Good teachers are always on a quest to engage their students at a higher level. One way to increase learner interest is to use a document camera. With a document camera, teachers can project an image of almost anything they have on hand to enhance their lesson. The latest models feature connections to a computer and powerful software to manipulate images.
A visual aid, any kind of visual aid, makes lectures and presentations more interesting to the audience. Our minds prefer to be engaged on several levels. If your teaching method uses only one medium of communication, the listener’s brain gets bored and starts thinking of other things to combat the boredom.
Although it’s possible to point to a picture or hold up an object while teaching, today’s tech-savvy learners expect more. A document camera makes it possible to smoothly integrate visual aids into any kind of lesson. It does this through the use of a video camera and an advanced optical system. You may wish to share an image of an antique map or an original document. Even three-dimensional objects can be displayed with a document camera.
In the most basic application, a document camera can be connected directly to a video projector. Whatever is placed in the range of the camera is projected on the screen for all to see. These devices can also be connected to a computer, where the images can be added to a presentation or manipulated with software to enhance the output. Finally, the document camera can be connected to a smart whiteboard, for the ultimate in interactivity.
As the technology available to students continues to expand, teaching methods will need to evolve to keep pace. A document camera is the perfect way to bridge the gap between traditional visual aids and high-tech expectations.
Tags: document camera, interactivity, optical system, teaching methods, video camera, video projector, visual aids