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Give whole class demonstrations – without crowding
The visualiser is excellent for making the most of resources that would usually need to be shared between groups or the whole class (e.g. data loggers). For example, say you’re investigating which materials provide the best insulation for a container filled with hot water. By positioning the data logger under the visualiser, all pupils can see the temperature changing as the liquid cools. This way, the class can hold a rich discussion about the science behind what is occurring whilst observing the experiment.
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Experiment with art and design
Here’s an idea for teaching children about 3D perspectives and how to draw areas of light and shade using a pencil. First, choose an interesting artefact – perhaps a Roman helmet. Let the class view the object from above and then rotate the arm of the visualiser to capture an image from the side. Discuss the differences in perspective. The light on the visualiser can then be adjusted to alter the shadows cast by the helmet. Can the children recreate what they see using a pencil? To help them get started, capture half of the image and print this out on a piece of paper. Enlarge this under the visualiser and complete the missing half of the picture, demonstrating how the pencil can be used to create areas of light and shade. Now they’ve seen how it’s done, give each child a print out of the incomplete image so they can finish the picture for themselves. By capturing half of a pupil’s face instead of an artefact, you could use the same technique to teach children about drawing portraits.
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Why not model how to roll out and decorate a clay tile, using different tools to create imprints and reliefs? Normally, children would struggle to get a clear view of the demonstration as it needs to be carried out on a flat surface. However, the visualiser provides an immediate solution to the problem of poor visibility. Angle the lens appropriately so that the whole group can watch the demonstration from the table. Zoom in on the details as this will help children replicate the techniques you have shown them when it comes to working on their own clay tile.
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Improve maths skills
Using a visualiser, you can demonstrate the correct way to position and read a protractor, overcoming common misconceptions. Or when exploring the properties of 3D shapes, try rotating cubes, pyramids, cones etc under the visualiser, exploring faces, vertices and edges. Freeze the image and pass the shape around the class for pupils to handle – it’s the perfect way to merge visual and kinaesthetic learning styles.
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Support instructional writing
When teaching the old favourite, ‘how to make a sandwich’, don’t just give pupils a sheet of photocopied images charting the process. Why not demonstrate the activity under the visualiser? Use the ‘live record’ function to film your presentation and then play this back to the class; this time pupils can focus on questioning, and ordering language. Children with SEN can be given a copy of the video on a laptop to help scaffold their
For more ideas, case-studies and videos on how to make effective use of the visualiser, visit The Visualiser Forum www.visualiserforum.org
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Model accurate use of tools
Take a close look WHY THE VISUALISER IS SUCH A VERSATILE ICT RESOURCE... Pupils at a primary school in South Wales have been using the time-lapse function on their AVerMedia visualisers to show and record an ice-melt experiment. The new technology has also become an important part of creative writing and art and design lessons. The five 300AF autofocus visualisers supplied by AVerMedia were placed in years 2, 3, 4 and 5 and used in conjunction with whiteboards. They’ve gone down well with everyone, being easy to install, quick to master and simple to integrate into everyday teaching. In addition, the units have been used extensively for staff meetings, peer evaluation, digital profiling and school assemblies. Visit www.averm.co.uk for more information on AVerMedia’s full range of visualisers.
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Use the live record function to film presentations
writing. Finally, you could upload the sandwich making footage to the school’s VLE/MLE and use it as the basis for a homework task. Dave Smith is ICT Consultant & Curriculum Advisor for the London Borough of Havering Inspection & Advisory Service and is Chair of The Visualiser Forum - a group promoting the effective use of visualisers to support teaching and learning.
Image courtesy of AVerMedia
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18/6/09
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Visualisers