School Closed Circuit TV - how does it work and why?

Part of educating children is teaching them the valuable lesson of "ACCOUNTABILITY"

A proper School Specific Closed Circuit TV system is designed as an UNBIASED archive of events that have taken place. They are not used as a "Big Brother" watching everyones move - they are only used for incident management.

Well how does that work?

Closed Circuit TV Cameras are placed and fitted around a school. When we do a comprehensive system design, we would install cameras with a microphone in all of the classrooms and suitable cameras in the "hotspots" - areas like lockers, passage ways, tuckshops, reception areas, entrances, parking areas and smokers corners.

The cameras record footage directly to a server, where it is automatically archived.

When there is an event -(A flash drive been stolen from a teachers computer, a stolen cell phone or even an altercation in a classroom) it's as simple a a visit to the server room and a review of those cameras to established what happened and if necessary put some evidence clips together for the discipline officer.

The discipline officer would then call the student or students involved into her/his office and show them the clips. Most of the time a student will acknowledge and take ownership or the behaviour or action (ACCOUNTABILITY) and suitable discipline will be initiated. If the incident is very serious, then it could go to a discipline hearing.

A discipline hearing is a serious affair and could result in expulsion - A student can have their parents and a lawyer present.

The bottomline

A comprehensive School Closed Circuit TV System is designed to be a Management Tool which creates an unbiased accountable platform. A Closed Circuit TV system is not a miracle that will stop "behaviour problems" but it will add credibility and be a fantastic tool to help with problem areas.

IF you are a School in South Africa and you are considering a Closed Circuit TV system, please feel free to contact us for invaluable advise and assistance in school specific CCTV.

Contact Details and School References are available in the right panel. Further down there is an independent report from Hudson Park High school on the success of there CCTV system.

About BOSS Closed Circuit TV - School Closed Circuit TV

BOSS CCTV is not a conventional Security company. We are specialised in the school market, providing an excellent quality turnkey closed circuit TV solution. Over the past few years, we have gained extensive experience not only in School Closed Circuit TV, but an understanding of the challenges schools are facing. The BOSS solution takes School CCTV beyond an accountable platform and makes it an invaluable management tool.

The BOSS CCTV system design, including cabling, cameras, audio, archiving and installation has been fine-tuned, making the offering a perfect school specific solution. Furthermore, we don’t only supply a superior technical solution but also provide invaluable consultation into the successful implementation and operation of such a system in the school environment. This includes using it to improve teaching standards. (See post on Classroom cameras & lesson study.)

BOSS is innovative and stands by their philosophy of constant improvement. See school references in the right hand panel.

Need more info, you can contact us at info@bosscctv.co.za

REMOTE TEACHING USING CCTV

There are so many wonderful additional opportunities with CCTV.

One with great potential, especially in a country like South Africa, is the opportunity to to share high quality teachers with schools that don't have suitable teachers. We have major disparities in education in SA and a shocking failure rate. With a combination of Closed circuit TV in a classroom, one would be able to broadcast this lesson to any other classroom anywhere in the world. This kind of instruction is best if it is interactive and there is a competent facilitator available at the receiving classroom. The receiving classroom needs to have a broadband connected computer and projector, as well as VOIP like SKYPE setup. Its all very possible and the cost can be very reasonable.

New technology means you can setup wireless networks up to a maximum of 15km radius, depending on locations. Schools that have "champion" teachers, can seriously look at this as a community development option to help disadvantaged schools.

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