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?
I didn’t even know something like this existed! I would love to have one so I could use it for some for
Learning for my little ones!
This would be amazing! I love using document cameras in the classroom! But at the new school that I’m at, I don’t have one. This would be a great win!
I would love to win one of these document cameras for my classroom so I can use it to read to my students.
Thank you
How fun! This would be handy even in my Sunday School room!
Not sure how much I’d use this, but I’m sure once I start it will take off. The imagining looks amazing.
This would be great to use with small books, so that kids could see the details in the pictures.
This would be awesome. I have been subbing and have been using a doc camera in the classrooms there, would love to have one in my preschool classroom.
Used an OHT until they brought Interactive whiteboards which I found restrictive. I would love one.
That’s really great, looks easy to use and kids can display there own work awesome!
I would love one of these. It would be awesome to use for all subjects.