Review: HUE Document Camera for Teletherapy
I recently received a HUE HD Pro Camera as part of a promotion, and I am so excited to share all of the ways I've discovered it can be used for teletherapy.
As an overview, the HUE classroom camera is a flexible, portable document camera that every virtual SLP can benefit from. It's so compact and lightweight that it can easily be tucked into a backpack or purse to take with you if working between locations, or if you need to record something away from your school. It plugs straight into the USB port on your computer and has a quick install process for your PC, Mac, or Chromebook. The HUE HD Pro Camera also comes with a stand, so if you need to move it away from your computer, you can plug it into the stand and use it that way!
The HUE HD Pro Camera also has a manual focus on the front of the camera so you can clearly see the details of whatever you're presenting. The LED lights (that can be turned on or off) illuminate your face or document, even in conditions without great lighting.
USE IT AS A WEBCAM
The HUE HD Pro Camera produces one of the clearestpictures I have ever seen on a document camera. As a matter of fact, it's even clearer than many webcams that I've used! It helps that it has a LED camera and a manual focus on the front of the camera, so between the two, you can make your face crystal clear on cam! Did I mention it also has a built-in microphone?! This is perfect for live teletherapy sessions, or if you are recording tutorials to upload for YouTube or Loom.
USE IT TO READ BOOKS
The flexible neck allows the camera to position directly over a book for shared reading. You can illuminate the pages and then focus on pictures as needed. It's especially nice for hidden-picture type books (think "Where's Waldo?"), which I love to use for articulation and language therapy! Your students will easily be able to participate due to the sharp focus the camera provides.
USE WITH PAPER MATERIALS
You can easily use this to turn plain paper activities (such as worksheets) into group practice sheets! If you don't have time to turn something into a digital activity, don't worry... you don't have to! Simply bend the flexible neck over the page you want to show on the screen. Working on sequencing and comprehension? What about describing? Need to display articulation cue cards? Now you can! Not everything you use in teletherapy has to be digitized! You've got paper materials-- use them! One more thing- if your activity is showing up sideways or upside down on the screen, you can fix it with a simple click of a button in the Intuition software!
USE IT WITH MANIPULATIVES
Sometimes you just need to look at something fun! Roll the dice (getting to know each other), spin spinners (to work on articulation), build with blocks (colors & counting), dress a Barbie (labeling), feed a doll (requesting), do a puzzle (prepositions), make the Old Lady Swallow a Frog (sequencing), or race two cars (smooth vs bumpy speech). If you can dream it, you can do it! I know you have a room full of awesome manipulatives that you use year after year. Why not make them part of your activity? The HUE lets you focus on the manipulatives on the desk, so you aren't stuck trying to hold dice by your face and roll them at the same time!
USE IT AS A WHITEBOARD
Add some interaction to your documents! Under the Document Camera feature on the Intuition software, you can add text, draw, circle items, and more! Sometimes, it's simple features such as this that make a lesson more engaging. This is especially great if you are reading books-- you can circle items in the book without actually having to mark them on the pages!
BONUS: Be sure to browse their site after you make your purchase!
This page has a simple guide for using the HUE with Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. You can download their free Intuition Software that allows you to use your HUE to the fullest extent possible. You can also set your camera to take multiple pictures over time (I'm thinking of claymation or time-lapse activities) if you're into that kind of thing!
Overall, you've got tons of options for an affordable price. The HUE HD Pro Document Camera is your one-stop-shop cam for a little under $80! If you want an even more affordable option, check out the HUE HD Document Camera for less than $50. Not bad when you consider all you can do with it-- during distance learning or in-person classes!
Note: Please know that I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review. Keep in mind that even though I received this product at no cost, the opinions are all my own. Whether or not you purchase this product, I do not make a commission. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
