But We Can't See! Longing Learners Desire a Document Camera

My Students

In a multimedia world ripe with color, my students, unfortunately are forced to see mostly in black and white. Why? Because the vivid charts, maps and images from the single history book that we must share, lose their legibility in the black and white copied readings that students receive.

I am a second year teacher working in a tiny K-8 charter school that is in its third year of existence.

I teach 7th and 8th grade Humanities (english, history, and writing) blocks. Both grades (around 20 students each) switch between me and my partner teacher, who teaches math and science. Our eager students are a diverse demographic from all around our city. Many of their families have chosen our school because it is a place they can powerfully create their lives through self-expression, compassionate connection, and purposeful learning. As teachers and administrators, we are taking advantage of our school's infancy and size by establishing ourselves from the start as a community that respects the intellectual, emotional, and social intelligence of all children while supporting their innate human desire to learn through a multidimensional curriculum. I have very few materials as a second year teacher and our young school has few resources as well.

My Project

Our young charter school cannot afford books for each student in my 7th and 8th grade Humanities class (we’re currently struggling to amass a school library). I have a wonderful history book, for example, with vivid images, informational charts, primary sources and colorful maps. I’m able to make copies of certain chapters for the students, however, the images, charts, primary sources and maps are illegible in the black and white student copies. These important elements in the text lose all of their integrity in black and white and students struggle to interpret them. The skills to interpret maps, charts, graphs and images are essential to enhanced learning. Using a document camera, I could show and project these elements and have students point out and explain these elements as well as model their interpretation for the students. A document camera would allow me to project these elements directly from books for all students to see clearly.

My students' learning would be immensely impacted by your donation of a document camera.

It would powerfully engage them and provide a more interactive and integrated learning experience. Students using your generous donation will now be able to follow along with text or just listen as they examine maps, charts, graphs, images, etc. They will now see the extraordinary work of their peers and display their own work as they present. The possibilities for engagement through its use are endless!