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?
This would be so helpful for the hybrid learning rooms so the students who are in the classroom and the students learning from home would all be able to view the book or handout.
I find that my kids need visuals more than ever when learning and practicing new skills and concepts. There is the constant “I can’t see” when I am modeling for the whole class or even a group. Especially with sound boxes and with math integer bars. This would support all of the kids in learning and practicing skills and concepts across the curriculum. I would love to win this, and I will be happy for whoever does win. It will be a blessing!
What thoughtful and generous giveaways! In my teaching and my prof dev with colleagues, the Hue would be amazing.
My current document camera decides when it wants to work so a reliable one would be great for every subject!
I would love to have one for my classroom! I have been wanting one for years.
I’d love to play around with this to see what home uses I could come up for it. Very cool.
These flexible ones are so cool! This would be great for smaller print books and manipulatives! It would be really neat to own one!
I saw my mentor teacher using this in her classroom this semester and it was great. It was easier to show the students something up close all at the same time. I would love to have one of these when I begin to teach in my own classroom!
What a great tool to have in the classroom!
This document camera is amazing. I love learning of new things from you that help aid in improving teaching. Thank you.
Me too