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The document camera may be the easiest technology to integrate into the classroom since the chalkboard. Our technology experts reviewed a good sampling for you from this competitive education marketplace. See our Feature Checklist for quick comparisons. You will note three additional companies listed there: Ken-A-Vision and Dukane, two elders in presentation technology; and Califone, with its Diggiditto—the youngest entry, released in August 2009. Deals can certainly be made, so ask for education pricing. Document cameras are a great way to start, or add to your district’s interactive classroom plans.--Ken Royal

Qomo QD1200
Our Goal: To find the most user-friendly document camera for teachers’ everyday use.

The Response: Teachers say it has improved the way their students learn.

Why Qomo? We chose full-size cameras instead of portables because of the built-in switching and scaling functions and lower cabling costs.

How We Use It: We use them in over 340 classrooms—in English classes for scrolling documents, and in science for dissection labs.

What’s Next: We hope to increase interactivity by adding interactive whiteboards to the document cameras.
—Luann Murphy

AVerMedia CP300 and SPC300
Our Goal: To provide clearer images of teaching resources for whole-class demonstrations and to capture annotations and student work for conferences, growth over time, and professional learning.

Why We Like It: When it’s paired with a digital projector, there are more opportunities for spontaneity with resources and a higher use of visual models. The recording capabilities allow educators to model for professional development.

Best Feature: AVerMedia support and training is invaluable to new users.

Usage: This is a vital tool for many of our teachers, and use is widespread in our district.

What’s Next: We plan to purchase more, and will focus on the specific instructional strategies.—Ivan Duran

Epson DC-10
Our Goal: While whiteboards are a really cool tool, we had some issues with them interrupting the flow of learning — computers freezing; network loss; calibration problems; and shorter students couldn’t reach the displays. So we decided to focus on equipping classrooms with document cameras instead.

The Response: We purchased a few, but before long, all teachers wanted a document camera. Students were motivated by the interactivity. It became evident that this was a tool worth pursuing. Our PTA began raising money to purchase document cameras for each of our classrooms.

How Teachers Use It: They share student work, display books, text, or objects for scientific study. Since video capture was not a high need, we found the Epson DC-10 right for the job, and at a third of the cost of higher-end machines.

Why We Like It: The Epson DC-10 can display virtually anything that is placed under its lens—handwriting; intricate illustrations of the read-aloud book; sharp, clear color paintings. It can be used to display the page in the textbook, and can demonstrate origami folds or how to multiply fractions.

What’s Next: My hope is that all of our teachers will use the document camera not just as a glorified overhead projector, but as a truly interactive educational tool.
—Rojanne Brown

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Face to Face: Alan Kay Still Waiting for the Revolution
Since inventing much of the technology behind personal computing in the late 1960s, Alan Kay has dedicated his work to developing better learning environments for children. Now a senior researcher at HP and the president of Viewpoints Research Institute, Kay is launching Squeak, a multimedia authoring tool that allows children to construct dynamic simulations of real-world phenomena.

Forum: Just-in-Time Tech Training
It's common knowledge that we administrators must help propel teachers to the level where they are as comfortable working with technology as they are with the subject they teach. The task for school districts is to devise training processes that facilitate this end.