Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Document Cameras in your Science Class

Now that I have been discussing uses of Document Cameras (doc cams) in your 21st Century classroom a co-worker suggested that I give out some specific advice for teachers to use them. So what I will be doing is to provide some general topic ideas for teachers to integrate the use of their doc cams into everyday instruction.

My first installment will cover some ways to use your doc cam in your Science class. In our school system we use Lumens DC 166 models with our classroom solution. You may have another version which is perfectly fine, many of the ideas that I will be discussing will transfer easily over to other models of doc cams.

What ways can you use your doc cam in your Science class you may be asking. Or you may just be saying let's get to the point, focus.

  • 3D imaging of Atomic Models
  • Plant Growth over time
  • Dissections
  • Terrariums
  • Show live images along with book photos
  • Display experiments for entire class to see
  • Show details of Bugs and other manipulatives
  • Display "Overhead" resources and use inherent software to write over the sheet without a vis-a-vis pen
  • Make recordings of experiments, dissections, classwork and homework
  • Connect to a Microscope to show cells and cell structures from slides


These are just a small snippet of the things that you can do with your doc cam in your Science classroom. I have a
Livebinder that offers up some additional resources to help get you started in your classroom with integrating your doc cam. One last thing that you may not have thought about that your doc cam can do. Did you know that the doc cam can act as a webcam with Skype? Yes, that is what I said, and you may then be saying so what. Well did you think about how this could open your students up to areas in Science that they may not ever get an opportunity to participate in.

How, you may be asking? You can contact Science Museums where you can take a virtual field trips. You can contact Science departments in Colleges and Universities so that your students who are interested in careers can find out what it takes to become a scientist. Watch my videos to see how to set up your doc cam with Skype and use it with Office products.

Again you may be saying how will this affect me in my instructional day? As a teacher using a doc cam could factor into the new evaluation tool for Standard IV for integrating and utilizing technology in instruction. It can also encompass the new Common Core standards for using technology tools and skills to reinforce classroom concepts and activities. As well as using technology and other resources for the purpose of assessing, organizing, and sharing of information.

Stay tuned for additional posts on ways to use your doc cam in your Math, English, Social Studies and Specialty areas.


2 comments:

Kathryn K Brown said...

Cool ideas. I see the new life vibrancy. I do not have a technology classroom, but may I still have a document camera?

eherreid said...

Hi Kathryn,
I am glad you liked my blog article.

You don't need to have a technology classroom to use some of the ideas from the blog.
Although you may have to check with your onsite technology person at the school to see where the projector and doc cams are in the building so that you can use them.