On my Macbook I have started playing around with Iphoto (which includes Piknik) and previously worked on Picassa and a few other image manipulation software.
As I am a huge photo fan I would have nothing but positives for the use of photographs and digital images in the classroom. As shown during an online tutorial, one picture can achieve many different perceptions considering that each individual has had a range of different experiences. As once said "Photos/pictures speak 1000 words." When looking at photos in a classroom environment it is a great way to start a lesson by introducing and image, lets say for a rainforest theme, confronting students with a beautiful lush rainforest and allowing them to talk about what they see and what they feel whilst looking at the image. Then move on to an image that is of a rainforest that has been cleared for wood, land etc and allow the students to see if they can make any links to the previous photo and if now their feelings have changed from the previous image. This allows students, who sometimes are not as great at using their imagination, to picture what is being spoken about and create feelings and knowledge based around what they may previously know about.
In achieving these feelings and linking previous knowledge through the photography, students are able to more easily link that information through their sensory memory through to their working memory. Having that clear image and link, along with the information that follows it makes information easier to retrieve from the long term memory. Knowing from previous experience, I have remembered photos in my life over blocks of text that accompany it. I know that there are many different types of learners but allowing text and visual aides along side the text often intrigue learners to continue reading.
As a learning teacher I enjoy using digital images and photos in every opportunity that I can. It allows students to freely tap into their emotions about a subject and if they are unable to identify the information they can able to see what the teacher is speaking about. Images are a great conversation starter more times then none create a topic to talk about.
SWOT Analysis
| Strengths | Weakness | Opportunity | Threats |
| - - Visual learners achieve greater learning and understanding - - Easily accessible now due to internet resources - - Due to the range of different experiences the perceptions can change therefore sometime creating new knowledge for certain students. | - Students may have different ideas about one different photo which could create confusion and conflict - Images need to be appropriate to the lesson or the idea portrayed | - Ability to explore and feel other countries environments - Adds dimension to information - Allow students to show of their own work | - Teacher not being prepared. - If image not saved image URL may not be available anymore. - I do not really believe there is any threats - Children do not get a chance to |
No comments:
Post a Comment