Using visual images to enhance perspectives of children’s experiences: a musical case study

This research focuses on using digital photography to record observations of young children. The observations discussed are young children engaging with music as a communicative language. Digital media has become an inexpensive method to collect research data to communicate children’s activities in early learning settings. Like all technologies, there is a question of efficacy. Using our own research, we unpack visual methods we have employed to record and analyse children’s musical knowledge. Photographs were selected for analysis. We examine messages in detail to explore how visual images can add value to observations. We were interested in examining the implications of using visual images as an observational tool for research and to support pedagogy. The concluding discussion suggests that technology has not offered a quick and easy support for pedagogical practice and research of young children but can be a rich resource to promote relevant and stimulating pedagogical content if used purposefully and carefully analysed.