CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

Learning to compare and contrast requires high-level cognitive analysis. Comparing

and contrasting is a skill used in many different disciplines at all levels of education. Using an

 document camera can help students practice using different graphic organizers

collaboratively before being asked to use them independently.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Whiteboard or large [...]]]> COMPARE AND CONTRAST   ————————————————————–

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

Learning to compare and contrast requires high-level cognitive analysis. Comparing

and contrasting is a skill used in many different disciplines at all levels of education. Using an

 document camera can help students practice using different graphic organizers

collaboratively before being asked to use them independently.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Whiteboard or large sheet of paper that students can write on

- A drawing of a graphic organizer used for comparing and contrasting, such as a Venn

diagram, double bubble map, or a T-chart

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Decide the compare and contrast topic to assign students.

2. Prepare a drawing of the graphic organizer to be practiced, such as a Venn diagram.

DURING

3. Project the compare and contrast diagram using the  document camera.

4. Call students to the board to complete different areas of the compare and contrast

diagram.

5. Discuss notes as a class, changing and adding as necessary.

6. Have all students copy the collaboratively designed notes.

AFTER

7. After creating notes together as a class, assign an independent project such as an essay

that discusses the topic in depth.

8. Choose a different compare/contrast method of organization to demonstrate to

students each day for several days.

ADAPTATIONS

- Assign a compare and contrast topic and a method of organization. Allow students to

work collaboratively or independently to complete the notes. To review the topic and

check for accuracy, choose student products to project with a document

camera.

- Allow students to choose how they will organize notes for a graphic organizer. After

students have completed their notes, show the class different ideas by projecting

student samples using a document camera.

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

Use a document camera to peer critique student work. This activity works

very well to show students the difference between low, average, and high quality work, and

to give students an idea of how their work will be assessed.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Student work with names covered

Using document cameras [...]]]> PEER TO PEER     ———————————————————–

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

Use a document camera to peer critique student work. This activity works

very well to show students the difference between low, average, and high quality work, and

to give students an idea of how their work will be assessed.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Student work with names covered

Using document cameras in simple yet effective ways

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Choose a collection of student work. Fold over or otherwise cover student names.

DURING

2. Use the document camera to project an image of student work.

3. Critique as a class, asking questions such as the following:

- Which parts have been completed well?

- What information is missing that was required?

- Which parts of the work could be improved?

- How would you grade this work?

4. Have students write constructive criticism for the work displayed.  Collect the

comments and attach them to the work when it is returned to the student.

AFTER

5. If student work produced for a project generally fell below expectations, have

students re-do the target activity after learning from the critiques of the class.

ADAPTATIONS

- Use a document camera to “publish” superior student work by displaying it for

the first few minutes of class.

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

Bring the details of an item to be studied into vivid detail with a document camera. From showing the entire class the details of computer circuit boards or items on a microscope slide, to the details of a fossil, plant, or fingerprint, a document camera allows all [...]]]> UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL  ————————————————-

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

Bring the details of an item to be studied into vivid detail with a document camera. From showing the entire class the details of computer circuit boards or items on a microscope slide, to the details of a fossil, plant, or fingerprint, a document camera allows all students to see target details clearly.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Item to be studied, such as different types of rocks

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Prepare the items to be studied.

DURING

2. Use a document camera to project an image of the item to be studied.

3. Discuss students’ observations as a class.

4. Direct students to take notes regarding distinguishing characteristics of the item(s) studied.

AFTER

5. Project the image of two or more different items using a document camera.

Have students compare and contrast either in note form or as a complete paragraph.

6. Create a quiz by placing the item(s) discussed under a document camera. Point

to different parts of the item or change items as applicable. Have students identify

each target item on their paper.

ADAPTATIONS

- You can also hook up your  document camera to a microscope, allowing all

students to see the item studied in great detail.

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

It can be difficult for students to follow processes with only verbal directions, and a demonstration is often limited to only a few students who are close enough to see.   

This use if simple but very valuable.  A document camera is a tremendous asset to help students follow [...]]]> SHOW ME HOW ———————————————————

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

It can be difficult for students to follow processes with only verbal directions, and a demonstration is often limited to only a few students who are close enough to see.   

This use if simple but very valuable.  A document camera is a tremendous asset to help students follow procedures for many three-dimensional processes.

Use this activity to show students how to do a variety of activities, such as using a calculator, protractor, or drafting tools. You can also project images of yourself or a student demonstrating skills such as keyboarding, dissecting, creating a craft project or foldable study guide.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Item to be used for demonstration

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Decide which steps of the target skill will be demonstrated.

2. Depending on the project, create a series of samples that represent the individual steps ahead of time.

DURING

3. Project the image of the project step by step for students to follow.

4. Allow students to practice.

AFTER

5. On a separate day, “quiz” students on their newly acquired skills by calling them to

demonstrate the target skill for the class using the document camera.

ADAPTATIONS

- Use a document camera to show students how to fill out forms, and you’ll have fewer mistakes due to missed directions.

- Many models of  document cameras allow you to save the images to a computer, so you can keep a file of images to use when you teach the same skill again.

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, OR HIGH SCHOOL

The following activity can be used to review concepts through questions, vocabulary,

or required memorization such as multiplication tables. It is an excellent way to achieve class

participation with students such as beginning level English Language Learners or students

who may be shy to speak during a class discussion.

MATERIALS

- [...]]]> FLASHCARD REVIEW

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, OR HIGH SCHOOL

The following activity can be used to review concepts through questions, vocabulary,

or required memorization such as multiplication tables. It is an excellent way to achieve class

participation with students such as beginning level English Language Learners or students

who may be shy to speak during a class discussion.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Note cards or paper cut in similarly small pieces

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Create a few example flashcards that indicate to students the concepts or vocabulary

to be reviewed.

DURING

2. Direct each student to create several flash cards of the target concepts.  Students can

use index cards, or simply use small sheets of notebook paper or printer paper.

3. Have each student come to the projector and place flashcards questions, one at a time,

under the  document camera.

4. Direct the rest of the class to answer orally, either by choral response, or by selecting

individual students to respond.

AFTER

5. Choose some of the flashcards to project under the  document camera. Have

students copy these questions onto paper. Assign as homework.

6. After sufficient reviewing, select flash cards to include on an assessment.

ADAPTATIONS

- Collect all the flash cards. Choose several for a classroom mock quiz. Have students

write their answers on paper. Check together as a class.

- Collect all the flashcards after the class activity. Choose one flashcard to project each

day as bell work.

- Hold a class competition by dividing students into two teams. Direct each team to

create questions for the opposing team. Students from one team place questions under

 document camera, while students from the opposing team must answer the

question correctly.

Flashcards become a truly communal experience

CONTENT AREA: GEOGRAPHY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

Being able to correctly label a map with key features is an essential skill in geography.

Using a document camera to project a large image allows students to collaboratively practice their recall of geographic places large enough for everyone to see.

Simple - Yet Effective

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Outline map [...]]]> MAP IT ——————————————

CONTENT AREA: GEOGRAPHY

GRADE LEVELS: ANY

Being able to correctly label a map with key features is an essential skill in geography.

Using a document camera to project a large image allows students to collaboratively practice their recall of geographic places large enough for everyone to see.

Simple - Yet Effective

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Outline map of target geographic area

- Whiteboard or large sheet of paper that students can write on

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Prepare a paper with an outline map of the target geographic area.

DURING

2. Project the image of the outline map using the  document camera.

3. Call students to the projected image and direct each student to add another feature to

accurately to the map, i.e. continent, country, city, state, capitals, mountain ranges,

lakes, rivers, oceans, etc.

4. Discuss as a class, making corrections to student labels as necessary.

AFTER

5. Review with students by covering key features and names with removable sticky

notes. Lift the notes to reveal if students have given the right answers.

6. Create a quiz by covering target feature with removable sticky notes with numbers

written on them. Have students write their answers on their own paper and turn in.

ADAPTATIONS

- Instead of labeling with words, students can draw in geographic features, cultural

highlights, and landmarks onto the map. If students have drawn on a large sheet of

paper, the image can be saved and posted in the classroom.

- Using a document camera virtually eliminates the need to purchase costly

classroom maps that may quickly become outdated. Use a document camera to project

maps of any kind for students to use.

- As an icebreaker activity in a class of English Language Learners, have students pair

with a partner, interview each other about their culture, and add their partner’s name

to the correct location on a world map as they introduce their partner to the class.

And don’t forget the great Web 2.0 tools like Google Earth and Microsoft Worldwide Telescope, which augment the above process and are especially useful on interactive whiteboards (IWBs).