Many children are highly visual, and as technology advances, it increasingly capitalizes on this trait. In yet another example of using technology and the community to enhance the way children learn about nature, one elementary school in New York State worked with a local university and nature center to research plant growth in the school's experimental gardens. The children then used digital cameras to document the results. That makes them practical for more K-6 classroom applications. As a start, digital imaging can be used to showcase student artwork, to enhance class Web sites and presentations, and to support field trips.
Students can then copy their finished product to videotape, or even display it on the Web.
First, expect the Web to continue to evolve quickly. Web sites will increasingly offer not just information but free, advertiser-supported services. Schools are already beginning to take advantage of these services. For example, one such site allows anyone to create his or her own multimedia E-mail postcard. Using the service, a fourth-grade teacher in Oregon allows students to showcase their artwork to families and friends worldwide 5 .