At my previous school, we did a series of field trips to art museums with students using iPads to take photos and videos. They also created art in response to what they saw. I recently worked with our Grade 3 teachers at my current school to pilot iPads on a trip to the National Zoo in support of their unit on ecosystems.

I observed the students applying the photo and video recording techniques they learned in our Grade 2 ICL class. What also stood out was how they analyzed situations to find effective angles for their shots. They also demonstrated insight as to which situations warranted documentation. Another takeaway for me was seeing how the students divided up the duties after some time. One became the scout looking ahead to find interesting exhibits and animals. She also brought the team together to answer questions on the provided question sheet. Another student recorded the broader themes of habitats, while the other was more precise, taking close-up animal shots.

Here is a short video of the experience.