Cameras in the classroom

There is much ongoing discussion about the use of cellphones in the classroom.  People reflexively dismiss the use of them with the ready retort of, "Why do kids need to phone people from class?"  Well, they don't, as a rule.  But when you consider the reality that many of us use our smart phones for a LOT more than just their phone features, it all starts to make sense.  In fact, I use my phone very rarely to make telephone calls.  Kids are using them for the same reasons we are - clock, reminders, calendar, flashlight, calculator, mail, social media, and quick, handy internet access.

One of the handiest things to consider the use of cellphones in the classroom for is the fact that they all have cameras.  In fact, there are very few now that won't even do video too.  Here are a few ideas for using cameras in the classroom:

• oral presentations for students to record instead of presenting them live.  If you don't like the first take, you can do another... and another... and another...  (IEP accommodations!)
• Be in two places at once!  Record your lesson and play the video, freeing you up to either monitor student progress, or even provide instruction in an alternate location.
• Recording and evaluating musical and drama performances.
• Documenting peer or teacher feedback.  Set it up to record, and get a chance to observe that group providing their peer feedback at some point later.
• Students can draw diagrams and make models to post to a blog, or they can even describe what the viewer is seeing in the format of a video.
• photographing the blackboard, paper notes, etc. for later recall.
• photographing student work for an electronic portfolio

These are just some more examples of some *very* simple things you can do to start integrating simple but authentic and useful technologies in your classroom.