Document Cameras
Document cameras, often times referred to by the generic name of "Elmos" or "doc cams," have kicked the overhead projector to the curb and replaced it with a tool that provides less mess and much more functionality.
This technology is quickly becoming popular for the simple fact that it gives every student a front row seat, taking any object and making it as visible to the back row of the classroom as the front row!
Doc cams are a fantastic way to take advantage of on-the-spot teaching opportunities. They can be used to immediately garner comments and suggestions on an writing assignment given just a few minutes prior, or it can illuminate and enlarge a show-and-tell item that might otherwise get broken while being passed around the room.
These cameras also allow teachers to capture still photography to replace a paper scanner or to use in labs and discussions - great for capturing living organisms moving so quickly that students can't keep up.
With time-lapse photography available on all the Lumens cameras that we offer, one of our customers even captured the hatching of chicks that happened during the night while no one was in the classroom!
When shopping for this type of technology, look for...
- a flex arm (allowing you to turn the lens to view the item from any angle)
- additional lights separate from the lens (especially if you have a lots of overhead glare from flourescent lights)
- video ability (great fun for recording poetry readings, speech/language activities, oral reading, news broadcasts, or demonstrations!)
- software that allows you to run the camera from across the room using your eInstruction MobiView™
- controls on the base or somewhere that is easily accessible (if you will be close to your doc cam and want easy access to controls)
Interested in how a doc cam might benefit you?
Browse our high quality camera selection and be sure to explore ideas for teaching with document cameras!
