[LM_NET] What a document camera does

[Barb Engvall <macbarb@CHARTER.NET>]

After my request for ideas for using a document camera, I got some  
responses asking for what a document camera is...so here is the  
answer to that question. I thought I was one of the last to get on  
the band wagon for this, but with the lack of responses I have had, I  
guess I am on the 'bleeding edge'...again!  ;-) Part of the problem  
is that in order to use a document camera you also need to have a  
video projector...

A document camera is the 21st century version of an opaque projector  
but far better! (though I doubt I would ever have put my hands in an  
opaque projector!) However it is small, lightweight and portable. You  
do need a video projector to work with it. I have attached a link so  
you can see what one looks like. There are several different  
brands...Elmo and Avermedia are two that I know of ... This is the  
Avermedia version..  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/ 
SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2224211&CatId=1035

You can put down anything and it will show up on the screen. You can  
zoom in to show details; it is an easy way for students to share  
their work. I am now thinking that there are books that I haven't  
been able to share with children because the illustrations are  
soooooo small (How Brown Mouse kept Christmas and Beatrix Potter  
books come to mind).

Our state bid price is $500 and a video projector is about $1000, so  
it is a hefty expenditure, but WOW, one of the most useful tools I  
have seen in a long time. I loved it when I got a video projector to  
attach to my teaching computer; this has just added another  
dimension. I can see it being used for science and math along with  
reading and writing!]

Hope this helps!

Barb

****************************
Barb Engvall
=^..^=

Teacher-Librarian
John Campbell Elem
Selah, WA
macbarb@charter.net
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/JC/jc.cfm




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