A Bird's Eye View

Here’s something you simply MUST know about. One of the most interesting types of visualizers now available is the ceiling-mounted document camera. This type of document camera mounts from the ceiling, requiring no hardware on the desktop, podium or lectern. That’s the kind of “light footprint” that many instructional venues require. It offers strong potential for science classrooms, medical teaching facilities, university classrooms, museums, auditoriums, houses of worship, demonstration kitchens, exhibit halls, and even cruise ships. (The cruise line could have used this type of document camera dozens of times on my recent anniversary cruise. They are so old-fashioned!)

So here is what is happening in this arena:

• Lumens just announced a new High-Definition Ceiling Camera, the CL510 Document Camera. This type of doc cam permits presentations with a completely clear line of sight between the presenter and the audience. And the cable mess disappears, too.  As I have stated previously, Lumens does document cameras well, and prices them affordably.  Plus they offer a five-year warranty.
• On the high end, WolfVision offers what they call a Ceiling Visualizer, which can be viewed here. This unit comes with a three-year warranty.

Different types of document cameras fit different needs. This is an example of a unique need. Let me know if you are aware of any other offerings in this category by simply commenting below.

Fall 2012: Grants, Contests, and More

It’s hard to muster your donkey cam kung fu without a document camera of your own! Use these opportunities to make things happen for your classroom. I will keep you posted as other companies step up to the plate for schools. Here are the only opportunities this fall to win or earn a document camera for your school or classroom, or to get a freebie:

Lumens Ladibug Grant

Digital Wish for ELMO

Recordex Free Wireless Tablet Offer

(for the cost of shipping, when you buy an entry-level document camera/one per school, extended until the end of September; use the promotion code SCE12 with any online retailer)

Samsung-Techwin Grants-Contests-Scholarships

For now, I want to give kudos to the companies above. But let’s just say that document camera companies should do much more than they are doing if they want to reach schools. Document camera companies should offer regular and creative contests, grants, and freebies to struggling schools. Once a school or department gets a successful implementation going, it is certain to spread. Sometimes they just need to prime the pump.