Digital+Camera

=__** Digital Camera **__= I learned that there are a lot of key factors that go into choosing a digital camera. Since I will be using the camera mostly inside the classroom, the camera should have a good flash on it. I wouldn't need anything more than a normal zoom that comes on a digital camera since we wouldn't be doing extreme detailed photos. The web page, [|diferentaiating between what digital camera] to purchase really helped brake down the basics of which digital camera you are in need of purchasing. Also, at the bottom of this page, there are links to different camera manufacturers so you can get more details on one specific camera model. Haiving a digital camera avaiable in your classroom as a learning tool is a great thing. By capturing photos of class activities, science projects, exploration activities and so much more you can incorporate the photos into a more detailed lesson. Photos can be used for slideshows, research, comparisons, art projects, and so much more connected with visual learning. Using a camera in the classroom helps engage students in their learning. They feel more involved because they are capturing images of their own learning process and photos engage the mid so much more than just straight lecture or text.

I think that a great camera for classroom use would be the [|Nikon CoolPix S4150]. Nikon is a more well known company for photography and quality. This particular model however is a more basic, everyday use camera verses a more professional end one. This particular camera has 14.0 megapixes which is a good amount for editing and enlarging photos without losing the quality of the image. It has a large, 7.5cm viewing screen which is also a touch screen. I think that incorportaing a touch screen into the camera is good to have because it incorporates a more technologically based use for students to become more familiar with our society's growing technology and working with those products. Although this camera is a more everyday use camera, there are still nineteen different scene modes that you can choose between in order to change effects and appearances in your digital photos. This still gives students practice in taking a whole different range of types of photos. This camera is very user friendly, which is ideal for elementary school children to be working with since they are still learning about all the different things that a camera can create besides just a basic photo. Haivng a camera like or similar to the Nikon CollPix S4150 to use in the classroom would a greatly beneficial learning tool.

There are so many possibilities available for students to be able to use a digital camera in a learning environment. Students can use the camera to recored visually the changes that occur in a science project, like a plant or bacteria growing or different stages through an experiment. The photos from school projects can also be placed into a slideshow for reviewing purposes, photos are more jogging to the memory. Photographs can also be taken of the students working thoughout the school year for parents to be able to see during parent teacher nights. That was they parents get a better visual idea of what their children are partaking in during the school year. Along with that, if the class has a group wiki page or blog to come to with classroom updates, it would be fun to have new pictures posted throughout the year based on projects students have been working on or learning events they have partaken in. It would be fun to have photos of the students themselves with their peers in educational settings on their classroom door or bulletin board, it makes the class feel more comfterable and welcoming to all students. You have to make sure however that each student is portrayed on the board or gets their equal turn being presented. Photographs can also be incorporated into lessons, through social studies and learning about the west, students can each get a photo taken of their face and create their own "Wanted" poster. It would be fun having them create their own reason for being an outlaw in story and then having their picture go along with their writing. Also, along with social studies, students can use their photo to make a passport and they can log each place they visit (learn about) throught out the school year in their passport. For a lower grade in elementary school, photography can be use to crreate a more relateable ABC book or number counting book. Photos of students can also be use for holiday projects like mother's or father's day cards and Christmas presents that are made in class. The teacher can even take pictures before class and use images for students inspiration in writing activiteis. There are endless posibilities to using a digital camera in the classroom and it's a very effective learning tool to use in school!

[|Animal Web Album]