Originally blogged by by Anita Gebarowicz.

Visualisers are incredibly useful pieces of equipment. Did you know that a webcam can provide many of the functions of a visualiser? The video below shows just how easy this is to do.

Use a HUE webcam and AMCap to create a visualiser

I used the HUE HD webcam, approximate price £35.00. It is easy to set up, works with Windows 7 and earlier, and provides clear images when connected to a computer and a whiteboard. The software AMCap (provided with the webcam) is simple to use and allows you to capture avi movies. You can use the snapshot button on the webcam to take still images.

If you wish to write comments on a piece of work you can place the work in a clear plastic (non reflective) wallet and write over it with marker pens. Then use the snapshot button on the webcam to take a picture of the work plus your annotations. The work will remain untouched as the markings will be on the plastic wallet.

If you wish to extend the options, use Promethean’s Activinspire software and select the option to ‘insert from scanner/camera’. When the small prompt window opens, select ‘HUE HD Webcam’. Use the button on the webcam to take a snapshot of the child’s work. It will appear on the flipchart page and you can use the pen tools to annotate the work.

With SMART Boards you can insert the captured image or video clip onto the Notebook Page and then you are able to annotate using the pen tools.

Captured images are a powerful way of supporting assessment by providing evidence for a portfolio of work.

The Visualiser Forum is a great source of information for ideas on how to use a visualiser to enhance learning.

Note: The file created by AMCap will not have a file extension, therefore it will not play immediately. You will need to add a file extension, as shown in the video. Just right-click on the file, choose “Rename” and add .avi to the end of the file name.

Anita is an independent ICT consultant, PGCE and Undergraduate Lecturer and ex LA ICT primary adviser, and can be found on Twitter as @anitagebarowicz. She is Mulberry ICT consultants.

Originally posted on Systems & Education. Text reproduced with permission.