Looking at Learning

Susan J. English Aquinas College School of Education Grand Rapids, Michigan

It’s all about wondering!

Aquinas College

School of Education - Lab Schools

Conductive Learning Center

Child Development Center

Downtown Campus

Child Discovery Center ( K -5)

New K-5 photo

Reggio Emilia Approach The Image of the Child Emergent Learning Process Collaboration and Interaction The Role of the Environment Documentation

Principle of Documentation Where the learning process between children and teachers is captured, made visible, and then shared in order to support wondering, researching and learning among teachers and children.

David Kelly, Pedagogista

5:40

Documenting involves… Observing, Recording, Thinking about, and Showing Children's Learning

What do you see?

(full screen photo)

Why document? Benefits Students

Why document? Benefits Students Benefits Parents

Documentation “…makes the experiences of the classroom visible and understandable to the participants as well as those not present.” Lilian Katz (Forward from Windows on Learning)

Why document? Benefits Students Benefits Parents Benefits Teachers

“As teachers examine the children’s work and prepare the documentation of it, their own understanding of children’s development and insight into their learning is deepened in ways not likely to occur from inspecting test results.” Katz & Chard

Making it Happen 1. Get a camera

Camera Considerations Price Memory card Camera Size Battery type and life Video capability

Digital Photography Review

Making it Happen 1. Get a camera 2. Learn the basics

Learn the Basics Display on/off Flash on/off Macro focus Rapid repeat Video capability Downloading

Kodak Learning Center

Canon Photoworks

Adobe Digital Kids Club

Making it Happen 1. Get a Camera 2. Learn the Basics 3. Wonder

What to document? Before you begin, you must have a reflective purpose or focus… otherwise your final product will be little more than “decoration”.

Brainstorm… Student understanding of complex concept (telling time, fractions, historical event, science topic) Teaching approach or methodology Classroom management issue Individual or group behavior

Making it Happen 1. Get a Camera 2. Learn the Basics 3. Wonder 4. Start Shooting

What to document? “In order for documentation to be significant, the students must be involved in learning activities that are meaningful, challenging, and worthy of documentation.”

Get in Close…

Avoid Posed Shots

Get in Close

Rule of Thirds

Camera Angle

Making it Happen 1. Get a Camera 2. Learn the Basics 3. Wonder 4. Start Shooting 5. Download & Edit Photos

Download Photos

Don’t Edit the Original

Red Eye Correction

Special Tools

Making it Happen 1. Get a Camera 2. Learn the Basics 3. Wonder 4. Start Shooting 5. Download & Edit 6. Reflect & Wonder New photo from DK

Reflective Meetings

Making it Happen 1. Get a Camera 2. Learn the Basics 3. Wonder 4. Start Shooting 5. Download & Edit 6. Reflect & Wonder 7. Share

Final Displays Quality Photos Color & Texture Artistic Layouts Narrative Text

Looking at Learning…

Looking at Learning It’s all about wondering!

References Bergen, D. (2000). Linking Technology and Teaching Practice. Childhood Education, 76(4), Helm, J., Beneke, S., & Steinheimer, K. (1998). Windows on Learning: Documenting Young Children’s Work. New York: Teachers College Press. Goldhaber, J. & Smith, D. (1997). “You Look at Things Differently:” The Role of Documentation in the Professional Development of a Campus Care Center Staff. Early Childhood Education Journal, 25(1), Katz, L., & Chart, S. (1996). The Contribution of Documentation to the Quality of Early Childhood Education (EDO PS-96-2). Trepanier-Street, M., Hong, S. & Bauer, J. (2001). Using Technology in Reggio-Inspired Long-Term Projects. Early Childhood Education Journal, 28(3),