Using the Digital Cameras (1997)

I’d say we now have the Best Elementary Web Site in Michigan--maybe in the world--thanks to the interest our teachers have shown. There have been so many great ideas: Kindness Week, 100 Days, Snow People, Tower Construction, Puppet Shows, Dental Visits (I love all those open mouths......) I could go on and on. It would take hours to adequately browse all our pages.

Many of you have begun downloading your own own images. If you give your camera to me, here is what you can do to help me speed up the process from camera to web site:

  1. Go over your images before returning the camera, please. Delete any images you do not want used. (The deleting directions for each camera are below) If it’s unclear, dump it. If you don’t know what to say about it, dump it. Everybody, get tough! Dump now!
  2. Write a caption for each image . You may write these when you give me the camera or wait until I put up the pictures on the Internet. (I'll send you the URL so you can see the page) But please, please, PLEASE, do send text to go with the pictures. It is difficult for me to write text about events when I wasn't there.
  3. Please return the camera to me after school. It is more efficient if I down load every night. I'll get the camera back to you in the morning. (If you give me a camera with 50 images it may take me several hours)

Directions for the Ricoh Camera. Be sure to do this work with the camera plugged into the adapter. This camera uses way too many batteries. (Use the LCD display to view) The adapter is in the camera case.

  • To view the images you took, set the left sliding lever to “play” and use the triangle buttons to move forward and backward.
  • To erase an image you don’t want, click “erase” button and follow directions. Choose to delete only one at a time. The same silver button you use to click a picture also is the delete button.
  • Copy down the frame # of the image that is yours. This number will be its permanent number unless someone belatedly decides to delete images taken before yours and you get to yell at them. (that’s why I say delete before returning the camera)
  • After copying down each frame that is yours, write and tell who is in the picture, what are they doing, what grade is it.
  • Example: “Images 4 and 5 are mine. In #4 Tara is writing a three page essay on the “life cycle of my friend the toad” That’s the toad beside her on the paper. In #5 Tim and Tom are constructing a snowman entirely out of soap scum they scratched off the bathroom sinks. This will be entered in the next Art Show.”

Directions for the Olympus Cameras. (the LCD display is on the back)

  • Please preview images before returning the camera to me. Use the green button on the back to view. (the view finder/lens on the front should be closed) Use the forward and back buttons to see your images
  • Please delete any images you don’t want by clicking the red button at the top of the camera and then clicking “OK” which is the silver clicking button you use for taking a picture. Don’t leave any unwanted images of yours on the camera. I won’t know what to do with them either, and I will end up wasting my time downloading and manipulating them. If you don’t want it, you are the one who should decide to dump. Save the life of a Webmaster: dump. I will assume that anything you send in is a cherished treasure and protect it with my life.
  • Please note on paper the following:
  1. The number of each image you want is shown on the LCD screen located on the back of the camera.--Don’t use the number on the top. It is just to tell you how many more pictures the camera can hold.
  2. Tell who is in each of the pictures you want (it is not necessary to name the children)
  3. Tell what the children are doing. How is this part of your curriculum? If it’s a reward or fun activity, say so. Fun is good!
  4. Write any paragraphs or student quotes you want uploaded.
  5. Is this picture to be added to an existing page? Is it to be part of a new page? What’s the topic? Tell me what I should do with it (within reason, of course) By doing this you will be helping me spend less than the current 25 hours a week I am spending on the web.

Directions for MJ's cameras:

I'd love to write this, but I have never seen the cameras or the directions. I do know that if you use the camera, the images are easily brought from the floppies to my hard drive. I don't know if it is possible for the photographer to preview and delete images before giving the floppy to me. I REALLY WISH IT WERE POSSIBLE. Currently, I'm having to pull up each image individually to see it. It is a time consuming guessing game. I'm sure there is a better way. I also think there must be a lower setting on that camera.

Have you tried this? The jpg images loaded on the web site can be downloaded to your own computer. You can use them in your word-processing documents. You pull them in to most documents using “insert” and then navigate to find the image you want. Jpgs that come to you by e-mail can also be downloaded to your computer by holding the mouse on the image (same as on the web) until a dialogue box comes up. Choose save this image. Keep or change the name to suit yourself. Most of the names I use a pretty esoteric. Jpg images taken by the digital camera and not used in the web can also be used in word processing documents.