Case Study: Evolution of the Camera

            Sometimes it is often taken for granted the accessibility it is to take and receive pictures in an instant, however, for many generations that has not always been the case. The invention of the camera has evolved immensely and pretty fast over the years. The history first included creating the invention to continuing to perfect the invention in the 21^st century. Different inventors, processes, and technology along the way have allowed the camera to develop into what it is today and also helped create new inventions along the way such as motion film. The camera has evolved since it was first created, to how it is used in modern days, and also including how it could be used for students in a classroom.

            The history of the camera goes back a long time starting before the 1800’s where some might even argue as the human eye being the first camera. However in the 1800’s that is when the evolution of the camera had taken a turn to creating one of the first still images. Before the invention of the camera only artists were using the cameras that were accessible to very few. The main reason was because the cameras before images were just an image on a wall or on an object, so artists would trace the images or use it as a reference. None the less, the quality was very low that the only way to view the image was to hand draw and in some cases, color, what the image was trying to portray (Thinkquest). One prosperous moment that contributed to the invention of the camera was when a one of the most famous inventors was able to capture one of the first pictures, which was Joseph Niepce. According to Kartwatka (2007), “[Joseph Niepce] produced the world's first photograph in 1826.” This meant that he was able to take a picture and not have the pictured be erased even after seconds of capturing the image, which before was very common. Also, it meant that he was able to take the first picture without having to trace what was being shot, since it was the first still image taken. Throughout the years there were many inventors trying to make images clearer in which many were able to do by changing the process of how they developed the pictures.

Photography was not a hobby that was available to everyone and in many cases only the wealthy and men could afford the new invention. None the less, by the late 1800’s George Eastman, the founder of Kodak, changed the way of how cameras were going to be flowing through the hands of many. According to Marc Olivier (2007), “George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company, transformed the practice of photography- first in 1888 by replacing the complexities of wet-plate processing with a twenty-five-dollar handheld camera.” Instead of having the wet plates, part of Eastman’s invention was creating a new method to developing pictures, which would lead to different types of film images. The main objective and goal that he was able to contribute was to be able to capture many images on film and have them developed later. Another thing that Eastman was able to contribute to the camera evolution was that, “…in 1900, by democratizing the snapshot with the simple and affordable one-dollar "Brownie" camera. By 1905, an estimated ten million Americans had become amateur photographers, most of whom were previously excluded from photographic expression because of gender, age, or economic status” (Olivier, 2007). The invention of the brownie camera allowed the world to take part in capturing pictures in a way that it wasn’t done before. Also, it included to partake on how history would be documented.

            Most pictures were done in black and white; however, color images also played a huge role in the evolution process. Even though the first colored image was taken in 1861 by James Clerk Maxwell, (National Geographics, 2013), the color images didn’t really take place until later. One of the main examples of when color images started to become popular was after the invention of the Polaroid camera, because of how accessible it was. For example, according to Philip Greenspun, “1963: First color instant film developed my Polaroid.” Throughout the years the focus started to become on how images could be developed with better quality by changing ideas of how develop to film. Also, being able to develop film allowed the invention of movies to take place, which was also a form of photography in the sense of it allowed to take multiple still images and combine it to make it into motion picture film.  

A turning point in the process of camera took place in the 1940’s, which was the invention of the Polaroid camera. The invention of the Polaroid camera was a significant contribution, because it was able to change how pictures were developed. According to Barry Schwabsky (2010), “The camera was announced in 1947 and hit the market in 1948.” Instead of people waiting to receive their pictures days later, the Polaroid camera made it possible to receive the images in an instant, mainly because of the chemical process the picture was able to go through. Many people in the 1980’s owned a Polaroid, however “…digital photography killed the Polaroid, as it is killing much chemically based photography” (Schwabsky, 2010). The invention of the digital camera started to change everything on how the camera would be used.

The digital camera has lead to the cameras that are used today. None the less, just like anything, it took time to develop and to perfect such an idea. According to Greenspun (2007), “1975: Steve Sasson at Kodak builds the first working CCD-based digital still camera.” Even though it was nothing to where it currently is today, the invention was a start to a whole new world. With building the digital camera it opened a new door to what the photography world would be able to do with images. Also, with the growth and expansion of computers it opened a new door of how pictures would forever change, such as the process of developing pictures or by being able to construct pictures by using software’s, such as Photoshop.

In our current days it is very common to have digital cameras accessible at one’s finger tips not only because people have made it a priority to invest in one, but because it is embedded into the technology that is used in everyday, such as phones. Technology has evolved to allowing great quality pictures to come from even a small devices. The camera’s that are put on electronic devices also including, iPads, have created new opportunities and ways of how people use photography to this day. According to Bo Gai (2009), “Camera phones can help record their lives at any time and place, partaking in a new digital form of autobiography.” The opportunity that camera phones have allowed modern photography to do is to capture the things that come along the way in a person’s daily life. It is no longer needed to wait for results, when it can be stored easily.

Having students use digital cameras in the classroom or in general can be a great benefit to their learning experience. The main reason is that it allows the opportunity for students to capture the world around them through there eyes. According to Gwen Dewer (2010), “…digital camera’s for kids offer a lot of play and exploration.” It is easy for students to want to express what they see and cameras allow for students to do so. Digital cameras have opened opportunities for students to express their creativity in learning, which has not always been the case. Having a child to create their own stories with images or capturing what are learning is a beneficial way to have students engage fully their learning. The digital camera has allowed the experience to be affordable and practical to use, because there is no need to worry about paying for film that may be liked or unlike, since digital images can be easily erased.

            The evolution of the camera has taken place for years with many parts of it developing faster than one could have ever imagined. The first inventor probably would have never imagined how far the camera could have gone. They may have never thought that images could be printed out faster and better quality or even be captured and stored without ever having to print out the images. The invention of the camera has opened the doors for many to partake in, which includes the educational world. It is hard to imagine what else could be continued to be perfected or invented, but one should wonder and even challenge themselves to create something new just as the previous inventors once had dreamed and hoped to come true.

References

Dwer, G. (2010). Digital cameras for kids: cool tools and windows into the minds of children. Parenting Science. Retrieved from http://www.parentingscience.com/digital-cameras-for-kids.html

Gai, B. (2009). A World Through the Camera Phone Lens: a Case Study of Beijing Camera Phone Use. Knowledge Technology and Policy, 22(3), 195-204. Doi:10.1007/s12130-009-9084-x. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=12d683b8-1cd4-41a5-a6d4-ff1fb8961848%40sessionmgr11&vid=10&hid=26

Karwatka, D. (2007). Joseph Niepce and the First Photograph. Tech Directions, 67(1), 12-13. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=8e505b3b-6f11-4f6d-9375-5523c77dd149%40sessionmgr110&vid=12&hid=11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=26467477

National Geographics (2013). First Color Photograph. Retrieved from: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/photography/photos/milestones-photography/color-tartan-ribbon/

Olivier, M. (2007). George Eastman’s Modern Stone-Age Family. Technology and Culture, 48(1), 1-19. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.patris.apu.edu/docview/198462612?accountid=8459

Greenspun, P. (2007). History of Photography Timeline. Namemedia Inc. Retrieved from: http://photo.net/history/timeline

Schwabsky, B. (2010). How Soon Was Now?. Nation, 290(2), 35-36. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=5f1ef9b5-0cd7-4ced-8266-c625d104f7c2%40sessionmgr14&vid=2&hid=26#

Thinkquest: http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112389/cameras.htm

My First ED Tech (Un) Conference

Who would have thought that you could attend a conference without even being physically there?  The (Un) conference world is something that I did noteven know existed until taking my EDUC 515 class. The (Un) conference that I was able to join was, “EDCamp XEDU”, which the actual conference took place in Burlington, Massachusetts on June 1, 2013. One feature that I liked about the conference was that I liked how it was easy to join and be part of the conference. For example, I was able to participate by tweeting back to a Twitter user who posed the question, “Talking about what an elementary 1:1 classroom should like with @dancallahan at #edcampxedu. What do you think it should look like?” The response I contributed was, “@PGRoom209 @dancallahan It should be done if it can be done. Just like anything with a purpose, guidance, &goal in mind. #apu515 #edcampxdu” I think one of the benefits of attending unconferences or sometimes depending who you follow on Twitter in general,  is that there are topics and questions that are brought up that I normally would not think about on my own. I like the inspiration that I feel when I see strangers interacting with one another on topics that we all have a passion for, even if we are across nation.  

Another thing that I liked my unconference experience was that I liked how I was able to recognize what some of the Tweets were talking about, because of the things I have currently learned from my master’s courses. For example, @nbucka stated, “Thanks Sara for showing us how iMovie could improve our flipped learning videos! #xedcampxedu.” I have already learned about Flipped Classroom and I am very familiar with iMovie. So, hearing that other people are talking about the things that I am learning made me feel part of a community. Another feature that I liked about the (un) conference was that they provided a schedule of the conference in a couple different ways, which one was on Instagram and the other was a actual layout posted on the web. It helped me to know why people were not tweeting responses as much, because it made me think they were on a break or transitioning to the next portion of the meeting.

Overall, I liked this first (un)conference experience, because I did not feel overwhelmed with twitter responses. I was easily able to follow along and get an idea of what the conference was able to provide. I appreciate the posts that the attendees posted, which included extra website resources and questions that were being presented at the conference. Lastly, I was also surprised that I even participated in responding to a Tweet, because I find myself to be shy in participating in Twitter responses on Twitter. I think this is the first of many (un)conference experiences that I have and I’m glad this was a first good experience.

Paperback or Screen Books?

Paper books or screen books? That is a question that I can say that I never really thought about until now. Before reading the article, “The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens,” by Ferris Jbar, (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=reading-paper-screens) that I found on Twitter from @BillSelak, I never really gave it much thought about how I processed what I read whether it was from paper or a screen. I will admit that I still like to use paperback books and as the article stated, most people still like to use paperback books too. A lot of it has to do with the experience that people have had with books ever since books have been invented. Many people like how a book smells, the physical touch of changing a page, marking a book with a highlighter or pen, or simply how heavy or light a book may feel. Humans have a natural tendency to make goals and having a physical book in hand allows people to create a “mental map” of how much they are progressing through a book.

When people read from tablet, kindle, smartphone, computer, or some other technology device; they simply do not experience the same thing that a paperback book can give. For example, the device that is used will always feel the same weight and won’t be able to map out how much is left to read. Also, reading from a devise allows the body to interact in a different way than reading a paperback book, which sometimes makes it difficult to concentrate on the words. There are different senses that are used when reading from a device rather than from a book. Despite of what people like to read off of better, the article states that there much of significant effect on the speed and comprehension of material.

One of my favorite points from the article was that there was study that took place where they gave students an assignment to read an article and then they were to answer questions based off the reading. Half of the students had to read from a screen and the other half of the students had to read from a paperback. The results showed that the students who read from the screen did a little worse than the students who read from the paperback.

I couldn’t help to think, what this means for our future students? Many of our students are going to be taking tests from computers and reading textbooks from some type of electronic device. Does this mean we are hindering their chances of doing better than they could? I think the answer is we are unsure of what it will be. The studies that have been done state that there isn’t a drastic difference of results of how people perform whether they take a test from a computer or paper and I believe a lot of it has to do with they were raised to use paper at some point in their life. However, for the babies that are born now and if they never interact with paper, then maybe there brains will be trained to read from electronic devices thoroughly and gain full comprehension from it, because that is all that they will know.  

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My Professional Growth During My Masters Work!

I would have never thought that I would pursing a Masters degree and let alone in DIGITIAL TEACHING!!!!! I will admit that growing up I was never really fascinated by the new technology items that were coming out and sometimes I felt behind on knowing what all the cool new gadgets were. Ironically, I never really wanted to get “sucked” into the world of technology, because I really wanted to preserve the old way of life. However, with that being said, getting my M.A. in Digital Teaching is one of the best decisions I could have made. I feel that in the last 12 weeks my professional growth in my Master’s program growing in a positive direction.

One of the best experiences that I have had so far with my professional growth is talking to 5^th grade teachers about the technological resources that are out there to use.  I am not stating that I know more than teachers that I was able to interact with, because I know I have a lot to learn and as teachers we are always learning and growing. However, it made me realize that everyone has special gifts, talents, and interests that can all be contributed to make the school experience positive and enriching for students and staff. I think one of my interests is learning about resources that involve technology and that’s what I felt I was able to contribute.

Another way that I see myself growing professionally is by following professional teacher and organizations on Twitter. I find it beneficial to get updates about what other people are using or doing with technology in the classroom. For example, there are people who will Tweet about the best apps to use in the classroom or what websites will come in handy for certain projects for the students. I find myself looking into the resources myself and building a pile of resources, so when I get hired as a teacher I will have already built a list of resources.

My experience with the Masters of Digital Teaching and Learning program has only been a positive experience so far. I am grateful to know that I am embracing the change that the 21^st century has brought and that I will be able to contribute a positive experience to our future students by incorporating what I am learning now and what I will continue to learn in the future. I know that in time my professional growth will continue to prosper as I get more opportunity to incorporate all that I have learned into a professional setting. Until then, I have been given the tools to keep up to date with what is out there. 

My Twitter Experience

I will admit that I never thought I would ever get a Twitter account and honestly if I wasn’t in this M.A. in Digital Teaching and Learning program I probably wouldn’t have one to this day. However, I am starting to see what the benefits are of this new fad with Twitter, at least from the Educational World perspective.

One thing that surprised me was I didn’t realize how many educators and educational associations are involved with Twitter! There are so many ideas that are constantly floating and it makes me grateful for the people who are able to find resources and share them to followers, such as myself. I don’t really find a lot of things to post and contribute, but I do like how I am able to get new ideas and learn about new issues that I probably wouldn’t have heard about. The nice thing about getting started with Twitter now is that when my classes are over in the future, I feel that I will still have a resource that I will be easily able to go to find information or know what are new and upcoming resources and items.

Another thing that I like about Twitter is that there are all different subjects floating around. There are ideas about Common Core, which I didn’t even know that some people are for and against it. (I assumed that everyone was just for it, since we complain about our current system now).  Also, there are ideas about classroom activities (with and without technology), photography tips (which is one of my hobbies), Apple products, Google news, and such more! I feel the possibilities are endless on what you can find and this is just for the Educational world alone!

My current experience with Twitter has grown more positive since I have started. I am checking it more often and I take more time to read the links that are usually posted on the posts. I hope that I will be able to contribute more in the future with some of my findings and get more involved in posting meaningful resources for others to see too.