How to Teach Reading With a Doc Cam

A doc cam can be thought of as a glorified overhead projector, except that a doc cam can project an actual document, whereas transparencies must be used with an overhead projector. Because a doc cam can project any resource material you want to display, you can use it to teach reading comprehension, especially in higher grades and education levels that focus more on textbook reading than decoding or phonics. Using the doc cam to work from one document, instead of each student working individually, helps assure that all students are at the same place in the discussion.

Things You'll Need

  • White wall or projection screen
  • Writing utensils
  • Different-colored highlighters
  • Resource text
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Instructions

    • 1

      Develop a lesson plan with measurable objectives that incorporate reading-comprehension concepts such as inference, main idea, comparing and contrast, fact and opinion, and vocabulary building.

    • 2

      Gather reading materials that focus on the key concepts from the lesson plan. Create working copies of the documents because you will be writing on them.

    • 3

      Point the doc cam's projector toward a white board or projection screen.

    • 4

      Turn on the camera and projector and place a document face-up on the projection surface.

    • 5

      Focus the doc cam, referring to the projected image of the document and moving the machine's lens closer or further away from the document as necessary. The doc cam may have an automatic focus feature that eliminates this step.

    • 6

      Highlight or underline the main idea of the story. Using a different colored highlighter or pen, number items in a list. Using a third color, circle vocabulary words that need defined or clarified. Answer any comprehension questions that accompany the story.

    • 7

      Develop well-written sentences using the circled vocabulary words from Step 6. Write on a separate piece of paper, using the doc cam to project the image as you create, revise and edit the sentences, allowing students to witness part of the writing process as well as develop reading-comprehension skills.

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