Tuesday, October 4, 2011

5 Awesome Things You Can Do With an IPad and an LCD Projector


I've always wanted a document camera in my classroom, so yesterday I made my own - using my iPad. Here's a quick rundown of how to do this:

  • Purchase a VGA Adapter Cable. You can pick one up online for around 20 bucks.
  • Create your iPad stand. For mine, I borrowed a ring stand from the science department and clamped it to a clipboard. It was sturdy and could safely accommodate the weight of my iPad.
  • Use a VGA cable to connect the adapter to the projector. You now have a fully functioning document camera!
Why might someone want to do this, you ask? I've only been experimenting with mine for two days, and I've already stumbled on five mind-blowing uses.

1. Use it as a document camera
Once the iPad is connected to the projector and "mounted" onto the ring stand, the most basic use of this set up is as a document camera. Simply open the camera app and you're ready to go. As an English teacher, this is a natural fit in my classroom. Today, for example, while students worked on rough drafts essays on examples of irony in O. Henry's The Ransom of Red Chief, I circulated the room and occasionally scooped up a paper and slid it under the iPad. It projected nicely onto the screen and I was then able to use these student papers to give suggestions as well as to have the group peer edit. It was far more efficient that having students line up at my desk to individually edit with me.

2. Record demonstrations
Switch the camera app to video mode, hit record, and you now have a work area capable of recording demonstrations and voice narration. This is an effortless way for teachers to kill two birds with one stone- while providing instruction in class, they are simultaneously creating a video "study guide" that can be posted on the class website or blog for students to review.

3. Real-time Kahn Academy
If you're not familiar with the wildly popular Khan Academy videos, click here to see what you've been missing. If you're already aware of the instructional potential behind the Flipped Classroom concept, then give it a try using your iPad. Similar to recording demonstrations, apps like Show Me and ScreenChomp allow the user to create a video that captures finger strokes as well as voice narration. Again, these videos can be recorded live in class and then used later as asynchronous review for students.

4. Hands-on mind mapping
I've always considered mind mapping to be a natural fit for tablet devices because brainstorming tends to work best when ideas can be easily manipulated, moved, and reorganized. Apps like Popplet and MindMash are great for doing just that, and the addition of a projector makes it possible for mind mapping on the iPad to become a group process rather than an individual or small group task.

5. Annotating Student Work
Let's take a closer look at using the iPad as a document camera. In addition to simply viewing student work, the iPad can also very easily snap pictures. From there, teachers can quickly load that image into an app like Doodle Buddy or Show Me to create an environment where the work can be easily annotated, highlighted, or otherwise marked up by either the teacher or other participating students.

I'm sure I'm missing all kind of fantastic ideas. What are your thoughts?

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9 Responses:

Jessica (@jessievaz12) said...

Wow. Thank you for these great ideas! I've been playing around with my iPad to do different teaching approaches and this has just rounded out the things I have tried! I hadn't thought of the document camera approach and really appreciate how clearly you explained how you set it up and use it. I can't wait to share this with my teachers! Thanks!

Allanah King said...

Great idea.

I've added it to the VLN for others to enjoy here.

Thanks

Unknown said...

I want to add to the document camera use. I also like to use the "Video Out for iPhone 4" app on the ipad. It allows be to freeze the image and add comments right on the spot. It only costs $1.99.

Originalskyguy said...

By using any one of several really powerful astronomy apps, an iPad through a projector can be used to teach the sky. Using my camper on the back of my truck to project into, I can play the app "Star Walk" for a small audience of students who look at the real sky, identify stars and constellations and then verify their work and flesh out minute details by manipulating "Star Walk" to show the part of the sky they were working in. Other planetarium apps can do this as well.

Tim Holt said...

You have inspired us to create a video:
http://youtu.be/aKsmczGiva0

We gave a shout out to you! Thanks for inspiring!

Tim Holt

Jan Wells said...

Gosh, I appreciate you sharing! Looking forward to trying it out next week.

Juan Luis Herrera Cortijo said...

Hi!

There is an app that is perfect for your setup. It's name is Board Cam. It allows you to draw, use pointers and stick labels on top of the video image. Also you can record video and audio of what you are doing. And you can use it as a whiteboard too! I think that it might very useful to you.

Please, visit http://boardcamapp.com to learn more about Board Cam app

or visit it’s App Store page:http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/board-cam-lite-live-exhibitions/id443410754?l=es&ls=1&mt=8

Best regards,

Juan

Shannon said...

Great idea, thanks for sharing! Also, check out this stand I found online. It looks perfect for this kind of setup.

www.21stclassusa.com

Anonymous said...

Two other great mind-mapping apps: Idea Sketch & Simple Mind