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the new guy · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 127

so i will try this again... as i wrote it all and after hitting "preview" it was all lost. Sad

in the month of January all the teachers of my school had an unmanned videocamera in the room to record our performance on 2 different classes.

1 of my classes was terrible, and 1 was great.

The students of the school had also completed evaluations of our performance over the last 3 months.

During the last week, we had the DoS go over our videos 1 on 1 and point out our weak spots only, and discuss the comments by the students.

We had a staff meeting with all teachers present later in the week. The DoS had a tv in the room, and thought it would be a good idea to show all of us our mistakes. Of course some of the teachers are the "DoS Angels" and don't make any mistakes. THe DoS also stated that there was good video of some of us as well, but did not have enough time to put it together.

The majority of the teachers have talked about the showing of our mistakes and we are not impressed.

So i would like your thoughts on the actions of the DoS. Professional or not.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Sounds like it could have been handled better....much better. Employee evaluations and feedback should probably be done one-on-one, and not in with all the staff. A good manager motivates, not sowing division.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I agree with Guy. That is a total lack of professionalism on the part of the DOS to point out anyone's mistakes in front of other people the way he did. That should be personal.

IF he wanted to highlight good things and he got the people's permission, he could do that as examples of good teaching. I am sure some people got humiliated there.
I would ask your DOS where he read about this "learning" technique.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I agree completely. He should have kept the comments, positive or negative, private, and only shown this material to others with your permission.

I don't know how approachable your DOS is, but I would recommend you express your concerns and ask that the videos not be shown without your approval.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If that was part of your performance review, it should have been as private as any conversation you had with the DOS.

If they want to show mistakes (better described as "weak points"), then they should get permission.

Moreover, did they have the permission of the students to show them as well? I know some parents would be upset at knowing their kids were used in that way if without consent.

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

If this upsets you, just wait until you find out how they are using YOUR video for promotion of the school. Maybe not now, but sooner or later, somewhere, somehow.

mondrian · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:17 am Post subject:

It happened to me 5 years ago in a BBQ restaurant. There we all were tucking into the nosh when we became aware of a large videocamera peering over our shoulders watching platefulls of food disappear. The following week in class I was told that I had appeared on local TV. The comment was that "I could use chopsticks!". That advert is still shown regularly on our local TV
After that I vowed never to accept such behaviour again.
Then 3 years ago in class, a TV team entered without my prior knowledge or agreement. So I shut down the lesson and stood there waiting for them to disappear. Eventually the Dean showed up and apologised for lack of warning and wanted me to go ahead and "teach" while being videoed. This I politely declined as he wouldn't tell me the purpose of the video and that I was camera shy anyway; that the whole thing was making me too stressed to carry on with the lesson, and that I would have to go home sick. The TV team and the Dean rapidly disappeared!

Sherri · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:57 am Post subject:

My first question would be, why did the DOS video tape your class? What was the purpose and what did he tell you he was going to do with the material? I agree with other posters that the tape should not be shown to others without your permission. In fact any DOS that tried that at any of the schools I have worked for would have been roasted alive on the spot!

I think it is strange that he would choose to video tape over attending the class in person and taking notes. An unmanned camera has lots of disadvantages, I imagine that sound and picture quality varied too.

I also don't understand what he meant by "mistakes". It sounds counterproductive and at the same time does not take into account the teacher's point of view. Maybe there was a reason for the teacher to do something a certain way which the DOS may not understand. It sounds very one-sided. Showing only mistakes and not showing anything positive is a big no no in my book. I would never give feedback to a teacher without pointing out the positive.

As for videos for promotional use, we ask all teachers and students to sign a waiver for promotional photos--if they don't want to sign, then we don't use them in photos or vidoes. It is pretty simple. They do the same thing at my kids' public schools.
Sherri

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:25 am Post subject:

Sherri--

You guys use videos to promote your program? I've never heard of an IEP doing such things...interesting. Do you recruit students locally then?

Sherri · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:39 am Post subject:

Not locally, but we are going to advertise on a website that allows us to post video footage! How cool is that? It is the first time for us. I also want to put it on our own website.
Sherri

the new guy · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 127

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

New Guy - can you give a school name and location, or at the very least some way to identify where not to apply?

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Sherri · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:57 am Post subject:

Yes I agree that a video camera could be valuable. I have used it with peer observations and it worked well especially since the teachers were all teaching at the same time so they couldn't go into each other classrooms. I guess it depends on what the DOS wanted. In this one's case I guess it was to make the teachers feel demoralized? I prefer to go into the class myself and take notes. I can see and hear more and move around.

I am a little concerned about the so-called "mistakes or poor technique."

"pronunciation, too much student talking, having a little chuckle with the students..."

I don't know what pronunciation is referring to (the students' or the teacher's?) but why is too much student talking bad? I like it when my students talk a lot! And why is having a laugh with your students bad? I do that all the time and so do my colleagues!

New Guy, you also wrote that you were shown, "Just some of the good comments from the student evaluations."

Does this mean that the DOS is censoring your student evaluations? If so, very unprofessional.

New Guy, I really hope the teachers in your school speak up and tell the DOS how you feel.