Spring has sprung and many opportunities to learn using manipulatives abound. Teachers share flowers, bugs, leaves, and more. Technology, such as a document camera can help teachers provide learning activities for students in class and virtually. Document cameras provide a large screen view of the materials and manipulatives presented by the teacher. This can increase engagement for students but can also provide video magnification for students with visual impairments.
Features of a document camera can include:
- Zoom in/zoom out
- Rotate/Pan/Freeze
- Capture images
- View images stored on camera or SD card
- Picture by picture (live image surrounded by stored images)
- Use whiteboard tools to make annotations on images
- Capture images at preset intervals
- Record video and audio
- Connect a microscope viewer
Consider these ways to use a document camera in the classroom and virtually:
- Place a timer on the camera so all students will be able to see it and monitor the time.
Literacy:
- Project text and illustrations in a book while reading to the class
Math:
- Display math manipulatives such as coins, unifix cubes, etc.
- Place objects with interesting details such as fossils, plants, or shapes on the camera and project a large image to have students sort or classify
Model handwriting:
- write to-do lists, daily schedules, etc.
Demonstrate how to fill out forms or worksheets:
- Project a large visual picture on a whiteboard for students to label.
- Project a graphic organizer on a whiteboard for students to fill in with dry erase markers.
Science:
- Demonstrate a science experiment
- Place real life objects like leaves, worms, caterpillars, and cacti under the document camera to prompt scientific inquiry.
- Point the document camera towards materials so that the entire class has a good visual range. For example, if you are measuring a liquid, tilt the camera so that it points at the side of the cup and the measurements will be visible on the large screen.
Fun:
- Rotate the camera head to take a picture of the whole class
To learn more about access technology for students with vision impairments in the classroom, borrow Access Technology for Blind and Low Vision Accessibility, Second Edition from the T-TAC ODU Lending Library.
