Classroom Technology: Document Cameras

Gone are my days of running to the photocopier to make overheard transparencies!

This year, through a grant from our parent-teacher organization, I now have a document camera that ties into a ceiling mounted projector and a computer.

This is one of those pieces of hardware and classroom technology that changes your teaching.

The document camera allows me, and the students, to put anything under it and the image is projected onto the whiteboard.

I use this daily, in almost each lesson.

Document cameras have been around for quite some time but they were large and cumbersome. As you can see from the picture, these new ones are relatively small.

Everything fits on my old overhead projector cart. I can now set the cart off to the side of the board so all students can see the image without me being in the way.

The best part of this set-up is the student involvement.

The first thing I did this year was show the students how to work the components.

Students love to share their writing, drawings, poster projects, and math work.

In the past I would have to make transparencies which would of course have to be done in advance and they were not in color.

Now, with this classroom technology, as I am explaining something I can just put the workbook, text, or directions under the document camera and it is projected for all to easily see.

Shown here is an article we were using to practice reading comprehension and note taking.

Students used the document camera to demonstrate to others what they were doing.

I can take pictures of student work with the document camera and store it on the computer. These work samples can then be used as examples and benchmarks for future classes.

With the projector-computer hook-up right in the classroom I can also demonstrate searching, websites, and software to students without having to go to the computer lab.

We can view video clips and news items. We also occasionally watch something (appropriately) funny or interesting from YouTube and TeacherTube.

The approximate cost of the document camera was $700. and the projector about $900.

The good news is that the cost of these items is coming down every day.

The computer was already in the classroom so if you don't have one you would need to add that to your budget.

A great little addition that our IT technician installed was a toggle box.

This allows me to go back and forth from the computer to the document camera without changing the input cables.

The cost for the box was about $30.

This is a great piece of classroom technology. What you can do with this system is limited only by your imagination.

This is also one of those great time management tools for teachers.

Beyond that, the students are more engaged in their learning and this is a classroom technology tool that they actively use as much as the teacher.

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