Documenting Learning with the Camera App

It has been a while since I mentioned anything about the camera app (probably since September 2017!). It is usually considered a pretty good starting point for any 1:1 program because teachers and students are fairly comfortable with the use and function of the camera - many of us have had them built into our phones for the last few years.

By itself, and with some of the iPad's built-in editing features, it can be a good tool for students to document and annotate. However, when used with other tools and apps, the learning opportunities can be pretty powerful. And, maybe one of the best features is that students are already comfortable with using the camera - which means little class time needs to be taken for them to learn a new tool!

Below are some examples of ways that the iPad's camera app could be integrated into some of your classroom activities:

Self-Evaluation
Many times we give our students presentation projects where they need to speak in front of their peers. We do this, in part, because we realize that it is a skill that they will need to be successful in the future. So we usually grade them on their speaking ability and the way that they present themselves. But, it can be challenging to catch all of the details, especially when you are trying to listen for content. One solution could be to borrow the speaker's iPad and, using the camera, record their presentation and require the student to evaluate the quality of their own presentation. Often times students are tougher on themselves than you would be.

Pic Collage App
Students can use this super simple app to add photos from their photo library (either taken by themselves or downloaded from the Internet) to a canvas. Students can manipulate photos with a pinch and arrange them on the canvas to create a collage, write captions, and share the final version. This app could be used to have students create an advertisement or small poster, an infographic, or some other form of signage.

Educreations or Notability Apps
Adding images into either of these apps allows students to annotate it with text and drawings. These easy-to-use apps could help students brainstorm, organize their ideas, respond to questions or problems, or create their own diagrams.

iMovie or TouchCast Studio
Because the camera also has a video function, these apps allow for student-created video about an assigned topic. Beyond the simple "point-and-shoot" feature of the camera app, using the iMovie or TouchCast Studio apps allow the students to employ more advanced editing techniques when creating their final product.

Stage
The Stage app is one that some of our teachers are using to document learning as it is happening. This app allows you to display what is on your screen to the whole room, using your Apple TV. The setup is very similar to a document camera, but the iPad touchscreen allows you to annotate and display your markups to the class, without having to write or draw on your original document or object. Some of our teachers are using this for in-class demonstrations or for their students to create recordings of lab activities.