Assessment 1 - Embedded Task 3. Images.

For this blog entry I have decided to look at IMAGES

Visual media is the way that students of the 21^st century communicate, it could be through, video, audio or images.

We live in a visual world, colour, people, environment. Images of life capture a moment, a thought, a process, a dream all of this is a fantastic way to help students learn. I beleive the way educators portray information can determine how well students engage in the subject, the way they understand and learn.

From my experience through distance learning, what really has worked for me is the medium of technology, there is no way I could study full time in the subject I am passionate about and also work. The mix of tools, videos, readings and activities. It keeps me motivated, stimulated and want to do my best.

Below is a kist of sites you can source images, these are free and legal to use.

Creative commons.org

Stockvault.net

Kozzi.com

FindIcons.com

Open Clipart Library.

Types of images

Photos, paintings, drawings, charts, graphs, doodles.

As a teacher there is certain aspects to consider when using images for example ethics and copyright laws.

The ethics of using images by students and with students is essential to follow and implement, many of the guidelines will be established by the state department of education and training and the subsequent school policys.
Some points might include the following:-

• It is important to know that permission is paramount from both parents and students in order to use there image online.
• To be transferable and accountable for communications with parents and students.
• If creating web pages or blogs for or with students then need to gain guardian consent for students to use the sites.
• Share with guardians and students about how the technology works and what potential risks are of using theses sites could be.

Copyright laws.

A knowledge of this is important, what is copyright and what does it cover. It could be from using students photos online to using photos and pictures of other people who made the original.

Using student photos online – some things to consider:-

• Find out school education department guidelines for sharing students images online.
• Consider if there are any forms guardians or students need to sign to give consent.
• Consider that there will be people not happy for photos to be seen and also although consent maybe given it can be withdrawn at any time.
• Consider students and social media, we can not stop people copying an image or photo and uploading it to there personal sites.

Other recommendations.

• Don’t use names in captions, don’t have individual photos of students
• Take photos from behind students, this is a good method.
• Resizing and Uploading digital photos
• Need to reduce the amount of information on the picture to fit and actually upload efficiently.
• Consideration to how it will be presented.

Visual Literacy.
It is said that an image paints a thousand words – this may be so, but in education the picture needs to be specific and relevant to the given subject. Hence knowledge of visual literacy is really important.

I never thought that using visual images had so many aspects attached to it and requires several levels of skill to understand, comprehend and communicate findings.

A definition of visual literacy can be seen as: Visual literacy is the ability to see, to understand, and ultimately to think, create, and communicate graphically. 

Generally speaking, the visually literate viewer looks at an image carefully, critically, and with an eye for the intentions of the image’s creator. (Thibault.M., Walbert.D.  http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/675 )

Some possible types of iMagES educators can use.

1. Students create their own images.
2. Teachers use images to engage students.
3. Teachers use images to get across a point.
4. Images can help increase critical thinking, by discussing a picture from varying perspectives, for example using de Bono's hats to analyse an image related to the topic they are studying.
5. Using images to inspire discussion and project work.
6. Using images/photographs to document events like field trips.

And powerfully, images can instantly strike emotions and moods in people.

 SAMR

Where do images fit into the SAMR model. I think that Images can fit into all levels,however the aim is transformation and thus the redefinition level. To meet the criteria of the redefinition level depends on how you use it. If you just put a photo on the screen to discuss it then would be at the substitution level, to move to the transformation level then a way to change this would be to get the students to create the image through a website and consider the emotions and feelings in the content of the image, then to use a discussion board with others in the class to analyse the meaning behind the image, thus the students are creating and evaluating.

S -

A -

M - Images

R – IMAGES

Word Cloud.
A very simple word cloud, click on the link below to see.

Words Associated with Digital Images - Word cloud - WordItOut

Why are images important?

'Text alone can’t deliver the subtlety and expression required for meaningful connection. If text were enough, we wouldn’t use emoticons, get on planes, or use web-conferencing software'. (http://voicethread.com)

My experiences of ImaGes.

I can relate some what to the use of images through my distance education experience. It has given me a broader insight, it has been interesting having a mixture of lectureers and how they present there content, videos, images, words, learning activities and readings. I definatley resonate with ‘doing’ activitys to learn but like it to be backed up with information through pictures with some text. Sometimes text alone is daunting and uninspiring.

I thought I would miss the face to face but learnt if you immerse yourself in the environment it can be supportive.

Also through my current work taking photos captures that moment. On longer wilderness based journeys (26 days) we present a small movie or slide show at the end  - this is a fantastic way to help students reflect on their journey both physically and mentally. I guess there is no reason why this can not be taken into the classroom! Record photos and video of students working, pivotal moments then mash together to present at the end of that project or end of term/year – a great reflection on what have learnt over the year.

However I think there is many ways I could present this reflection better and involve the students to make it happen, which could enhance or transform the process and learning for the students.

Also another tool is the use of topographical maps. By showing the route travelled it can help students to learn the geography of an area and provide reflection and talking points not he trip undertaken. One method of doing this is using SPOT a satellite tracking device we carry for emergencys, one of the functions is ‘tracking’ and updates a website every 10 mins so the course coordinator can see where we are, our progress or indeed our exact point if something went wrong. 
SPOT

There are many pedagogical possibilities with Images as the quote says – Are imagination is the only limitation.

While re-searching for this subject I found this document - Teaching and Learning in the Digital World: Possibilities and Challenges, this has some really interesting articles.    
http://www.learninglandscapes.ca/images/documents/ll-no12-vfinal-lr-links.pdf

IMagE ManIpuLAtiOn.

I am very excited about the thought of image manipulation.

Some experiments with befunky, have a look at the site http://www.befunky.com   

A personal photograph of  EL Capitan, Yosemite. In befunky I added a frame and an effect called scratchy.

Personal photograph of the Grand Tetons – From be funky I played with the graphics, features and accessories. 

The photo below is a picture of the UK I took at the start of my bike ride, the red line shows the route I took. This kind of image manipulation could be used in the classroom to show routes, features on a map.

The befunky website is fun to use, and could be dangerous I could spend hours on it!

Image Creation.

One I have used previously is sketches on my iphone. Great to just doodle and get a few drawing ideas down. I think this would be straight forward for students to use, however it does take a steady hand, though touch pens can help.

One picture is below, sun, sea and sand. It is a bit abstract perhaps, but captured the time and place for me, since then I have painted this picture on a wall in the corner so gave it a bit deeper perspective.

The drawing below is using the same application. It is a picture form San Francisco of all the houses perched on the hill which were all different colours.