Using Photography as a Teaching Tool
Students today are growing up in a digital world. They want and need to be challenged by new and interesting ventures. As educators, parents, or just friends it is our job to ensure that students are receiving the best possible education. If a child is interested in an assignment or task they are much more willing to accomplish a goal or learn a new concept. Children of all ages are intrigued by cameras whether they are taking the photograph or having their photograph taken. They enjoy the instant joy of seeing their work appear on a small screen.
So much of a child's interaction with the world occurs through a screen- television and computer- why not a camera screen? While using a camera they students are deciding what is important, and how it should be presented to the world. They are in charge of what a picture should look like or if something should even be photographed. Whenever they watch television or concentrate on the computer they are almost always viewing someone else's interpretation. Parents often complain about the amount of time that their children spend watching television or "surfing" the web, yet they rarely provide them with other options. Photography is another option. There are photographic opportunities at every step whether it be indoors or outdoors. All they need is a camera and their imagination.
There are many resources available for classroom teachers. The Internet has a wealth of information ready to be shared with one another. The following websites contain many useful lesson plans to encourage students to use digital photography in the classroom. These plans are just a starting point, use them for ideas and make them your own. A big concern for many teachers is the cost of purchasing the cameras for their classroom. Keep in mind that there is money to be found out there. Apply for educational grants, ask your principal to purchase a classroom set of cameras for use by the whole school, have a fundraiser, ask for donations from the community, etc. There are many options. The most important goal is to have fun and spike the students' interest in photography.
So much of a child's interaction with the world occurs through a screen- television and computer- why not a camera screen? While using a camera they students are deciding what is important, and how it should be presented to the world. They are in charge of what a picture should look like or if something should even be photographed. Whenever they watch television or concentrate on the computer they are almost always viewing someone else's interpretation. Parents often complain about the amount of time that their children spend watching television or "surfing" the web, yet they rarely provide them with other options. Photography is another option. There are photographic opportunities at every step whether it be indoors or outdoors. All they need is a camera and their imagination.
There are many resources available for classroom teachers. The Internet has a wealth of information ready to be shared with one another. The following websites contain many useful lesson plans to encourage students to use digital photography in the classroom. These plans are just a starting point, use them for ideas and make them your own. A big concern for many teachers is the cost of purchasing the cameras for their classroom. Keep in mind that there is money to be found out there. Apply for educational grants, ask your principal to purchase a classroom set of cameras for use by the whole school, have a fundraiser, ask for donations from the community, etc. There are many options. The most important goal is to have fun and spike the students' interest in photography.
Sample Photography Lesson Plans
http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/~acody/digi1.html
http://lessonplancentral.com/lessons/Art/Photography/index.htm
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?_kk=photography+lesson+plans&_kt=91b58e55-c824-41c4-85d0-cc9e499ab5ee&gclid=CLOZ4ffUyqgCFYrs7Qod4kpcQw&keywords=photography&media=lesson
http://www.classroomtech.org/digitalphotography/classroomphoto.htm
http://lessonplancentral.com/lessons/Art/Photography/index.htm
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?_kk=photography+lesson+plans&_kt=91b58e55-c824-41c4-85d0-cc9e499ab5ee&gclid=CLOZ4ffUyqgCFYrs7Qod4kpcQw&keywords=photography&media=lesson
http://www.classroomtech.org/digitalphotography/classroomphoto.htm
