Implications and Teaching Opportunities for Camera Use in Teaching and Learning

Nowadays, it is difficult to come across someone who does not own some type of smartphone. Most people do not go anywhere without theirs and use it for literally everything that they do. Smartphones can help you accomplish just about anything from communicating to researching. They are also extremely convenient. I have had one for about five years now and probably could not function without it. They are increasingly becoming more and more common and have really become an essential tool for many different people over the years.

Most schools do not allow cellphone use in the classroom because they are distractive and can be used for cheating. Instead of banning smartphones from the classroom, schools should accept the fact that technology is becoming essential to everyday life and implement it even more. All smartphones have access to the internet, and the internet has so much information that can be very beneficial to student learning. Smartphones should be allowed in the classroom as research tools. This would be successful as long as teachers make sure to monitor the students to ensure they are using their phones in the correct manner. This could especially be helpful for schools that cannot afford to give their students access to iPads and other technology. Some other ideas on how smartphones can be used in the classroom can be found here.

By the time I begin teaching, depending on what age group I will be working with, I am sure that most of my students will have access to a smartphone. Most smartphones have cameras, and there are so many different ways that such a tool can be used in the classroom. Some examples include taking photos to demonstrate the five senses, taking photos of different objects to learn the colors, taking photos of their pet at home to include in a presentation about animals, and taking photos to put on their blog (which I definitely intend to implement in my future classroom). There are so many different things that you can do with a smartphone camera, or even just a smartphone itself, in the classroom. Schools who have not yet done so need to realize how beneficial these tools can be to student learners.