Digital Photos

I haven't posted in a while because the end of the 3rd 9 weeks was not kind to me -- too much grading in too little time.  A brutal 3rd 9 weeks was followed by a super spring break so all is forgiven.  

Just before spring break, I was asked to proofread/advise on a book about technology integration so, naturally, I said yes.  Now I do not get paid for helping with this book, but I do get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the tools, tips, and techniques the author(s) intend to share.  Also, this is a blind review so I do not know the authors' names and I do not have any publication data (because the book has not been published yet) so I will have to come back and cite my sources at another time.

That being said, let's talk about pictures!

I like pictures.  In fact, I took a picture of a six-toed cat at the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum on spring break (the cat's name is Daisy, by the way).  If you are new to this planet you should know that kids take pictures of everything: what they eat, what they wear, what they are doing. They make goofy duck-faces; pose like models; and Tweet, Flickr, and/or Instagram their pictures to the world (with filters and dog faces of course).

When it comes to technology, kids are masters of distraction.  We need to be the ones to teach them to use technology in productive ways.  So, I stole some ideas from this book I am reading and present them to you.  Side note: I would recommend using Google Images for digital image searches because most everyone is familiar with it.

Math: From the authors: "[h]ave students read an explanation of what it means if a quadratic function has no real solutions, one real solution, or two real solutions."  Send your students on a hunt to find pictures symbolizing or representing these solutions. Take it to the next level by having your kids explain how/why this image is appropriate.

Social Studies: Use the Gale resources located in our very own library (Hoover High School) to find an article on the Dust Bowl, or the different types of government, or whatever.  Read the article with the class and have students find digital photos to improve their understanding on the topic.  Again, take it to the next level by having your kids explain how/why this image is appropriate.

English: Give students a short story with no images.  Have the students search for images to help other readers better understand the story.  Again, take it to the next level by having your kids explain how/why this image is appropriate.

All of these ideas could easily be incorporated into lessons you already have.  And, of course, you can twist and mold any of these ideas to fit the needs of your students.  Shoot, you could even have kids draw images (like with crayons and stuff) just like our ancestors did in the olden days.

Go find some pictures!