Digital Images

This week I have been learning about digital images, podcasts and digital videos. I have discovered that all of these tools are very beneficial for learning because they incorporate multimedia which enhances learning.

For now, let’s focus on digital images. In particular this week I learnt how to resize photos to ensure they can be downloaded onto blogs, wikis and websites. To the right is a digital image of my dog, Millie when she was a puppy. This image has been resized using Mobaphoto.

Digital images can be used in an endless amount of ways in classrooms.

With my teaching areas being English and legal studies I can see myself using digital images in the following ways (to name a few):

·         Book covers for novels covered in class;

·         Exploring ethical/ political issues;

·         Exploring difference;

·         Assignment demonstrations;

·         Photographs taken on class excursions;

·         Demonstrations;

·         Diagrams;

·         Class discussions; and

·         Photo homework exercises.

Here is my PMI analysis of using digital images in the classroom:

Plus

·         Engaging;

·         Can allow for higher order thinking if the activities are well scaffolded;

·         Can incorporate sociocultural theories by considering images from different cultures;

·         Can involve student-centred learning when students create their own images.

Minus

·         Potential stranger danger issues;

·         Can be pointless unless the images are used with good pedagogy.

Interesting

·         Images of people require permission before they are uploaded;

·         Children in images should not be identified online;

·         Images should only be held in secure environments;

·         It is ethical to request student permission before uploading any of their work.