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Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #15 “Peer To Peer”

Smarty — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:41:59 +0000

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.

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #12 “Show Me How”

Smarty — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:23:40 +0000

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.

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #11 “Flashcard Review”

Smarty — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:52:21 +0000

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

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #10 “Map It”

Smarty — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:14:40 +0000

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).

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #9 “Jigsaw Notes”

Smarty — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:09:19 +0000

JIGSAW NOTES ———————————————————————————–

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

Students can work together to write the complete notes for any given topic. Rather

than only giving a report verbally, a document camera allows students to

collaboratively produce valuable notes for the class.

For any Subject or Content Area

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Paper with subtopic headings listed and space to write notes in each section

- Index cards or paper cut to a similar size

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Decide which subtopic within a given topic to assign for review, i.e. causes, effects, characteristics, and possible preventions for erosion.

2. Prepare a template paper divided into sections with subheadings listed.

DURING

3. Assign small groups of students to each subtopic of the topic to be reviewed.

4. Direct students to consult their notes, textbooks, and other resources make concise notes for the subtopic assigned to them.

5. Collect each group’s notes, and assemble them together under the document camera.

6. Project the image of the completed notes, discuss as a class, and direct all students to copy completed notes.

AFTER

7. In addition to preparing written notes for the subtopic assigned to them, have students become subject matter experts by presenting the topic to the class.

ADAPTATIONS

- As a final review of important concepts, repeat the activity, assigning different groups to different subtopics.

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #5 Science “Categorizing Concepts”

Smarty — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:36:26 +0000

CATEGORIZING CONCEPTS #5—————————————–

CONTENT AREA: SCIENCE

GRADE LEVEL: MIDDLE SCHOOL

The following activity can be used to introduce or review examples of science concepts in categories, such as vertebrates and invertebrates. A document camera allows all students to actively participate.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- One paper with the category names listed in columns

- Papers cut in small pieces with the names of different animals to classify into vertebrates and invertebrates

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Label the piece of paper with the category names, i.e. vertebrate and invertebrate.

2. Write the names of different vertebrate and invertebrate animals on each of the small cards (works best if there are enough examples for every member of the class).

DURING

3. Project the image of the diagram using the document camera.

4. Pass out a small card with the name of an animal written on it to each student.

5. Direct students to decide whether the animal on each card is a vertebrate or invertebrate, and place the card in the appropriate category.

6. Discuss as a class, making corrections to student classifications as necessary.

AFTER

7. As a review activity on a separate occasion, mix the cards and pass out to different students, repeat activity as listed above.

8. Create a few new cards with animal names that have not been previously reviewed as a class. Project the image of the cards using a document camera. Assign students to categorize the animals for homework. To review homework the following day as a class, pass out the cards assigned as homework. Allow students to place each card in the appropriate category using the document camera.

ADAPTATIONS

- Instead of preparing the cards with items to categorize, have students create the cards by writing the name of an animal on each small card.

- This class activity can be easily adapted for other categorizing activities.

Clearly, document cameras rock!

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #4 Health “You Are What You Eat”

Smarty — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:25:38 +0000

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT #4 ————————————-

CONTENT AREA: HEALTH EDUCATION

GRADE LEVELS: MIDDLE SCHOOL

Increase students’ awareness of food ingredients and percentages of nutritional components such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein, fat, sodium, and fiber by using a document camera to project the images of actual food wrappers.

This activity can be an eye-opening experience for everyone!

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Food wrappers that contain nutrition and ingredient information

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Assign students to bring in an item of food, or only the wrapper, that contains the nutrition and ingredient label.

DURING

2. Using the document camera, project the ingredients and nutritional label of the

food items or wrappers that students have brought in.

3. As a class, discuss the components of each food item displayed, calling attention to certain target concepts.

AFTER

4. Project several wrappers with nutritional information that have not already been discussed as a class. Have students discuss collaboratively which food is the healthiest based on the information given or have students write a paragraph critically analyzing the healthiness of the items displayed.

ADAPTATION

- Cut off the nutritional information of several food containers. Display using the document camera. Give students several choices of food names. Have students make educated guesses to match each product with its label based on the information given.