Is a big, Big BIG Digital and High Tech World in Classrooms

I've never thought that digital cameras and computers can be used as a important part in the education of a child. Where I come from, children are exposed to computers to network with friends through a web cam or Internet, if parents aloud them to do so. The OLD SCHOOL method, notebooks, pencils, crayons, books with pictures....that is what is available. Pictures make it to classroom by students, parents, or teachers bringing them; and computers....only at the Principal's office and teachers' launch room.

Here in the US, I have seen parents taking pictures at their children's classrooms on their first day of school, or school programs. Also, I have seen teacher or PTA members taking pictures on school daily activity or when students are practicing a rehearsals or art club classes. Not to mention School Picture, which I consider a wonderful way to preserve memories of school years.

But I have never imaging that I, as a teacher can enhance my future students' minds using technology in my classroom. By using my camera and my computer, inviting the parents to be part of the classroom project, making the students to bring their own (or parents') camera and/or taking pictures at home, Taping a student's photo on their desk name tags so that other students and substitutes learn names, taking photos or videos in Physical Education to record events and skills, using photos in letters to e-Pals, creating a digital yearbook or memory book, taking photos or videos of the weather and seasons and send them to a local TV channel. Using photos in thank you cards to teachers or invitations to birthday parties.

I know of some elementary schools have an hour a week where students are aloud to work on computers, which expose the students on technology. At home, parents expose their children to technology (computers and cameras) by letting them to play some computer games and taking some picture here and there.

I am so glad and excited to know that I can teach my students by hands-on projects. I can see now how much fun subjects such as math, biology, science, and even reading and writing can be. Taking the students on field trips to the Zoo or around the school to take pictures about trees, rocks, the ski, colors can help them to explore the world around them.

Not only taking pictures but teaching them how to down load their pictures to the desktop or a flash drive to build a project or report about a school subject can develop a child's imagination and their mental ability

I understand the pros and cons that can cause to have computer(s) in the classrooms for students to use. From causing to much distractions and frustrations for those who are not familiar with them. However, if we have parents to sign up to help with that particular assignment for an hour at day and having the "Computer Corner" available to students in a assigned time, students can also experience and learn more about technology in the right way.

By giving the assignments to put projects using computers and software's where they can edit pictures and build up a slide show, student s can develop love for a subject that can aimed a future carrier. Or simply, prepare my students, the best I can, for the Big, Big Big Digital and High Tech World.