Talking Photgraph

Assignment Title: Talking Photographs

Uses in the classroom: When I think of uses in the classroom for "talking photographs"  I automatically think of students using them to introduce themselves to one another much like we have done for this class.  As I thought about other ways "talking photographs" could be used in the classroom I thought it would be a cool new twist for pen pals in the classroom.  Often when students communicate in writing with a pen pal they always wonder " what do they like" or "how do they sound?"  A "talking photograph" would be such an intersitng and interactive way to communicate with someone new.

Every year my 5th graders do a "wax museum" project in the spring.  Each student researches a person from the past who has greatly influenced our history.  Then all of the students gather in the cafeteria and students, teachers and parents are able to walk around and listen to the presentations.  Often we run across the issue of students who can't afford to make a costume or their family members can't make it during the middle of the day to see their presentation.  I think a "talking photograph" would be a great way for the students to research their historical figure and then create a "talking photograph" of that figure.  As a teacher I could post the "talking photographs" to our classroom blog and share with the people who couldn't make it. 

Issues to consider:  The first issue that comes to my mind with a "talking photograph" is my special education students that have mild to severe speech impairments.  They are often difficult to understand and I can see how a "talking photograph" assignment may intimidate them.  The other issue that would need to be considered at the school I work at is the access to a microphone for the voice recording.  Unfortunately, our technology is not up to par and I could see us not being able to have enough microphones.  I personally used my i-phone and the "fotobabble app" to record my voice and I would be more than happy to allow my students to use it.

Copyright:  This photograph was taken by Sunflower Productions in Livonia, Michigan, 2012.  Copyright was released by photographer to myself.