I teach Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and Physics in a low-income school in Oregon. All of my students are sophomores, juniors, or seniors; many with hopes to follow a career in science. Students who take my class are usually dedicated and focused, but still struggle with the issues surrounding a low-income setting.
Right now, the depth of our classroom technology is a overhead that burns through bulbs like a bachelor through tomato soup, a TV that sometimes has color, and a three LCD projectors shared amongst the science department. Part of my schtick as a chemistry teacher is showing models, breath-taking demonstrations, and equipment to my students. The layout of my classroom is such that it is hard for all my students to get a good view of what is happening up front on my demonstration table.
A document camera will allow me to present what is happening on my demonstration table in an up-close-and-personal fashion for all my students. Science (chemistry especially) is so much more exciting when you can observe the amazing things it has to offer. What better way to observe than with a full blown, class wide, visible projection?
Not only will this document camera benefit my classroom, it will also be used in the other science classes on one of our shared LCD projectors. I know the biology teachers will use it to demonstrate dissections and show off some nasty bacteria cultures they've grown.
Your donation will provide for our science department an excellent way to visualize science. Take a look at the picture on my profile, showing the reaction of dry ice (carbon dioxide) and acid/base indicators a basic solution. This spectacular color changing demo shows off acid-base reactions in a way to hook students into what we are learning. Your donation will help to show this demo, and many others, in a way that all students in the class can observe exactly what is happening! By providing technology for my classroom, you are providing insight into the more magical (but explainable!) aspects of science.
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