Chapter 7 Reflection

Reflect on ways to integrate digital images into your classroom.

A picture is worth a thousand words: a phrase we are all far more than familiar with. This is extremely true within the realms of education. Pictures can allow students to experience countries they will never see, food they will never eat, and art they could never fathom.
Within the classroom, digital images are a fantastic tool. With ever increasing usage of power point, overhead projections, and even individual computer use, digital images are easily and cost-effectively displayed. One picture can be used within a power point in order to give the entire classroom a better look into what is being taught. For instance, if a classroom was working on identifying different types of sharks, displaying a power point with a digital image of each different species of shark would benefit the learning experience. Then, come test time, a student could be tested on matching picture to description so as to incorporate more sections of the brain in learning.
Digital images can also be used through the use of camera scavenger hunts, of web graphs, or even CD ROMs. Give a student a project to procure their own digital image. This will increase creativity in addition to a solid understanding of the subject being taught. Or, design a web graphs that would assist students in connecting abstract concepts or even creating food chains to demonstrate the complexity of the universe around us. Lastly, interactive CD-ROMs make learning more fun and visually appealing. As you can see, digital images can greatly enhance learning in and out of the classroom.