Picture This!

Using Photography as a Teaching and Assessment Tool

Roban Johnson, The Academy for Classical Educationrobanjohnson@cox.net

Roban Johnson

8th-grade language arts teacher

holds ESOL, gifted, and teacher leader endorsements

Jones County Teacher of the Year 2010-2011

Students and Digital Technology

Harris Interactive study for Pearson Publishing

polled 2,300 American students (grades 4-12) about use of digital technologies for educational purposes

Image courtesy of stoonn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Students Who Use Smart Phones for Educational Purposes

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Elementary Middle High

60%

47%

35%

Frequency of Smart Phone Use

Of those students who use smart phones, 27 percent use their devices for educational purposes (explicitly not for texting or social networking) two to three times per week.

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Student Attitude About Use

Of all the students surveyed, 67 percent indicated they would like to use their mobile devices more often in class.

It is especially useful for ELLs.

“Use authentic visuals and manipulatives.… Implement the use of authentic resources. For example: menus, bus schedules, post-cards, photographs, and video clips can enhance student comprehension of complex content concepts.”

~ “Edutopia”

“Brain-based and second language acquisition research has taught us, thankfully, that the old school method — assign a chapter, take a test, and discuss the test — will not result in quality and depth of thought. Our ESL students are not tape recorders, waiting eagerly to receive our golden nuggets of wisdom. Instead, they are multi-taskers who can play video games, talk on cell phones, and listen to music, all without missing a beat.”

~ Judy LombardiCalifornia State University Northridge

Brain-based Research

Photography + Grammar = Learning Fun!

Photography-based projects can be used as learning tools…

… and as formative and summative assessments.

Let’s Get Clicking!

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Applicable CCGPS Standards

In your packet, mark the language concepts that you teach.

Today’s Focus:Objects and Complements

Examples

Student-Created Exemplars

Grammar

WHAT?TO WHOM?

A predicate nominative is a noun that follows a linking verb and renames the subject of the verb.

Assessment: Create a visual representation of a predicate adjective.

Extra Credit…

Free Web-basedPhoto Editing Tool

www.picmonkey.com (a free on-line editing software program.

www.picmonkey.com

Free Mobile Apps for Phones and Tablets

It’s Your Turn to “Picture This!”

Step 1:

Download ONE photo editing app onto your smart phone or tablet, or use one that you have previously downloaded.

Step 2:With a table partner or group, choose a concept and brainstorm ideas on the planning sheet in your packet.

Draw or

…jot down notes.

Steps 3 and 4:

Create your photo.

Use an app to add text that will explain the concept.

Timed Activity

1. Download ONE photo editing app onto your smart phone or tablet, or use one that you have previously downloaded.

2. With a table partner or group, brainstorm ideas on the planning sheet in your packet.

3. Create your photo.

4. Use an app to add text that will explain the concept.

Share your photos!

Post edited photos on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using hashtag:

#elapicturethis

Other Ideas: Picture This! Scavenger Hunt and Poetry

scavenger hunt for sentence parts. Publish the photographs as a book. Hang them in the classroom as visual

reminders.

Take a photo of a household item and write a poem that personifies the object.

Picture This! For Writing

student-created photographs descriptive

paragraphs gallery

walk best

examples of imagery

Picture This! For Reading

inference alphabet book vocabulary hunt

Your Turn!

Brainstorm with others at your table. How many ideas can

you come up with to integrate photography into your lessons?

Use the brainstorming page in your packet to record your ideas.

Students with various learning styles can benefit from this.

References and Credits Cooper, A. (2012, January 25). 10 Tips for Teaching English

Language Learners. Edutopia. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-english-language-learners-ayanna-cooper

Nagel, David. "Report: Students Use Smart Phones and Tablets for School, Want More." T.H.E. Journal. N.p., 8 May 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. <http://www.thejournal.com>.

Lombardi, Judy. “Practical Ways Brain-based Research Applies to ESL Learners.” The Internet TSEL Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from www.itselj.org.

Students in Roban Johnson’s 8th-grade English classes at Clifton Ridge Middle School in Jones County created the Picture This! Exemplars.