18 Interesting Ways* to use a
       Visualiser in the Classroom

                                      *and tips




This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
Noncommercial Share Alike 3.0 License.
#1 - Use it to peer review lesson work

Place a piece of work on the
visualiser at the end of a
lesson, and allow the class to
discuss the positive features
of the work produced.
Why not go a step further and
allow the children to create
the "3 stars and a wish" for
the work (3 good points, and
something to aim for in the
next piece of work).
#2 - Use it to model nets of shapes

In numeracy activities, you
can place a net of a shape on
the visualiser, and invite
pupils to come out and
construct the 3D shape.

The rest of the class can view
the process of constructing
the shape.
                                 they work through the
If you use the video function    problem, and save it as
within some visualisers, you     evidence of their
can also record the pupils as    understanding.
#3 - Make an animation

Use the camera to make an
animation. Design some split
pin models (to create limb
movement), use fuzzy felt
shapes, or just draw a
character, and place them
over a background.

Take a photograph of the        If your visualiser allows you to
scene, before moving the        rotate the camera angle, you
character slightly. Put them    can create 3D animation too
all together in moviemaker or   using plastic brick characters.
2animate to make a movie.
#4 Use it to Investigate Magnetic Fields

Use bar magnets and iron
filings to show magnetic field
patterns of a single magnet,
then pairs of attracting and
repeling magnets.



Children predict what
patterns will be like with
                                 Individuals and groups can test
other magnets of different
                                 out their predictions and then
shape or strength e.g.
                                 show their results to the rest of the
horseshoe, ring etc
                                 class
#5 Combine it with a Smartboard

                  If you can connect your visualiser to a
                  Smartboard, then you can grab an image of
                  a piece of work and manipulate it.

                                Take a piece of text and grab
                                the image on the Smartboard.
                                Blank out some of the words -
Take a child's piece of writing can the children correctly work
and - using the Ink Layer on a out the missing content?
Smartboard - write over the     Flick back to the visualiser
top of the work without ruining image to compare their
the original.                   choices.
#6 Use it as a magnifying glass

Some visualisers have an            Zoom in on a flower to look
impressive zooming ability          inside the petals.
within their camera. Use this
facility to take a closer look at   Zoom in on a drop of water to
objects during lessons.             see the shape it makes.

                                    Zoom in on a tissue to see the
                                    fibres that it contains.

                                    Zoom in...

                                    If the camera can be rotated,
                                    take a close look at objects
                                    from different angles too.
#7 Class Texts on the IWB

Rather than photocopy 30
versions of a page of text to use
in a literacy lesson - put the
book you are using on the
visualiser. That way everyone in
the class can see it easily.


You can also point to a             Use the visualiser with a
particular word / sentence and      Smartboard and you can
the whole class can see where       grab the page of text and
you are pointing.                   annotate it with pupil
                                    comments, thoughts and
                                    ideas.
#8 View changes over time

Watch a plant grow over a          Watch the images back using
period of time. Place the plant    the "slideshow" option in
on the visualiser and take a       windows photo album folders
photo of it. Over a week / month   to view the changes to the
repeat this once a day.            plant.
#9 Use it as a Webcam

If you can rotate the camera on
your visualiser, you can point
the lens towards the class and
use it to video conference.

You will still need to install
video conferencing software
on the computer, and tell the
software to use the visualiser
as a webcam, and you might
need an external mic.
#10 Model skills to the whole class

Show the class how to perform
a particular skill easily by
demonstrating it on the
visualiser;

Model handwriting styles

Demonstrate an art technique Model a science investigation

Model a procedure in Maths      Show how to read a thermometer

Demonstrate needlecraft         Show how to use a protractor
#11 Use it to learn about symmmetry

If you've got a visualiser        Place some coloured cubes on
with lots of extra features,      the visualiser base and freeze the
you might have one that           image. Once you've split the
allows you to freeze the          screen you can let children show
image, and then split the         how the cubes will appear if
screen. If so, you can use        reflected.
the visualiser for all sorts of
symmetry work.
#12 Make your own visualiser for £30
 For about £20 you can get a
 good camcorder from ebay.
 Spend another few pounds
 making a rig for it and you
 have a very cheap
 visualiser!

This is great when a visualiser
just won't fit enough into screen
- like when drawing on A3
paper.

Use it to model exactly what the
pupils have to do without them
crowding round one desk
#13 Use it in assembly

If you have a projector in the hall, you could use a
visualiser in assembly. It could be used to display a visual
aid, share good work, or to show words for hymn practice.


                             Tip: If you have hymns on
                             acetates, place a plain sheet of
                             paper under the acetate. This will
                             help the visualiser to show the
                             text more clearly.
#14 - Teach Calculator Use
Different calculators work
differently. Use the
visualiser to show how to
efficiently use each of the
most common models.

In real time you can show
how to convert from
Degrees to Radians
modes, or how to use the
fraction button or convert
from surd to decimals
etc...
                              From @Chris_1974
#15 Dissections in Science




Get a close up view of flower, organ and other dissections
without having a whole class crowded round a table. Can
annotate over top of images when displayed in IWB.

Can save images for use later.                       @dannynic
#16 Sharing apps using ipad/ipod

Select and download
excellent apps for learning,
such as, Epic Citadel, Dragon
Dictation, Percy Parker sings
the Times Tables, Puppet
Pals, Tribbs to name a few.
Then use your visualiser to
project these through your
IWB for all to share.



                                @nickynewbury
#17 A portable Visualiser

If you have an android phone, you can download (free)
ipwebcam.

This is a simple piece of software that can feed your android
phone camera to your IWB. No need to get student work to the
front, simply wander around the class, and point your phone.

@Chris_1974
(pictures to follow).
If you would like to:
 • Contribute your ideas and tips to the presentation.
 • Let me know how you have used the resource.
 • Get in touch.
    You can email me or I am @tombarrett on Twitter

If you add a tip (or even
if you don't) please
tweet about it and the
link so more people can
contribute.
I have created a page for all    Image: ‘Sharing‘


of the Interesting Ways
presentations on my blog.           Thanks for helping
                                    Tom Barrett
The whole family in one
                                Have you seen Maths Maps yet?
place :-)

15 interesting ways_to_use_a_visualiser_in_the

  • 1.
    18 Interesting Ways*to use a Visualiser in the Classroom *and tips This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Share Alike 3.0 License.
  • 2.
    #1 - Useit to peer review lesson work Place a piece of work on the visualiser at the end of a lesson, and allow the class to discuss the positive features of the work produced. Why not go a step further and allow the children to create the "3 stars and a wish" for the work (3 good points, and something to aim for in the next piece of work).
  • 3.
    #2 - Useit to model nets of shapes In numeracy activities, you can place a net of a shape on the visualiser, and invite pupils to come out and construct the 3D shape. The rest of the class can view the process of constructing the shape. they work through the If you use the video function problem, and save it as within some visualisers, you evidence of their can also record the pupils as understanding.
  • 4.
    #3 - Makean animation Use the camera to make an animation. Design some split pin models (to create limb movement), use fuzzy felt shapes, or just draw a character, and place them over a background. Take a photograph of the If your visualiser allows you to scene, before moving the rotate the camera angle, you character slightly. Put them can create 3D animation too all together in moviemaker or using plastic brick characters. 2animate to make a movie.
  • 5.
    #4 Use itto Investigate Magnetic Fields Use bar magnets and iron filings to show magnetic field patterns of a single magnet, then pairs of attracting and repeling magnets. Children predict what patterns will be like with Individuals and groups can test other magnets of different out their predictions and then shape or strength e.g. show their results to the rest of the horseshoe, ring etc class
  • 6.
    #5 Combine itwith a Smartboard If you can connect your visualiser to a Smartboard, then you can grab an image of a piece of work and manipulate it. Take a piece of text and grab the image on the Smartboard. Blank out some of the words - Take a child's piece of writing can the children correctly work and - using the Ink Layer on a out the missing content? Smartboard - write over the Flick back to the visualiser top of the work without ruining image to compare their the original. choices.
  • 7.
    #6 Use itas a magnifying glass Some visualisers have an Zoom in on a flower to look impressive zooming ability inside the petals. within their camera. Use this facility to take a closer look at Zoom in on a drop of water to objects during lessons. see the shape it makes. Zoom in on a tissue to see the fibres that it contains. Zoom in... If the camera can be rotated, take a close look at objects from different angles too.
  • 8.
    #7 Class Textson the IWB Rather than photocopy 30 versions of a page of text to use in a literacy lesson - put the book you are using on the visualiser. That way everyone in the class can see it easily. You can also point to a Use the visualiser with a particular word / sentence and Smartboard and you can the whole class can see where grab the page of text and you are pointing. annotate it with pupil comments, thoughts and ideas.
  • 9.
    #8 View changesover time Watch a plant grow over a Watch the images back using period of time. Place the plant the "slideshow" option in on the visualiser and take a windows photo album folders photo of it. Over a week / month to view the changes to the repeat this once a day. plant.
  • 10.
    #9 Use itas a Webcam If you can rotate the camera on your visualiser, you can point the lens towards the class and use it to video conference. You will still need to install video conferencing software on the computer, and tell the software to use the visualiser as a webcam, and you might need an external mic.
  • 11.
    #10 Model skillsto the whole class Show the class how to perform a particular skill easily by demonstrating it on the visualiser; Model handwriting styles Demonstrate an art technique Model a science investigation Model a procedure in Maths Show how to read a thermometer Demonstrate needlecraft Show how to use a protractor
  • 12.
    #11 Use itto learn about symmmetry If you've got a visualiser Place some coloured cubes on with lots of extra features, the visualiser base and freeze the you might have one that image. Once you've split the allows you to freeze the screen you can let children show image, and then split the how the cubes will appear if screen. If so, you can use reflected. the visualiser for all sorts of symmetry work.
  • 13.
    #12 Make yourown visualiser for £30 For about £20 you can get a good camcorder from ebay. Spend another few pounds making a rig for it and you have a very cheap visualiser! This is great when a visualiser just won't fit enough into screen - like when drawing on A3 paper. Use it to model exactly what the pupils have to do without them crowding round one desk
  • 14.
    #13 Use itin assembly If you have a projector in the hall, you could use a visualiser in assembly. It could be used to display a visual aid, share good work, or to show words for hymn practice. Tip: If you have hymns on acetates, place a plain sheet of paper under the acetate. This will help the visualiser to show the text more clearly.
  • 15.
    #14 - TeachCalculator Use Different calculators work differently. Use the visualiser to show how to efficiently use each of the most common models. In real time you can show how to convert from Degrees to Radians modes, or how to use the fraction button or convert from surd to decimals etc... From @Chris_1974
  • 16.
    #15 Dissections inScience Get a close up view of flower, organ and other dissections without having a whole class crowded round a table. Can annotate over top of images when displayed in IWB. Can save images for use later. @dannynic
  • 17.
    #16 Sharing appsusing ipad/ipod Select and download excellent apps for learning, such as, Epic Citadel, Dragon Dictation, Percy Parker sings the Times Tables, Puppet Pals, Tribbs to name a few. Then use your visualiser to project these through your IWB for all to share. @nickynewbury
  • 18.
    #17 A portableVisualiser If you have an android phone, you can download (free) ipwebcam. This is a simple piece of software that can feed your android phone camera to your IWB. No need to get student work to the front, simply wander around the class, and point your phone. @Chris_1974 (pictures to follow).
  • 19.
    If you wouldlike to: • Contribute your ideas and tips to the presentation. • Let me know how you have used the resource. • Get in touch. You can email me or I am @tombarrett on Twitter If you add a tip (or even if you don't) please tweet about it and the link so more people can contribute. I have created a page for all Image: ‘Sharing‘ of the Interesting Ways presentations on my blog. Thanks for helping Tom Barrett The whole family in one Have you seen Maths Maps yet? place :-)