking to the yearbook advisor about this after I see what type of photos we come back with. Wish me luck, this could be tricky. Their idea of nature could be each other.

6 comments:

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  2. This sounds like a fun activity that they might enjoy! My only fear, is that while at they are at the park taking photos, they will grow bored having to share cameras...unless they can take pictures of each other in nature? I would see if you could get more cameras...

    I would even take it a step further, by having your students take different types of photos, close-ups, landscapes, etc. It would be interesting to see their views of what they choose to take close-ups of.

    Have fun!

    Don't forget to give them a lesson on how to use the camera first! :)

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  3. I think your idea is innovative and will stimulate a lot of interest in your students. If you don't have enough cameras, students could work in pairs, helping each other decide on the "perfect" nature picture to take. Perhaps, too, you could give them a specific task to accomplish, as Heather suggests, i.e. landscapes, leaves, bugs, etc.

    Anyway, this activity is a good one for getting the students outdoors, appreciating the world around them, and generally looking at nature (and perhaps learning about it, too). I bet they will love their photo albums when they are done. I wish you luck, though I don't think you'll need it. Your enthusiasm will rub off on the students, and they will develop a hobby in the process.

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  4. What a great idea! You are giving these children a tool that they can use for the rest of their lives. You are also teaching them that there are things around them that should be appreciated.

    This idea of yours could be an open door into another world of what these kids can accomplish. Their parents would certainly appreciate the interest and effort that you have put forth for your students.

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  5. Tari do you have two blogs for this class?!!

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