Document+Cameras

Document Cameras in the Classroom
Why? Because a picture is worth a thousand words. (And because it does not hurt to provide to high-quality visuals for students.)

Use it to project anything you place under it so your students can see it. Examples: 1. Examine a sprouting seed, note the differences between a nickel and a dime, or show the markings on a ruler. 2. Demonstrate how to prepare a microscope slide, how to hand sew a running stitch, or how to use a protractor. 3. Model how to fill out a paper form with pen or pencil.

4. Highlight or mark up text from a printed source: newspaper articletextbook, reference book, etc. 5. Perform a scientific experiment. 6. Read a picture book aloud.

Use it to take snapshots of almost anything that you want to embed. Examples: 1. Quickly obtain a "scanned" image of a document to import into a SMART Notebook or ActivInspire Flipchart. 2. Take photos of your students, their work, etc. Add to any digitized presentation such as PowerPoint, Prezi, Google Presentation, movie, etc. 3. If the model you're using offers a timed capture option, set it up to record an event by snapping a photo every so often. For instance, you can capture images of chicks hatching from eggs. Simply load the photos into MovieMaker or iMovie and you've got a stop-action film of the event.

Use it as a webcam. Examples: 1. Skype with someone. 2. Record a video and edit it in MovieMaker or iMovie (or use an online video editor such as Pixelation).

[[image:nwlsdtechnology/Screen shot 2013-03-22 at 2.28.36 PM.png]]Using the IPevo P2V Document Camera
1. Have your school's Technology Support Partner install the software on your computer. 2. Connect the camera to your computer with the USB cable provided. 3. Click on the P2V desktop icon. 4. Adjust the camera on its white stand at the appropriate distance from the object you want to show/film. If this stand is not tall enough, I find it helpful to set it on top of a brick of post-it notes or some other object. 5. If you have an "itty bitty book light" or other lighting source, your images will be much brighter. You can adjust the brightness in the Exposure tab at the top of the viewable frame, but this may not be bright enough if you use the camera live and you have your classroom lights off. A small desk lamp is also effective. 6. Your camera has two modes, single focus and continuous focus. If you leave the camera in continuous focus mode, you will see it try to focus repeatedly on the item, which can be frustrating. I suggest setting it to single focus. There is a small slider button on the opposite end of the device (farthest away from the lens) that you can slide to set to Single Focus. 7. If you want to take a photo, you can either press the green button on the camera itself, or you can press the green button on your computer screen. I recommend you use the one on your computer screen. That way, you won't jiggle your camera out of focus or out of position when you press the button. 8. Photos save to your computer. If you are using a Windows computer, you'll find your photos in MY COMPUTER>My Documents>My Photos>P2V folder. If you do not see this folder in My Documents, then try the Shared Documents folder. 9. Important: Do not attempt to use this camera in live mode while in ActivInspire Desktop Annotate mode. The image will flicker too much to be usable due to the conflicting refresh rates between the camera and the projector. If you want to annotate over an image from the document camera, take the photo, insert it into a flipchart, and then annotate over it that way. The same is most likely true of Smart Notebook, but I haven't tested it.

Using the iPevo "Ziggy" Document Camera
This camera is virtually the same as the iPevo P2V. However, the STAND is fabulous. If you have a choice between these two cameras, buy the Ziggy. Go ahead. It only costs about ten bucks more and you'll be glad you did.

Refer to the P2V directions above for using it.

Using the Lumens DC265 "Ladibug" Document Camera
What an awesome tool this is! From taking photos of workbook or textbook pages to performing a live science experiment for all to see, these cameras pack a powerful educational punch!

Here are some tips for their use: 1. Ask your school's Technology Assistant to install the camera on your computer. 2. Connect the camera's power cord to an outlet. 3. Make a choice: a. Connect the camera to a projector OR b. Connect the camera to your computer. 4. Turn the camera on by pressing the POWER button on the camera or on the remote. 5. Turn on the projector, or if you are connected to your computer, click on MY COMPUTER, then click on the V2 Presenter Icon. 6. Adjust the camera arm to the desired height and position. 7. Place the item to be photographed under the camera. 8. Press AUTO TUNE. 9. Make final adjustments to zoom, lighting, and position of object. 10. The camera is live. To take a photo, press CAPTURE (camera icon) or RECORD (video camera icon). 11. To view photos/videos recorded on the camera, press SOURCE. To return to camera mode, press SOURCE again. 12. To show a slide show of images on the camera, select the first photo you wish to show, and then use the right arrow key to scroll through the photos. 13. Photos may be taken off of the camera and stored on your computer. Either remove the SD card from the slot on the side of the camera and put it in a card reader (or a regular digital camera) and upload the photos as you would normally do, or use the computer to take your photos, and then save them to the desired location on your computer.

Of course, you may even have an ActiView model (operates very similarly to the Lumens DC 265) or a Ken-a-Vision model in your classroom. All of these cameras operate in a similar fashion. If you have questions on how to maximize the use of your document camera, please do not hesitate to place a Tech Help Desk request.