.So, You Have A Bunch Of Digital Pictures.
Now What?
Step One: Take Lots Of Pictures
Don’t limit yourself to field trips and programs! Keep a digital camera on hand for day to day activities, and you won’t regret it. Consider taking a head shot of each student the first day of school and watch how they grow and change over time. Close ups of one and two children are great for slide shows, and don’t forget to catch them working, reading, and playing!
If you don’t have a ‘second’ digital camera to dedicate to your class, you might be surprised how inexpensive they have become. Check for refurbished and open box buys at http://newegg.com or buy yourself a very nice one for home and re-purpose your current one for school!
Step Two: Import and Organize
Download a free program called Picasa 3. Once you have Picasa downloaded and installed it will look for the images already on your computer and help you to build folders in order to keep your collection of pictures labeled and organized. One of the banner ads for Picasa billed it as ‘the software that should have come with your digital camera’ and I agree with this statement.
Step Three: Picasa Basics
Get to know the Picasa program. With a little time invested, you will be able to crop photos, improve the quality of them and add text to them. With a little more practice you’ll be making professional looking collages and even short slide shows with this program. Here is one exceptional overview. Learning Picasa is something I am able to help you with.
Step Four: Online Photo Sharing
(Be sure you have a photo release and principal permission!)
There are several high quality online photo sharing services available (Flickr, PhotoBucket etc). Why would you want to share images of the class? Consider it one more way to get the parents involved in the class activities or a venue to show the great things you are doing in school.
I recommend Google + (Formerly Picasa Web Albums) for several reasons. First of all, it integrates with Picasa 3 for easy uploads and downloads. Second, if you take pictures with your smart phone, you can have them go directly to a (private) web album. No more syncing your phone to your computer to et your pictures online! Finally, it is the service I use so if you ever need a hand, I will be able to help you that much more. 
Step Five: Embellish Your Photos
You can add text and make edits to your pictures using Picasa 3, but let’s talk about having some real fun. Let’s talk about putting pictures on a three dimensional cube, placing students’ faces on sumo wrestlers and in frames at art galleries.
Use these embellished photos on your class website or blog, in a newsletter or as a story starter for creative writing.
I come across these types of sites and add them to my blog, but here is a starter list of places to do fun things to your pictures:
http://www.picnik.com/
http://pho.to/
http://www.dumpr.net/
http://www.imagechef.com/
http://repper.studioludens.com/
http://www.sumopaint.com
/web/
There are more, but this will get you started.
Step Six: Display Them!
1. Print them and place on bulletin board
2. Create a slide show with Picasa or PhotoStory
3. Use for desktop or screen saver
4. Digital picture frame, rotate through your favorites
5. Project and use for Story Starter or writing prompt
6. Class Newsletter
7. Class Blog or Website
8. End of the year program
9. Email to parents
Write to me and let me know what else you do with the pictures of your students!
I’m Here To Help!
If I am your ETT please let me know if you need a hand with any of these items! I will be glad to help you get the most out of your digital pictures. Enjoy!
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[...] Class Pictures [...]
[...] Class Pictures [...]