When watching TV is great for education

When watching TV is great for education

6 June 2012 - by David Telford

IT’S not often that teachers are videoed in the classroom.

But that’s exactly what’s happening at the De La Salle High School in Downpatrick, with the teachers and their colleagues then sitting in on the replays to view their performance.

Following on from the De La Salle’s very positive school inspection report, an official from the Department of Education’s television branch — ESAGS — contacted principal Barry Sharvin.

Mr. Christopher McIntyre discussed with the De La Salle principal the school’s unique use of videoing lessons for training material.

The Department official scans school inspection reports looking for examples of very good practice that other schools would benefit from and was very impressed with what teachers at the De La Salle are doing.

Mr. McIntyre then arranged for this practice to be filmed and shown on various platforms including the world wide web so it can be viewed by other teachers.

The De La Salle principal was interviewed recently about the success of the Downpatrick’s school initiative and explained teachers allow themselves to be filmed using various teaching techniques and the school then uses these clips as part of their staff training days.

Mr. Sharvin said in order for this to happen, the school operates a “no blame policy” where he encourages staff to try new approaches.

Over the years, the principal has developed a culture of self evaluation where staff report to each other on the progress of action plans and then follow this up by observing each other teach.

“The outcome has been the raising of the quality of the teaching which has seen GCSE results soar,” Mr. Sharvin continued.

“The high quality of teaching at De La Salle was confirmed by the inspectorate when out of the 57 lessons observed, none fell below ‘good,’ with the vast majority being ‘very good or outstanding.’”

The Downpatrick principal explained to Mr. McIntyre during his visit that by watching a video of a lesson, all teachers become observers and evaluators.

“Staff watching colleagues teach adds credibility to the lesson compared to watching a purchased lesson where you think that’s alright but it wouldn’t work in my class.

“Other advantages of using internal video clips are the cementing of friendships, building of self-esteem and confidence as well as developing the skills of the staff,” he said.

Mr. Sharvin said De La Salle High School is continuing to look at intuitive ways to engage their pupils and is currently developing its knowledge of the Ipad as teaching tool of the future.

The principal also revealed that as a result of the school’s impressive inspection report, he is one of a number of principals who have been invited to Stormont later this month by Education Minister John O’Dowd.