Download the pdf of my article here.

A big thanks to Aver Media and Dughall McCormick for the image of the kids using their visualiser to view a snail!

Find out more about the ASE Primary Science journal here. I do strongly suggest that Science coordinators in primary schools join the ASE. It’s well worth it.

Related posts:

1. Primary Science Smartboard Files
2. 10 Primary Science Resources for your Whiteboard
3. Primary Science Keyword Bingo Game

ASE Article : Using a Visualiser in Primary Science The Whiteboard Blog - Supporting the use of technology in the classroom

This video shows how you can use a visualiser to take photographs, how to create videos for pupils to reference, and how to use a visualiser to encourage pupil self assessment.

Year 3 teacher and ICT Coordinator Dave Orritt travels to another primary school to get see how they use visualisers to aid teaching and learning. He observes a Year 4 teacher using a visualiser in maths and art lessons, including showing a video to the pupils, and using it to help pupils assess their own work.

After getting advice on using the technology from fellow teachers, Dave heads back to his own school to see how he can use one effectively in his own lessons.

Thanks to ICT in Havering for the heads up.

Related posts:

1. Visualisers
2. O2 Learn – video sharing site
3. Using a Visualiser

Learning with Visualisers Video The Whiteboard Blog - Supporting the use of technology in the classroom

I have put the screengrabs, and a few photographs from the day into a short presentation. Hopefully it will help to illustrate some of the ways that you could use your Visualiser in conjunction with your interactive whiteboard. (Warning, if you’re squeamish – it does contain close up photos of an animal heart….)

If you do have a Visualiser then make sure that you have it installed so that is connected to your computer, rather than just connected to your projector. This means you can then use the desktop annotation tools of your interactive whiteboard to draw and write over the top of the images. You can also use the camera tools to snapshot images into your IWB software (e.g. Smart Notebook or ActivStudio)

Here are a few ideas for using your Visualiser

• Display good examples of students work.
• Show pages from books – save photocopying
• Model examination questions – write answers on the paper – work through as a class.
• Dissections – heart, kidney, plants, flowers, fruits etc.
• Display intricate models / objects
• Show parts of a circuit
• demonstrate how to use technical drawing tools – or maths tools such as rulers and protractors
• Use to make collages – assemble objects below the camera. Take snapshots as the image builds up.
• Video experiments – colour changes in chemistry – iodine clock/thiosulphate experiments. Remember visualisers on a flexible arm don’t only have to point downwards – they can be angled to look at things side-on too.
• Show how to use small gadgets such as calculators, pda’s (or even phones) – no need to use software and cables to mirror/simulate them on a computer.

and many more. If you have any to add, put them in the comments!

Also check out the Ideas to Inspire presentation about Visualisers for a few more ideas.

If you own a Lumens visualiser, then I’ve produced a short guide that tells you a little more about this particular brand of visualiser. You can view it here.

Related posts:

1. ASE Article : Using a Visualiser in Primary Science
2. Learning with Visualisers Video
3. Visualisers

Using a Visualiser The Whiteboard Blog - Supporting the use of technology in the classroom

A visualiser, (sometimes called a Document Camera) at its simplest, is a video camera mounted on a stand that connects to a data projector. You can then place objects below the camera and project the image onto your interactive whiteboard.

You can pretty much put anything below the camera and display it to the whole class. It is great for showing 3D objects, sharing books, children’s work, photographs and even demonstrating drawing techniques. Anything where you would usually have students crowded around a front bench to see something being demonstrated could be displayed on a visualiser.

Usually, the visualiser also allows you to record images or video snapshots of whatever it is you are demonstrating. If you run your visualiser via your PC you could also use your interactive whiteboard tools to capture and annotate over the top of whatever you are showing the class.

The Visualiser Forum is a blog that aims to help promote the effective use of visualiser technology in schools. There are some very useful posts and case studies on there, such as this guide to using them in the Primary classroom.

Here is a good case study from Hertfordshire Grid for Learning.

Also check out this video on Teachers TV with the Visualiser Forum’s very own Dave Smith.

Becta have also produced a handy guide to using them. You can read it here.

Related posts:

1. Learning with Visualisers Video
2. Using a Visualiser
3. A few good links

Visualisers The Whiteboard Blog - Supporting the use of technology in the classroom