How Can Classroom Observation Video Technology Improve Teaching?
by from Macro Connect
Professionals in all industries use classroom observation video technology to analyze and improve their performance, yet the trend has yet to hit mainstream in education. This is not all that surprising when you consider the barriers to recording quality video. Few districts have access to quality recording equipment and, if they do, even fewer administrators or teachers want to wrestle with video editing software to get the clips they would actually use.
Thankfully there are a few manufacturers actively addressing these barriers by designing lesson recording products with teachers in mind. For example, a product called VIEWPath leverages Audio Enhancement and SAFARI Montage systems to let teachers record, edit, and store classroom videos. The standard setup goes like this:
A teacher controlled 360-degree 4K camera is installed in the ceiling, in the middle of the space, so there is visible coverage of the entire classroom from multiple angles.
Audio is distributed and captured by a lightweight mic worn around the teacher’s neck. Speakers are equally distributed throughout the classroom to provide the added benefit of sound reinforcement for all instruction.
Videos can be scheduled or recorded on the fly from a desktop shortcut or online dashboard. Only the teacher can control and view their feed and the videos, unless they choose to share them. All clips are automatically uploaded to the system so their videos are waiting for the teacher in their password protected account at the end of the day.
Gone is the pain and strain of getting a high quality picture, a high quality sound, and a reliable place to view and store classroom video. What really matters is how this impacts instruction.
Just down the road from our [Macro Connect] HQ, Merritt Academy is piloting VIEWPath. “We have a deep commitment to academic innovation. This project provides another tool for teachers to grow in this area and meet students where they’re at” said Dan Schluckbier, Director of Education Quality for The Romine Group (the management company that oversees the academy). In the next 60 days the school will set out to test whether classroom video can be a powerful practice for:
- Teacher self-reflection for professional development
- Teacher mentorship through a library of Teach Like a Champion best practices that feature their own staff
- Student engagement and self-paced learning through flipped and blended learning tutorials recorded by their teachers
Teachers are just now getting their hands on the technology and beginning to record test videos, but feedback around the audio system was immediate. One teacher commented that the attention of her most challenging class has been “night and day” thanks to the sound reinforcement. Another shared, “I have a naturally soft voice so raising my voice on and off is draining. I get laryngitis three times a year! I’m so excited to be able to reach all my students at a comfortable speaking tone with my teacher mic.”
In upcoming blogs, we’ll check back in with the Merritt team to share how things are going as teachers begin to use video for the objectives above! Stay tuned.
