Using Digital Cameras to Investigate Science
Applications of Digital Photography to Support Learning Science
Feb 3, 2009
Why use digital cameras in science? Digital cameras provide students with an excellent technology tool to record data and observations in scientific experiments. Too often students miss data or observation information during science investigations they are conducting because of various distractions. When they miss these details, they are typically lost forever.
However, when students take digital pictures of data and observations during investigations two things happen. One is that the data or observation is recorded for later analysis. The second is that students observe data they would have normally missed, because they are more focused on the investigation as they take pictures of what is happening in the investigation. So an advantage of digital cameras is that students become more focused and engaged in the scientific investigations as they concentrate on taking pictures data and observations they need for a final science investigation report.
Teaching students how to use digital cameras is typically unnecessary, because the average home has at least one digital camera and students are familiar with this technology. So the learning curve is short, the only guidance students need is an initial direction or ideas regarding how to use digital cameras to record scientific information.
Applications of Digital Cameras in Science
The following are a few practical applications of digital cameras in science. Students:
- Take pictures of scientific information they need for a story in a class science newsletter about biodiversity in the community.
- Develop a taxonomy of plants or animals, which includes digital pictures for a class Wiki for classmates and other science students.
- Create a dictionary of scientific vocabulary they use during the year and post on the class Wiki. Vocabulary includes definitions and digital pictures of an object that represents the vocabulary term.
- Take pictures of objects for inclusion in a multimedia presentation about science concepts, such as: food chain, five senses, biodiversity, habitats, life cycles, etc.
- Create a virtual nature trail using digital pictures of plants and animals found in the community. The virtual trail is posted on the class Wiki for class use and students in other classes and schools.
- Create a presentation using digital pictures for Earth Day on the importance of recycling, understanding global warming, green living, clean air, etc.
- Take digital pictures of crystals in the various stages of growth in a long term investigation.
- Take digital pictures of plants over the course of an investigation of the effects of acid rain on plants.
- Create a virtual scrapbook of geological landforms after taking digital pictures on an earth science field trip.
- Record photographic evidence of data they collect for analysis in the support of findings and conclusions in a chemistry experiment.
- Create photographic record of objects that follow Newton’s Laws of Motion in an experiment.
- Create multimedia presentations that integrate digital pictures of the life cycle of plants and/or animals.
- Use digital pictures to create nature or field guides of plants and/or animals in the community.
- Create a multimedia presentation of the state of the community’s watershed for presentation to those concerned and inclusion in the class Wiki.
- Create a multimedia presentation of plants and animals found in a stream used for water quality monitoring.
Making Connections
These are only a few suggestions of practical applications of digital cameras use in science. When used properly it supports student learning and concept understanding as they not only involved in hands-on science, they also are immersed into minds-on science. The creative application of digital cameras in science is limitless.
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