Queen Elizabeth High School Deploys Classroom Observation Cameras for Teacher PD
Queen Elizabeth High School in
Wales is using a video-based professional development tool called
to help teachers analyze their teaching and share best practices with
colleagues.
The school has implemented the Iris
Connect classroom observation system, which uses iPod Touch cameras placed
on tripods around the classroom to video lessons. Teachers wear sensors on
lanyards around their neck, which enables the system to follow their movement
through the class. When the lesson is over, the video uploads automatically to
the secure Iris Connect online system, where the teachers can view it and use it
as a tool to analyze their teaching practice. They can also share videos with
colleagues, so they can learn from each other's individual successes or
failures.
Pete Spencer, head teacher at the school, told the Carmarthen Journal that
one quarter of teachers at the school are using the technology to reflect on
their teaching practice, and he sees the potential for using it as a showcase of
best practices. He said students can also use the system to record themselves
delivering presentations, for example, and use it to improve their own
performance.
According to information on the company's site, Iris Connect is "built to
empower teachers." Videos are encrypted when they are uploaded to the online
database, and each teacher has their own password-protected account to access
their videos. Nobody else can view the videos unless the teacher chooses to
share them. And because the system is cloud-based, teachers can view their
videos at work or at home from a computer, tablet or smartphone.
Queen Elizabeth High School is located in the community of Carmarthen in
Wales. It serves approximately 1,600 students aged 11 to 18.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].