Bill Gates has apparently proposed cameras in every classroom as a way of evaluating teachers and improving their effectiveness. While I am happy that attention is finally being paid to an area of school improvement that has long been ignored - the effectiveness of teachers -, I am anxious to see exactly what is being proposed. Encouraging teachers to reflect on their own and others' practice (and at times video can be an effective - if slightly painful - way of doing this) is vital if teacher effectiveness is to be improved. However, cameras in classrooms all the time will not be an effective solution, especially at the proposed cost of $5 billion, if teachers feel their presence undermines their professionalism. In particular, cameras in classrooms should not replace observations by colleagues and professionals who know how to look for good learning and how to generate conversations about how to ensure that is happening.
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
January 2014
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