Eleventh week

I have always wondered how I can exploit my knowledge of photography to teach students. Thus I would like to reflect on this. I have found some important points in the internet.

Five Reasons to Teach Digital Photography

An increasing number of teachers are introducing digital photography into the classroom because it provides hands-on lessons in a subject with real-world applications.

There are a plethora of reasons for integrating digital photography into daily curriculum, with the top five being:

1. Digital photography helps teach fundamental decision-making skills. Once students get their hands on a camera they must make conscious decisions in regards to lighting, angles, subject matter and a host of other factors.
2. Digital photography is the gateway to other artistic endeavors. A student who enjoys taking pictures may also learn to appreciate other forms of art, including painting and architecture. In addition, students who excel at digital photography may also do well with videography and photo editing.
3. Learning the basics of digital photography helps students better understand the media images that they are bombarded with everyday.
4. The benefits of digital photography are not limited to a single subject. Students can use digital cameras to take pictures of ancient artifacts for history class or snap shots of living organisms for science class.
5. Digital photography teaches children about the importance of respecting a variety of objects and subject matters.

Tips for Teaching Digital Photography to Students

Before you start passing around the camera, you might consider showing students samples from photography books. Then, spend a few minutes discussing how the images inspire outstanding photography. Once you introduce the subject matter, you can move on to camera basics and fundamental photo techniques.

Camera Basics

If you are using an elaborate digital camera, consider sticking to the basic features when first introducing the device to students. You don't want to overwhelm children right away. Rather, review the essential parts of the camera and save the more advanced elements for future lessons. Some of the basic lessons to teach include:

• How to hold a camera
• How to turn the camera on and off
• How to insert and remove the camera's memory card
• How to use the viewfinder
• How to snap a photo