Technology

In order to have my students video chat with employees at work, I need webcams for my classroom.  I propose purchasing nine Logitech C525 HD webcams so the students can work in small groups to conduct interviews with people working in the Career Pathway of interest to them. These webcams provide portable HD video calling and recording—with autofocus.  The Logitech C525 HD webcam features up to 1280 x 720 video-image resolution and up to 8.0MP still-image resolution for rich, sharp, images and a fold-and-go design that allows easy portability. A five foot cable and Logitech Vid HD software come with the webcam. The Logitech Vid HD software is a simple free video call software that helps you to make and record video calls for free and is available as a download.  The record feature of this software would make it easy for students to record the interviews for later incorporation into their multi-media presentations.

Why the Logitech C5225 webcam rather than all the others?  Several features this webcam offers are important to me including:
  • Very easy installation
  • Recording capability
  • Built-in microphone with echo-free audio
  • Autofocus
  • Mid-range price
  • 360 degree rotation
  • "Fold and go" design
  • An image sensor that provides sharp images even in dim light
  • USB connectivity
The webcam and free software are made to work together even though each can be used independently of each other. Technology resources in my Middle School are so limited, that whenever I recommend purchases for my classroom, I do so with "sharing" with other departments and teachers in mind. I see this as one of my responsibilities in my role as a technology building leader. The portability of the webcam combined with it's ease of installation and free downloadable software would make this webcam user-friendly to even the least tech savvy of my colleagues. The webcam features a noise-cancelling microphone which would reduce some of the classroom background chatter, and also convenient in-line volume and mute controls that let you adjust audio on the fly.

In addition to the nine webcams for small groups, I also propose acquiring 35 Logitech ClearChat Comfort USB headsets. These would be used for editing video and narrating the multimedia presentation that students create as a culminating project.

Both the webcams and the headsets would be used for other projects in my classroom. Below is a video explaining the features of the webcam.