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?
Would love to win this awesome tool!
These are wonderful. I would love to win one.
This would be awesome for my classroom. It would help me explain so many things better to all my children at one time instead of 12 separate times!
Yes!! That is exactly why I love this camera. No one wants to explain something 12 separate times!
I would love to win this. It would help with teaching multiple children at the same time. What a great giveaway!
It is nice to see something that any teacher can use for helping children understand what we are teaching! This looks like a very helpful tool.
First, where did you get that blue tray/plate? I could use one of those!
Second, I don’t have an official doc camera but I use a makeshift setup with an stand and the camera on my iPad. It’s not perfect but works for now.
Hi! The trays are from Target. I believe they only sell them when it’s back-to-school time!
I’d love to try this out in my classroom! Great ideas!
As a tutor who currently teaches only online (through Zoom), this would be a game-changer! I could do so much more with my tutoring students if I had a document camera!
This would tremendously help with virtual read-alouds of stories and analysing printed text not found online.
Thanks for sharing!
Love this! The ability to show items up close helps all students and makes the classroom much more inclusive.