Implementation of

Imaging Technology into Everyday Practice:

Abstract-Environmental Print

 

By Ceil Antes

19 August 2005

 

Problem Statement:

I am teaching preschool next year and have been asked to make much of the curriculum visual to help more learners access the curriculum. Because I use a lot of songs and art to teach content, digital imagery will help me achieve this goal. Digital photography is also a great way to include technology as a “language” to enhance documentation of learning.

Motivation:

I am hoping that with the use of digital technology in early childhood classrooms the material will become more available, interesting, and exciting to all students.

Approach:

I will use digital photography to excite young children about the print that surrounds them. In the past I have done individual “I Can Read” books with children. My goal in the past was to include families in the process of collecting every day print samples that their child could “read”. Some families participated with enthusiasm and some didn't, creating a difficult situation in the classroom. This year, I will start the project at school with the use of digital imagery so that all children have equal access to the curriculum.

For example:

In September, I will begin the digital imagery project. I will introduce the concept of environmental print to the children and show them some examples of signs they can read. Next I will teach them how to use the digital camera and let them take shots of print in the school, on fieldtrips and at home. I will bring the images into a PowerPoint presentation. We will discuss the images and read them. As an extension to the unit, we will create individual “I Can Read” books from the pictures taken on our reading walks.

Results:

I am hoping with the use of digital technology all children will get excited about this long term project and that by the end of the year they have filled their “I Can Read” books and have learned how to use the digital camera.

Conclusion:

I am hoping to use digital imagery in many curriculum areas including:

  1. slide shows for orientation meetings, open house, special education meetings, and graduation.
  2. to create visual picture schedules
  3. to jazz up daily journals
  4. to illustrate directions
  5. to make brochures
  6. student participation in digital portfolio work
  7. to introduce children to software to manipulate photos and scanned art work