Using Classroom CCTV for Lesson Study, Mentorship and Inspector Critiques

Every good school should be striving to continually improve teaching standards. Improving teaching standards is achieved with mentorship, lesson study programmes and inspector critiques. Better teachers have much more job satisfaction and are far more motivated.

The BOSS CCTV classroom design is an incredible opportunity to significantly improve Lesson study, Mentorship and Inspector critiques.

Why?
Well, the BOSS classroom design, includes microphones with the cameras. All lessons are recorded to hard drive and stored automatically for two to four weeks. (Depends on the hard drive size.) Having recorded footage with audio integration has some excellent advantages.

For Lesson Study
The recorded footage takes lesson study to a new level - It allows for dynamic group review.

Think of a Maths lesson study group, reviewing a lesson given by the best Maths teacher in the school. If a teacher is that good, his/ her lessons could be used or shared (with permission) with other Maths lesson study groups at other schools.

Imagine a teacher that is struggling to get the classes grades up.... a good lesson study group could help that teacher to find out how he/she can improve the grades. Interactive whiteboards can be integrated into this solution. A huge advantage with the recorded footage, is that its ideal for group work and the lesson is more natural. (Student behaviour and teacher preparation.)

Inspector Critiques
It is often very uncomfortable for a teacher to have an inspector in the classroom and very often the student behaviour is also different. The recorded footage allows inspectors to critique a lesson at a time and place which is convenient for the inspector. (Imagine a future where a professional inspector could even have footage sent to him/her for critiques.)

Mentorship
It must be a very tough task to be a new fresh out of college/ university teacher in South Africa. Can you imagine how quickly a mentor can help a new teacher by sitting together and reviewing recorded footage. Your comments and positive testimonials are welcomed. (info@bosscctv.co.za)

Sharing Excellence Programme
Brand New - please comment. Do you have excellent teachers at your school, would they be interested in sharing their expertise? Are there any academics that would like to develop this concept? Contact BOSS at info@bosscctv.co.za

These are all new innovations to School CCTV and BOSS welcomes the opportunity to work with schools, academics and suitable professionals.

What problems is Closed Circuit TV helping to address in the School Environment

Due to the large numbers of young people, high staff to learner ratios and the high levels of problems experienced in schools, it has become necessary for schools to better protect students, teachers, equipment, premises and their reputations. Strategically, private and model C schools rely heavily on school fees and funding. When a school cannot provide a safe, secure and accountable environment for students and teachers, it not only affects the standard of education at those schools, but effects private funding when good students leave.

BOSS CCTV SYSTEMS have been used successfully to deal with the following issues:

> Theft
> Classroom behaviour
> Bullying
> Bunking Lessons
> Punctuality
> Sexual Harassment
> Vandalism
> Cell phone abuse
> Violence
> Smoking, Drinking & Drugs
> Monitoring Tests/ Exams
> Teaching critiques
> Accidents
> Unauthorised Access
> Malicious claims
> Monitoring of parking & access areas 24/7/365

Classroom Cameras with microphones

Closed Circuit TV footage is more meaningful with audio. Our experience with schools over the last couple of years has shown that most teachers, students and parents come to appreciate the silent, unbiased nature of the system.

The majority of time spent at school is in the classroom and not surprisingly this is where most of the issues arise and therefore there are many positive advantages to audio integration - but the classroom audio also provides an excellent opporunity for improving teaching standards through lesson study and mentorship programmes:

> Better assessing behavioural incidents

> Improving teaching techniques through lesson study programmes

> Significantly improving mentorship programmes

> Providing none invasive inspector critiques

> Protecting Teachers and students from malicious claims

> Eliminating verbal abuse

> Monitoring the effects of rowdy classrooms