Digital Images
Apr 10th, 2010 by Bev
I think that sometimes when we think about technology in a math class we often think about calculators, probes, and computer software. One area that I have always been interested in exploring is the use of digital images in the class. Math concepts can be rather invisible, unlike many concepts in the other content areas. Although math is all around us, students do not see it. Armed with still or video cameras, students can be given tasks that help them to see math through a different lens.
Doing some research on images I came across this little anecdote. “On the first day of introductory chemistry, one professor shows students photographs of everyday scenes, including an abandoned house and a bike rider. After asking them “Where is the chemistry?” in each picture, he asks them to list questions about chemical processes the images provoke. This exercise deepens students’ engagement with the subject, foregrounds lines of inquiry they will pursue later in the semester, and primes students to begin thinking like scientists” (NEA, ND). This is a really powerful way of getting chemistry students to start seeing chemistry in the world. The author of this article goes on to say that we can use images to engage thinking and feeling at they same time and because of this “they can illuminate the real, human significance of course material”. How powerful is that!
I have done several different projects using digital cameras. Once the students went out and photographed the tallest structures in our little town. We were studying trigonometry and their task was to see if they could figure out how high the structure was. My students started seeing angles- important angles all over. I don’t know if they remember the actual math, but they do know that it was real and relevant.
Another assignment I gave students was to create a video on transformations found in the real world. They had to demonstrate both single transformations and composite ones. Students had to film the transformation and provide an explanation. At first they found it easy, but some of the transformation became more difficult. Eventually they started seeing transformation all over the place and came up with some very creative examples.
I would really like to spend more time exploring digital images and math. There is not a great deal of research on this topic, but I did find one interesting site called the Future of Math http://futureofmath.misterteacher.com/digitalcameras.html#Analyze. The author of this website provides some interesting ideas on ways that cameras can be used in a math class to help students analyze and communicate different math ideas. Helping students to see that math is more than textbooks, work sheets, and calculators is important if we are going to help them value math.
National Education Association. (ND). Learning to Look. Retrieved from . https://www.achievementgaps.org/home/38024.htm