ISCI 761: Handy Hardware to Enhance Experiences (Week 6)

 

Photo sourced from https://medium.com/ipevo/ipevo-wishpool-is-back-for-november-and-check-out-the-gifts-weve-in-store-787970b1eacc

There are many great technology tools that can be utilized in the library or classroom setting to enhance learning. One important piece of hardware that many educators may already be aware of is the document camera. What you may not know is that document cameras can be used for so much more than just projecting a page on the big screen. A document camera is essentially a camera that is usually attached to an arm or stand and is connected to a base that sits on top of your desk. Sometimes this arm can be moved or adjusted to allow for better focus and positioning. The document camera plugs into your computer and then projects whatever the camera is focused on onto the computer screen or even a Smartboard. These cameras are typically used to display a paper copy of a document in a large format, but their use does not end there.   

The RAT model is a framework designed to help educators understand the role that technology plays in teaching and learning. This framework addresses the ways that technology tools, like document cameras, can be used to replace typical instruction strategies, amplify practices, and transform learning for students of all ages (Hughes, 2016). In the sense of replacement, the first part of the RAT model, document cameras can be used to replace the methods with which you introduce worksheet activities to the class. Instead of just holding up the document for the class to see as your walk them through it or showing a digital copy of the document on the Smartboard, you can just slide one copy underneath the document camera and walk them through the instructions on a larger scale. You can also use this strategy when going over answers to activities, tests, or quizzes and even when discussing revision and editing techniques. All of this can be done with the use of the document camera in a way that magnifies it so that it is easier for the class to follow along.   

        To amplify the learning experience, document cameras can be used to project books in larger formats. Instead of having the whole class gathered around the carpet or at their desks, trying to look at one small book, the teacher can put the book under the document camera to display on the big screen. This would be especially helpful when analyzing detailed illustrations or specific passages in a lengthy text. Another example of how this hardware can be used as an amplification tool is for sharing student writing. When the young authors in our classroom complete the writing process and publish their final draft, sharing their writing with the class is a pivotal part of the experience that may sometimes get missed. Now, instead of having a class of students straining to see their peers writing, or losing interest because they cannot see it, the presenter can showcase their work using the document camera. This helps build confidence in our students as writers and identities as young authors. 

             To transform learning, document cameras can also be used to showcase learning activities that do not include documents at all. One example of this is using this camera as a transformation tool to exhibit science experiments on the big screen. Instead of crowding around the table to watch a demonstration or a video online, the students can watch you model the process up close and in real-time. This tool can also be used when examining artifacts, chemicals, or samples that you cannot always share with the class. This would be especially useful when observing live animals that cannot be passed around the room and could even be used to create a time-lapse video of the animals, allowing the students to discover the changes that occur with this species over time.   

The possibilities are truly endless with this technology and have proven to have a major impact on your educational setting, depending on how you use it. If you are interested in learning more about the various ways you can use a document camera in your school, check out the links below! 

16 Smart Ways to Use a Document Camera in Science Class 

12 Creative Ideas on How to Use a Document Camera in the Classroom and Online 


References: 

Horton, J. (2021, January 14). 16 smart ways to use a document camera in science class. We Are Teachers. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://www.weareteachers.com/document-camera-science-class-tips/ 

Hughes, J. (2016, June 24). R.A.T. model. TechEdges. Retrieved September 19, 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20190612101737/https://techedges.org/r-a-t-model/ 

Johnes, S. (2022, April 29). How to use a document camera - 12 ideas for teachers. Science and Literacy. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://scienceandliteracy.org/how-to-use-a-document-camera/ 

Maclemale, R. (2005). The Technology Integration Matrix. TIM. Retrieved September 19, 2022, from https://fcit.usf.edu/matrix/matrix/ 



Science photo sourced from https://medium.com/ipevo/recording-and-sharing-of-science-experiments-made-easy-by-ipevo-v4k-doc-cam-30db6729b8eb


Comments

  1. Christine DonaldsonOctober 2, 2022 at 2:18 PM

    Christina,

    Prior to our district purchasing Promethean boards, every teacher had a document camera, and they were used daily. As desktop computers were phased out and Promethean boards phased in. Document camera's disappeared as the current tech was not compatible with the new tech. I have seen more teachers purchase document cameras for many of the same reasons you have listed. They are such a versatile tool for all levels of education. Thank you for sharing the resources, I enjoyed looking through the ideas.
    Christine Donaldson

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cheryl Milburn-JenkinsOctober 2, 2022 at 5:18 PM

    Hi Christina!
    As a classroom teacher, the document camera was my best friend! I used it daily for a variety of things from displaying a read aloud, sharing and magnifying objects we were observing and even recording lessons. And of course, during COVID and teaching virtually, it was literally my lifeline to my students. Without it, I don't think teaching virtually would have gone as well as it did for me. There are so many wonderful uses for these cameras within a classroom!

    ReplyDelete

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