Possible Framework

If video self-reflection ever becomes mandatory, I believe I have found the way in which it will be implemented. In my current study, teachers have access to Teachscape’s Reflect camera system composed of iPads that are mobile and that have to be set up and taken down. In Kong, Shroff, and Hung’s (2009) scenario, a dual camera system is embedded into the classroom ceiling. One camera will be mounted at the front of the classroom to capture students while another will be mounted at the rear of the classroom to record teacher practice. Sound would be recorded by both a wearable wireless mic as well as a wall-mounted microphone.

Beyond the implications for districts to “peek” into classrooms with such a system, this setup would be just as useful for teachers to self-reflect upon their practice as with the single-camera scheme that Teachscape currently employs. Further, the authors provide three criteria that any such system would need to be useful to teachers:

• The system should be easily accessible and easy to use without help from others.
• The system should have a guiding framework to help teachers while they are browsing the video.
• The system should provide a method through which teachers can build a video library of recorded sessions and teaching experiences to build their knowledge.

Comparing the authors’ ideas with that of the Reflect setup, I am glad to see that these three criteria are built into the system that I will use with teachers. The iPad camera can be set up and ready to record in less than five minutes. The playback and browse functions are easily manipulated. Teachers can quickly and easily create clips and share them publicly or with single users—not to mention there is unlimited capacity for creating and storing video.

One thing lacking, however, is the framework teachers can use to judge their own teaching. Fortunately the authors provide a workable framework that I may consider using to allow teachers to evaluate their teaching quickly via a web-based rubric.
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Reference

Kong, S. C., Shroff, R. H., & Hung, H. K. (2009). A web enabled video system for self reflection      by student teachers using a guiding framework.  Australasian Journal of Educational
    Technology, 25(4). pp. 554-558.