Document (doc) Cameras

This post is about a hardware technology tool in Doctor Wang's PPT about the previous T3PP results. This hardware is a document camera, used by the majority of teachers. 

Document cameras are tools that allow teachers to display anything they want to under a camera that is connected to their smartboard and/or projector. Using this tool, teachers can display books, handouts, worksheets, papers, flashcards, directions, and much more on the board where all students can see what is under their doc camera. Teachers can zoom in and out and freeze the camera to display a photo of what is/was under the camera. To give an example of how doc cameras can be used, teachers can guide and facilitate students using their doc camera to facilitate student-centered learning. The teacher would have a worksheet under the doc camera, and while the students are collaboratively answering the questions, the teacher can fill out the sheet recording their thinking so that everyone can see.

Some document cameras are able to connect to a laptop or desktop. This allows teachers to use the document camera when using the screening-sharing tool on Zoom. Teachers that instruct online courses and/or use Zoom and other online platforms for instruction primarily benefit from having a document camera that has this capacity and ability. In addition, some document cameras allow teachers can upload images and/or videos recorded on their document camera for students to view using another tool like Google Classroom. These aspects contribute to how this is a versatile tool to have for instruction.

Students and teachers can benefit from having a doc camera in the classroom. The ease of use of doc cameras depends on the specific doc camera being used. Some are simple and easy to use, while others are more complex and difficult. In addition, some technical problems that occur while using a doc camera may get in the way of instruction and may require IT support. However, when doc cameras are running well and without issues, they are very helpful tools for teachers to have in the classroom. The versatility of doc cameras is amazing to the instruction opportunity that these tools provide. Document cameras are primarily used to present content during instruction, which would be the 4th event in the Seven-Event Framework. However, doc cameras have the capability to provide many other purposes and are versatile due to the fact that they are able to present content in many forms and ways. Many classrooms have doc cameras, and therefore the likelihood of me personally using s doc camera in my future career is very high. I feel that document cameras are an effective instructional tool, and therefore, I feel good about using this particular tool in my teaching.