M3U5A1: Mobile Learning

Why do I need one or multiple mobile/tablet device(s) in my early learning classroom?

The Digital Camera - The invaluable tool in the early childhood classroom, answers this question.

A digital camera is a tool for creative teaching in the early childhood classroom. There are many uses for a digital camera in contributing to the early learning environment. Digital cameras can be used as a tool in:

1.    Organizing the classroom

In a preschool classroom, digital photos can be used to label bins and storage spaces so that children have a visual representation of where things belong. These labels should also be accompanied by the written word for the item(s), as a means to enhance their literacy skills. Photos of the children can be used for labeling cubbies, job charts, daily schedules and for various art projects.

These are examples of photo labels that are used in my early learning classroom.

2.  For projects

The use of digital photos can also be used in classroom projects, such as when making a classroom book. One such project is making a classroom book based on ‘Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?’ by Bill Martin (Author), Eric Carle (Illustrator). Teachers can photograph each student in the classroom wearing different color clothes. Teachers then print the pictures and put one picture on each page of the classroom book. With the help of teachers, each student can have the opportunity to be the author of a page of the book.

For example:

Mary is wearing pink,

Give us a wink.

John is wearing yellow,

Give us a big hello.

They can write about themselves and the book can be titled ‘We like colors’. The students will enjoy seeing themselves and at the same time learn to read the pages over and over again, improving their literacy skills. Here are examples from a book made in my early learning classroom.

3.     In documenting student’s learning experiences

Teachers can photograph each experience, print the pictures or use the pictures as a means to communicate with the students’ families to illustrate activities that happen during classroom time. Families love to see pictures of their children engaged in activities.

For example, teachers can photograph experiments that take place in the classroom, and then display them along with documentation on children’s predictions and reactions to the activity. Teachers can also post photos from field trips or other special events on a school bulletin board. It is a wonderful visual communication tool to use with families.

These animal masks (using faces of students) were made after our field trip visit to the zoo.

4.  Allowing students to actually use a camera by themselves is a wonderful learning experience. Not only will they be learning how to use the technology first-hand, but allowing students to take photos themselves teaches them about the art of photography.  By allowing young learners to experiment with technology in this way enhances their overall learning environment.

 

For example, in a photography and color activity, teachers can send students to go around the school with an IPad photographing all objects that are blue.

Guiding principles for using the digital camera in the classroom

 ·     Learn about your digital camera on your Smartphone or on the IPad

Take time to learn and practise, so that you can take full advantage of the various things it

can do

·      Be prepared

Make sure that the batteries are regularly charged and images are downloaded from the

memory card onto your computer’s hard drive

·      Organize your photos

Learn to manage your photos on your computer to save time when you review, organize,

use and print your photos

·      Back up your images

Copy digital photos to a CD, DVD, memory stick, and external hard drive or onto your Cloud

on a regular basis, before your computer crashes or before you accidentally delete a picture

·      Show the learning in action

Zoom in to capture details of a scene or an expression. Zoom out to show interactions

between children. Add comments to help people understand what the students are learning

·      Get written permission

Ask parents or guardians to complete written consent forms, explaining how children’s

images will be used, that give permission to take and use photo images of children and their

work

References:

(Accessed on 23 March 2015)

http://tyc.naeyc.org/articles/digital/pdf/digital.pdf

http://www.examiner.com/article/using-a-digital-camera-the-early-childhood-classroom