Everyday, my fourth grade students document their experiences in the classroom and on the playground with an inexpensive, point-and-shoot digital camera to share them with an authentic audience. I also use a collection of free or inexpensive photo apps to create artwork my classroom.

1. Digital Photography
for Elementary
Classrooms
goo.gl/iCF59P
Trevor Mattea | August 8, 2016
trevormattea.com
@tsmattea

2. Tentative Agenda and Learning
Targets
Tentative Agenda
● Introductions and Framing (15 min.)
● Tips and Etiquette (15 min.)
● Exemplary Student Photography (10 min.)
● Making a Collage on Picasa (15 min.)
● Uploading Photos to Google Plus (5 min. alternative)
● Uploading Videos to YouTube (5 min. alternative)
● Making a Poster on Phoster (10 min. alternative)
● Takeaways, Final Questions, and Raffle (5 min.)
Learning Targets
● I can define digital photography and a classroom camera.
● I can identify hardware necessary to use a classroom camera.
● I can identify tips and etiquette to integrate a classroom camera with classroom
instruction.
● I can identify ways to share exemplary photography.
● I can use a classroom camera.
● I can use Picasa to edit and organize photos and make collages.
● I can support my partners in using a classroom camera and Picasa.

3. Digital Photography for Elementary
Classrooms
● View Slides: goo.gl/iCF59P
● Connect with Workshop Participants: goo.gl/gk6832 ⬅ To Enter the Workshop Raffle
● Give Feedback: goo.gl/tZm7ss
● Access Materials from Other Workshops: goo.gl/amgbB6
● Digital Portfolio: trevormattea.com
● Email: info@trevormattea.com
● Twitter: @tsmattea
● Receive Monthly Newsletter: eepurl.com/bc45zP
● Student Writing Books on Amazon: amzn.com/w/1W0CCF7DD0SK8
● Student Photography Book on Blurb: goo.gl/2DqOVH
#cue | #deeperlearning | #edtech | #futureready | #gafesummit | #pbl

4. Defining Digital Photography
Digital photography is photography, collage,
and poster art created using a digital camera or
computer and tablet applications designed to
teach camera skills, foster creativity, and create
an aesthetically-inspired classroom

5. Defining Classroom Camera
A classroom camera is a digital camera shared
by students in order to capture their first-hand
experiences inside and outside of the
classroom (field trips, read alouds, recess, etc.)
regularly through photo and video

6. Nikon COOLPIX L28
● Features
○ 20.1 Megapixels
○ 720p HD Video
○ 5x Wide Angle Zoom
○ LCD Screen
○ Wrist Strap
○ Tripod Internal Thread
○ 2 AA Batteries
○ Movie Mode
○ Scene Auto Selector
○ Special Scene Modes
○ Glamour Retouch

7. Nikon COOLPIX L28
● Available at Amazon for $148.00

8. SanDisk SDHC 4GB Memory Card
● Available at Amazon for $7.85

9. Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries and MQR06 Charger
● Available on Amazon for $19.95

10. Using the Classroom Camera
● Teach Students How to Use the Camera
○ Turn the Camera On/Off
○ Replace the AA Batteries and SD Card
○ Take a Photo
○ Delete a Photo
○ Record a Movie
○ View Photos and Movies
○ Zoom In/Out
○ Turn the Flash On/Off
○ Change Special Scene Modes
○ Turn the Silent Mode On/Off
○ Use the Help Button

11. Using the Classroom Camera

12. Using the Classroom Camera

13. Etiquette
Being a good photographer means acting
responsibly!
● Wear the wrist strap to avoid dropping the
camera
● Ask permission before you photograph
someone
● If a someone asks you to delete a photo of
him/her, delete it
● Make sure your photography doesn’t distract
from schoolwork

14. Tips
Taking good photos and videos means experimenting!
● Use the camera frequently
● Test the different camera modes
● Take the same photo more than once
○ At different heights and angles
○ With and without the flash
○ With different camera modes
More Advice for Photos
● Use “leading lines”
● Use the “rule of thirds”
● Mike Browne’s YouTube Channel
More Advice for Videos
● Hold your hand steady
● Zoom in your subject before you record
● Record for at least a few seconds

15. Leading Lines

16. The Rule of Thirds

17. Exemplary Student Photography
I want my students to carry around pictures in their head of
quality work. It's not enough to make a list, a rubric, what
makes a good essay or a good science experiment. This is
an important step, but it doesn't leave a picture, a vision,
and inspiration. ... I want my students specifically to write a
strong essay, to design a strong experiment, I need to
show them what a great essay or experiment looks like. We
need to admire models, find inspiration in them, analyze
their strengths and weaknesses. We need to figure out
together what it is that makes this work strong.
-- Ron Berger, An Ethic of Excellence (2003)

18. Jellyfish

19. Monkey Bars

20. Big Inflatable Ball

21. Can You Guess What This Is?

22. Photography in the Classroom
● Post tips and etiquette
● Post information about camera modes
● Post exemplary student photography
○ With different heights and angles
○ With and without the flash
○ With different camera modes
○ With “leading lines”
○ With the “rule of thirds”

23. Exemplary Student Photos/Videos
● Photo of the Week
● Classroom Walls
● Digital Portfolios
● Student Store
● Social Media
○ Google+
○ YouTube
○ Twitter

24. Exemplary Student Photos
● Rule of Thirds
○ Rope and Person on
Vertical Third Lines
● Unusual Point of View
○ Through an Object

25. Exemplary Student Photos
Classroom Walls

26. Exemplary Student Photos
Teacher Digital Portfolio

27. Exemplary Student Photos
Student Digital Portfolio

28. Frames for Student Photos/Videos
I think this photograph is important enough to
include in my digital portfolio because _____. I
would call it, “_____.” It is a photograph of
_____. Something about using the classroom
camera that is easy for me is _____.
Something about using the classroom camera
that is challenging for me is _____. I am
learning how to _____. Next, I think I want to
learn more about _____.

29. Exemplary Student Photos
Student Store

30. Exemplary Student Photos
Google+

31. Exemplary Student Videos
YouTube

32. Exemplary Student Photos
Twitter Photos/Videos

33. Picasa
● Available Online for Free

34. Picasa
Picture Pile Mosaic

35. Picasa
Mosaic Frame Grid

36. Using Picasa
● Make a Collage
○ Put Photos in a
Folder
○ Import the Folder
○ Create a Collage
○ Select an
Arrangement
○ Modify the
Arrangement
○ Finalize the Collage
○ Edit the Collage
○ Export the Collage

37. Phoster
● Available in the iPad App Store for $1.99
● Additional Templates Available for $0.99

38. Phoster

39. Using Phoster
● Make a Poster
○ Select a Template
○ Take or Select a
Photo
○ Make Adjustments
○ Add or Modify Text
○ Select a Filter
○ Save a Poster
○ View Gallery
○ Share a Poster
○ Delete a Poster

40. Takeaways and Final Questions
● How do you now intend to use digital photography in your own
practice?
● What questions do you still have?
● Whenever you are ready, please complete the anonymous Google
Form to give me feedback (goo.gl/tZm7ss).

41. Recommended Reading
● Berger, Ron. A Culture of Quality: A Reflection on
Practice. Providence: Annenberg Institute. 2011. Print.
● Berger, Ron. An Ethic of Excellence: Building a Culture of
Craftmanship with Students. Portsmouth: Heinemann.
2003. Print.
● Kleon, Austin. Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your
Creativity and Get Discovered. Austin: Workman
Publishing Company. 2014. Kindle.
● Kleon, Austin. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told
You About Being Creative. Austin: Workman Publishing
Company. 2012. Kindle.