Tech Integration-Document Camera Blog #4

 

The hardware that I was curious about was the document camera. I had previously used one when working with a student who used a wheelchair and had limited mobility. It allowed him to see things at his level much easier and I was grateful to have that resource. In my research, I found that some document cameras have a lot more capabilities than I thought. The basic one that I used was a flexible armed camera that I could point down onto the paper I was writing on, etc., and project it onto the smartboard through the computer. The one I did research on, however, the IPEVO VZ-X,  has a microphone and the ability to record videos. It is a wireless version, so you do not need to be connected to a computer to use it, which leaves teachers free to walk around the classroom with the camera. Since the wireless version streams through WIFI, in classrooms that have 1-1 technology distribution, the students can stream the feed through their device. 

https://store.ipevo.com/IPEVO-VZ-R-HDMIUSB-8MP-Document-Camera_p_22.html

Many teachers only began to regularly use document cameras during the pandemic when they were teaching remotely, but I think that the cameras could also be well-utilized in a face-to-face classroom. 

While listening to the EdTech podcast, the host and guest were discussing the classic classroom setup. The teacher often stands in the front of the classroom, and the desks are placed in vertical rows. This causes distance between the teacher and the children in the seats at the back of the classroom resulting in the content being harder to see, harder to hear, and a disconnected feeling for the students. Technology and reimagined physical setup could go a long way in remedying this situation. For the setup, the host of the podcast directs us to look at entertainment venues. Many of these are in the round, have levels, and use screens. In a 1-1 classroom, teachers could make use of those screens and stream content from the smartboard or document camera straight to their device. This would cancel out any potential “cheap seats” within the classroom. If you are interested in the podcast, you can listen to this episode here: https://theedtechpodcast.com/empoweringteachingandlearning/.  They begin to speak on classroom structure around minute 52. 

The video recording function of the camera makes it easy for the teacher to create instructional videos on that camera that could be shared with her classroom. Having these videos available for students in their own teacher's voice and language and available as needed would be hugely beneficial for students. These created videos could also easily include options for open captioning and contrast adjustments. 

If we look at the use of this technology under the R.A.T. framework, I would assign it to the Amplification category. The use of the document camera for live-streaming and videos creates a more effective way of delivering content that allows for adjustments for learning styles and just-in-time capabilities. Let me give you a real-world personal example. My daughter has always struggled with math and ADHD. In fifth grade, she had math class right before lunch when it so happened that her attention was tanking along with her blood sugar. Thankfully, she had a teacher who would create and post videos using her document camera for all of her lessons. During homework time when my daughter would inevitably realize that she had missed an important step in solving the problem, she would turn on the video. She could pause it when she needed, enabling her to work at her own pace. The videos also allowed me to see how the teacher was explaining the content and what words she used. This cut down on so much confusion. If we look at the technology integration matrix, this would fall under active adaptation, as she was able to use technology independently to choose the rate of information and when it was given. If we look at the constructive learning part of the matrix, the description states, “students use technology tools to connect new information to their prior knowledge rather than passively receive information.”  If the videos that the teacher made were cataloged and accessible, which they were in this case, my daughter could rewatch previous videos to help activate prior knowledge on which she could build the new skills. 

The science teacher in the following YouTube video discusses the potential applications of the wireless document camera within his classroom: IPEVO VZ-X Visualiser Review - wireless, HDMI and USB visualizer - great for #distancelearning

In the video, he explains that the setup in his classroom has two zones: the computer area and the experimental lab. With the wireless camera, he can move it back and forth between the two zones and also use it to display the student's work from their desks. The ability to carry the camera around allows for student involvement in the learning process, and they could explain in their own words how they tackled the problem. 

This was an interesting video I found on how to use the document camera in more creative ways:

IPEVO VZ-R & OKIOCAM S | Document Cameras For ARTISTS & ART TEACHERS | Unboxing | Demonstration 🎨🎬

The art teacher uses a lot of the special effects of the document camera to enhance her online art class. The camera has options to change the filters, exposures, and shadows to what's on the screen to make it look very different and artistic. This would be a great way to create pictures that highlight negative space and chiaroscuro. This is a good opportunity for older students to use the camera themselves to experiment with contrasts and composition. The camera also has capabilities for slow-motion, stop motion, and time-lapse. This also provides a creative opportunity for students to create artistic or informational videos using these filters, etc., and share them on an online platform. A project like this could easily lend itself to collaboration and authentic adaptation. The students could create a presentation using these tools on content that interests them. 

Beth Gatza Art. (2021, June 3). IPEVO VZ-R & OKIOCAM S | Document Cameras For ARTISTS & ART TEACHERS | Unboxing | Demonstration 🎨🎬. YouTube. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8M0iap56AY&t=994s

Kit Betts-Masters. (2020, May 15). IPEVO VZ-X Visualiser Review - wireless, HDMI and USB visualizer - great for #distancelearning. YouTube. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVcgT_kvixQ

R.A.T. Model. (2016, June 24). Dr. Joan E. Hughes | TechEdges | Technology Integration Research. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20190612101737/https://techedges.org/r-a-t-model/

The Edtech Podcast. (2022, February 16). The Edtech Podcast - for global education innovation and edtech. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://theedtechpodcast.com/