Click and Click and Construct:Construct:Using Digital Cameras to Using Digital Cameras to Improve Writing SkillsImprove Writing Skills

Doug ProutyDoug Prouty

dprouty@cccoe.k12.ca.usdprouty@cccoe.k12.ca.us

Contra Costa County Office of EducationContra Costa County Office of Education

AgendaAgenda Why the camera in Why the camera in

the writing process?the writing process?

Ideas for the writing Ideas for the writing processprocess

SamplesSamples

Managing the Managing the camera in the camera in the classroomclassroom

Digital camera tips, Digital camera tips, tricks and resourcestricks and resources

Why the Camera?Why the Camera? Ease of use by studentsEase of use by students Instant Feedback/GratificationInstant Feedback/Gratification Students are visual Students are visual

- motivated to write about what they see - motivated to write about what they see and capture with a cameraand capture with a camera

Research shows that student Research shows that student writing improves through writing writing improves through writing often. often. Take a picture each day and write Take a picture each day and write Writing about images that are importantWriting about images that are important

Why the Camera?Why the Camera?

Reluctant writers Reluctant writers overwhelmed by the whole writing processoverwhelmed by the whole writing process trouble getting started unless assigned a trouble getting started unless assigned a

topictopic Spark the composing process of writing Spark the composing process of writing Students photograph objects, people, and Students photograph objects, people, and

places that are important to themplaces that are important to them Personal photos can help build risk takers Personal photos can help build risk takers

excited about reading and writing. excited about reading and writing.

Ideas for the Ideas for the Writing ProcessWriting Process

Ideas for the ProcessIdeas for the Process

NewspapersNewspapersReportsReportsFictionFictionLetters to penpalsLetters to penpalsClass booksClass booksAlphabet booksAlphabet books

Ideas for the ProcessIdeas for the Process

Illustrate SequencesIllustrate Sequences Stories, science experiments, Stories, science experiments,

processesprocesses Document Class ActivitiesDocument Class Activities

year-end journals or “scrapbooks”year-end journals or “scrapbooks” Prompt MemoryPrompt Memory

on field trips & during special eventson field trips & during special events

SamplesSamples

umbrella

u

Long Vowels

Short Vowels

a

fan

globe

oa

tape

Vowel/Alphabet BooksVowel/Alphabet Books

1. Gather materials

2. Cut circle at the top.

3. Scoop out the insides.

4. Draw the face.

5. Cut out the eyes.

6. Then the nose and mouth.

7. Put a candle inside and your ready for Halloween.

8. But they don’t keep TOO long! Yuck! That’s really scary!

SequencingSequencing

Career ChoiceCareer Choice

I want to be a doctor when I grow up. I want to help people get better. They have to be smart to make a lot of money. They get to use a lot of neat stuff like a stethoscope and big machines that check your body. I don’t really want to give

shots.

PositionsPositions

Field TripsField Trips

SamplesSamples Autobiographical - Autobiographical - Students make a 3 to Students make a 3 to

4 slide presentation about themselves. 4 slide presentation about themselves. Opposites-Opposites-Take pictures of opposites Take pictures of opposites

such as hot coffee and cold water, such as hot coffee and cold water, Take a picture Take a picture of anything and describe of anything and describe

it in detail - like “I Spy”it in detail - like “I Spy” Create scenes Create scenes to go with a creative to go with a creative

writing story. When publishing the story, writing story. When publishing the story, insert the images as illustrations.insert the images as illustrations.

Write a how to essay Write a how to essay describing how to describing how to do something. Take pictures of each step do something. Take pictures of each step to include in the essay when published.to include in the essay when published.

SamplesSamples Compare/Contrast - Compare/Contrast - Take pictures of two Take pictures of two

objects, people, or places. Make a venn objects, people, or places. Make a venn Diagram Diagram

Adjectives - Adjectives - Take a picture of an everyday Take a picture of an everyday object. What are all the words or phrases you object. What are all the words or phrases you can think of to describe the object?can think of to describe the object?

Everyday objects Everyday objects - personification Take - personification Take pictures of ordinary objects. Write a story or pictures of ordinary objects. Write a story or description of that object using description of that object using personification. personification.

Making Inferences or Deductions Making Inferences or Deductions -Take a -Take a picture such as a boat on the water. Ask picture such as a boat on the water. Ask students what clues they see that tell which students what clues they see that tell which direction the boat is sailingdirection the boat is sailing

SamplesSamples

Early in the school year students Early in the school year students can take pictures of classmates can take pictures of classmates and write biographies. Students and write biographies. Students can use the digital camera to can use the digital camera to photograph classmates posing photograph classmates posing as characters in books they are as characters in books they are creating. creating.

Not so Obvious UsesNot so Obvious Uses

Create “concentration” like Create “concentration” like game with matching photos of game with matching photos of vocabularyvocabulary

Create a story outline of eventsCreate a story outline of events Document characters or settings Document characters or settings

in a storyin a story Capture adjectives (textures, Capture adjectives (textures,

colors, emotions, etc.)colors, emotions, etc.)

Not so ObviousNot so Obvious

Created book about local history Created book about local history Choose 3 random pictures and then Choose 3 random pictures and then

incorporate them into their story.incorporate them into their story. Write an alternate explanation or Write an alternate explanation or

use for an object (ie use a fork to use for an object (ie use a fork to comb)comb)

Extreme close-ups and have Extreme close-ups and have students write about what the object students write about what the object is or the point of view of an antis or the point of view of an ant

FamilyFamily

So do you still think she’s

REALLY cute?

FamilyFamily

Managing the Managing the Camera in the Camera in the

ClassroomClassroom

Rules for Using the Rules for Using the CameraCamera

One pair of hands on the camera at a One pair of hands on the camera at a timetime

Allow each person to have an equal Allow each person to have an equal chancechance

Group knows what it is going to do Group knows what it is going to do before the equipment is usedbefore the equipment is used

Keep the equipment dry and cleanKeep the equipment dry and clean Keep the equipment in its storage case Keep the equipment in its storage case

when not in usewhen not in use Report any malfunction right away Report any malfunction right away Use the neck strap to prevent accidentsUse the neck strap to prevent accidents

Rules for Using the Rules for Using the CameraCamera

Before downloading images from Before downloading images from camera, create a folder called, camera, create a folder called, “originals_project” and put all “originals_project” and put all photos therephotos there

Pull from this folder to edit, but save Pull from this folder to edit, but save edits somewhere else so originals edits somewhere else so originals remain intactremain intact

Remember: just saving, will replace Remember: just saving, will replace the originalthe original

10 Tips for Cameras in the 10 Tips for Cameras in the ClassroomClassroom

Take a photo classTake a photo class Set up rulesSet up rules Manage the imagesManage the images Practice builds confidence Practice builds confidence Know your cameraKnow your camera Action photographs:Action photographs: often produce a often produce a

more natural look. more natural look. Check your cameraCheck your camera maker's web site maker's web site Be digitally safe: Be digitally safe: read and follow read and follow

your school's policies on using student your school's policies on using student photosphotos

By APTE Professional Education Development Group

Digital Camera Digital Camera Tips, Tricks Tips, Tricks and and ResourcesResources

Digital CameraDigital CameraTricks & ResourcesTricks & Resources

Adobe Digital Kids ClubAdobe Digital Kids Clubwww.adobe.com/education/digkiwww.adobe.com/education/digkidsds

Tips and How-TosTips and How-Tos

Importing PicturesImporting Pictures

How to important photos How to important photos into a word processorsinto a word processors

ExamplesExamples MS Word DemoMS Word Demo Kid Pix DemoKid Pix Demo KidspirationKidspiration

Kid PixKid Pix

““India’s spontaneous India’s spontaneous comments, made while comments, made while she added artistic she added artistic embellishments to her embellishments to her photo, reveal an photo, reveal an intense level of intense level of engagement that engagement that provided her with provided her with opportunities for opportunities for learning more about learning more about the letter the letter c.”c.”

Purchasing ResourcesPurchasing Resources

CNET – CNET – www.cnet.comwww.cnet.com Digital Camera Web ResourcesDigital Camera Web Resources

Digital Photography Review - Digital Photography Review - www.dpreview.comwww.dpreview.com

A Complete Guide to Digital A Complete Guide to Digital CamerasCameraswww.shortcourses.comwww.shortcourses.com

BooksBooks

Thanks!Thanks!Doug ProutyDoug Prouty

Contra Costa CountyContra Costa CountyOffice of EducationOffice of Education

CUE Conference CUE Conference 20042004

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