Effective Use of ICT
Digital Cameras
The digital camera is an essential ICT resource in an Early Years setting for both children and staff. Apart from the obvious use of recording children’s achievements, they are easy for the children to use independently, particularly when recording ephemeral art or constructions.
Therefore, practitioners should encourage children to take their own photographs and support them to make choices on the content of the photograph.
Thumbnail images of the children can be used to create a wide range of support materials including number lines, monitoring lists and self-registration cards. Photographs of resources placed on trays/boxes enable children to make choices and tidy away.
Photographs taken throughout the year of children’s individual interests and achievements can be inserted into school reports.
They can also be inserted into TextEase Presenter to create a quick slide show which can be used to inform parents, governors and stimulate discussion amongst the children.
Digital cameras can also be used to record events and visits. Children can be encouraged to sequence pictures, record their voices with a microphone and, with adult support, create a talking book using TextEase.
These can be made available for the children to listen to throughout the day – a powerful way of encouraging recall of events, collaboration, development of language skills (in English and Welsh) and positive dispositions to learning.