Using Video to Improve Teacher Practice

Twenty-two years ago I was in the process of finishing my student teaching.  One of my requirements per my student teaching supervisor was to video tape one lesson and reflect on my classroom management, pacing, and direct instruction. There are several key words I want to focus on from that last sentence.  

22 YEARS AGO.

ONE.  VIDEO.

REFLECTION. 

These are the words that first jump out at me.  If video can provide such deep reflection, how have I survived twenty some years without it? Great question.  I missed out on reflecting on several key pieces of teaching practice.  The only way I knew what I was doing, or how I was doing was by observations and feedback from administration, volunteers and occasionally other teachers.

Despite not utilizing video a majority of my career, I have had the awesome opportunity to take advantage of it the last two years.  I credit the State of Iowa and the TLC Legislation for this miracle. 

Thanks to teacher leadership our district has worked hard to provide a forum for teachers to watch each other and reflect with coaches.  We also have 35 teachers who have agreed to be model teachers in our district.  They open their doors to colleagues, and coaches to observe, discuss, and reflect on best practice, direct instruction, student engagement, and other teaching strategies.

Linn-Mar strives to improve our leadership program each year.  As we prepare for year three, we are working on videotaping model teachers and placing those videos on the model teacher website.  The intent is for teachers to have timely access to strategies, ideas, and examples.  We believe these videos will wet teacher’s appetites and help them book more model teacher visits this next year, creating more opportunities for collaboration, and fine tuning teaching practice, in accordance with district expectations.

Current data reflects the first year of teacher leadership we had around 20 model teacher visits.  At the end of our second year, we have 200+ visits recorded.  While the data gives reason to celebrate, we know more work, and ways to improve lay ahead.  Several classroom teachers have requested video, so we want to provide teachers with the very best resources and tools we can.

The process of video recording has commenced.  We plan to work on the videos we have completed over the summer and create several more in the fall.  The goal is to have at least 35 videos completed in the fall on our model teacher website.

This week I had the privilege of working with Kim Sleezer at Excelsior Middle School.  Using a Swivl we created several videos. 

“I think Swivl could be a game changer for teacher self-evaluation”

~Kim Sleezer

Kim first found Swivl by researching on her own.  Her goals were to improve her teaching by self-reflecting and evaluating her teaching three to four times a week.  Kim is a big fan of the work of Sarah Brown Wessling, and the Teaching Channel.  Thanks to Kim’s research, we were able to purchase a Swivl and we have been busy traveling our district using this tool in classrooms.  

Kim Sleezer gives directions during a recent lesson at Excelsior Middle School, while a Swivl records her teaching.

The reasons for videotaping are diverse.  Many first and second year teachers record and have a reflecting conversation with their mentor coaches.  Technology Integration Coaches, and Instructional Coaches have used it with teachers seeking to reflect on teaching practice, or to collect data on ways to improve student engagement. Several model teachers have agreed to let us use the Swivl to video them for the model teacher website.  

The Swivl helps teachers and students improve skills by using video.

The Swivl is a small rotating device that allows you to place a smart phone or an iPad in the deck of the unit.  The teacher wears a small microphone on a lanyard around his/her neck.  As the teacher moves around the room teaching, the Swivl rotates and follows him/her around the classroom providing recorded data of the lesson.  The videos are stored on the Swivl cloud.  The videos are only accessible to the person with the account.  Kim can watch videos of herself and delete them instantly or save them for later reflection.  

Kim Sleezer maneuvers between groups of students while a Swivl captures her teaching.

Having watched and recorded Kim's teaching this week, it has been amazing to see the importance of authentic data collection.  Sometimes how we remember events are not the same as what the recording shows.  The Swivl allows educators to take a realistic look at their practice.  They can truly see the positive aspects of each lesson, and ways to improve on the next one. We look forward to sharing out completed list of videos with Linn-Mar staff this fall.