Document Camera for the Classroom
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.
Not too long ago, I bought a portable document camera to try out. I have to say…it’s so great!
I didn’t have anything like this when I was teaching, but I know that it’s very common for classrooms to have something similar. A lot of document cameras work with your laptop and projector so you can share pictures, books, science demonstrations, or whatever else with your students!
Here’s how it works:
- Connect the document camera to your computer or projector. The HUE HD Pro Document camera made that a breeze! I simply plugged it into the USB port on my computer and it was ready to go. I didn’t even have to download any software to my computer.
- Since I use a Mac, I opened up QuickTime to use the camera. Windows Camera would also work.
- Then I just placed an item underneath the camera and a larger version appeared on my laptop. If I was in the classroom, I would hook this up to the projector so a bigger picture would be shown to students.
The point of this camera is to show close-ups to students. I’m sure you all know that feeling when you’re trying to show the whole class something, but not everyone can see. This solves that problem!
Ideas for the Classroom
- Show science demonstrations
- To show students words or pictures in a book
- Explain math problems with manipulatives
- Show & Tell items
- Demonstrate how to write alphabet letters or numbers
- Model how to do an activity
- Show concepts of print from a book
- Display students’ work
You can also use this for virtual learning!
I love that this document camera allows you to take snapshots or even videos of what you’re demonstrating under the camera. The neck is adjustable so you can position it however you’d like.
Here are some other features of this camera:
- built-in microphone
- auto-focus
- manual zoom
- can be used for video chat
This is really a cool addition to any classroom!
How would you use a document camera in the classroom?
A document camera would make presenting with hands on manipulatives so easy, even when I don’t have a class set for each student to use.
🤩 I have asked admin for two years now for a document camera, but I’m “only Pre-K”, so it keeps getting forgotten…I haven’t been able to purchase my own, so winning one would be fabulous!
I was unaware of such an amazing device. I’d love to add this to my preschool 3’s class. Thanks for any consideration.
That is so cool.
I LOVE this document camera!! Soo many possibilities for my full-day kindergarten classroom!!
The doc cameras helped me so much during distance learning. I was able to easily share with my students during zoom classes.
What a great idea! I could imagine using this a lot for readings of books. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
I need this in my life! Our school has one per grade and my class doesn’t get to use it. This would help so much in my instruction every day. Pick me! Thanks!
I’d love to win this for my classroom! Both the online& in person kiddos could see what we’re doing!
This would be great for my kinders – I don’t have a doc cam!