14 ways to use smartphone cameras in classrooms

Below are some useful ways to apply smartphone cameras to learning in class:

• Instant notes: Use a smartphone camera to snap clear pictures of lecture notes for later reference.
• Digital storytelling: Stories come alive using digital photography. Smartphone cameras can take excellent storybook shots you can add effects to later on.
• Video docs: Shooting a documentary-style project with a smartphone is an edgy and artistic way to tell your story. You can also try shooting an ad or commercial for a media studies class using the same technique.
• Video podcasts: Use your camera’s video to take footage while recording vlogs or video cast episodes.
• Tutorial making: This is a great way to check for understanding of a certain topic. Have students create either a systematic visual guide or video tutorial, using their smartphone cameras.
• Science in motion: Objects in motion make a great video project idea for science class. You can also use it for dissection projects, where the camera needs to get a nice quick zoom on key stages of the process.
• Story chains: This is a visual take on the classic chain story exercise. One student begins with a photograph (either real or staged) and places a caption underneath it. The next student adds a new picture and caption to keep the impromptu story going, and so on.
• Photo collages: Art classes can become platforms for digital image display.
• Scanning documents: The camera of a smartphone can be used as a scanner. It’s not the same quality as a full-size scanner, but it does the job.
• Visual diaries: Use images to create a visual record of a personal or academic journey of your choice. Check out the Chase Jarvis book, ‘The best camera is the one that’s with you’, for inspiration.
• Portfolio additions: Using smartphone cameras is a great way to piece together special sections for a student’s portfolio. This is a great way for students to exercise their organisational skills.
• Photo research: Using smartphone cameras to take archival photos and footage can greatly enhance research projects.
• Photo editing: The photo enhancement capabilities on smartphone cameras are getting just as impressive as the cameras themselves. Photography classes can feature great lessons on in-camera photo editing projects.
• Presentations: Use your smartphone camera for making great presentations. They can be staged, or completely off the cuff (e.g. on a field trip somewhere).

Source: Global Digital Citizen Foundation