A key to success is making sure the document camera is correctly connected to the computer via the USB cable that is provided in the original box. It is also important that you have installed the Sphere 2 software that may not have been in the box when originally purchased. The software installation information is above.

If you have a new document camera model 300AFHD there is a small switch on the side of the document camera that is almost always set to the USB Flash Drive side coming out of the factory.

That switch needs to be set to the PC CAM side before connecting the USB cable above. In fact install the Sphere software first if it is not already installed, put the switch in the PC CAM setting then connect the USB cable to your computer or docking station.

Once connected the computer will finish installing the visualizer software then it will be ready for use.

The use of the document camera can be used across the vast spectrum of the curriculum and below are some best practices to get you thinking about how it can make an impact in the classroom.

• • Share a book, newspaper or magazine article

  • Share and edit student work

  • Model how to take notes or how to highlight important passages

  • Show a science experiment up close and on the big screen

  • Model solving math problems using manipulatives

  • Share an art demonstration

  • Share and annotate over a rare map or document

  • Have a student model a Physical Education demonstration

  • Create time lapsed movies…watch a butterfly emerge from a chrysalis

  • Record the video and audio of a lesson that happens under the camera for future use

  • Use the camera as part of a webinar that involves an expert who cannot visit the school