DUE: No later than NOVEMBER 25, 2009         

Do not wait until the last minute to start on this requirement!

The point of this exercise is to learn more about how to evaluate your own performance as a teacher.  Viewing a video of yourself teaching can be very instructive.  It's also tough work ... and you might prefer to avoid it.  Nevertheless I am consistently told by students every semester that the video is one of the most beneficial activities in the class.  Maybe it will help to keep that in mind.  

It will be your responsibility to video yourself teaching.   It's best that the teaching situation be "real" and "recent." I do not want you to use video that you made before this semester. The video can be accomplished a number of different ways.

If you are teaching a class this semester, then you're set!  Just make arrangements to video one of your class sessions.  Remember that teaching takes many forms.  This does not have to be a lecture.

If you are not teaching this semester, there are other possibilities.  Perhaps you can arrange to be a "guest teacher."  Perhaps you will be presenting in a research seminar or making a presentation in one of your other classes this semester -- that might work.  Maybe you plan to teach adults somewhere other than an academic setting.  However, if none of these seem likely for you, talk with me.  We'll be creative and figure something out.

It's not always sufficient to view the video by yourself.  You should also be open to getting the perspectives of a trusted colleague.  So -- for this assignment you will be working in a team of EDCI 943 classmates in pairs or triads. 

Do not wait until the last minute to start!  There are five steps to this course requirement.  

First, video your teaching.  You must make arrangements for the video.  It may be possible for one of the Center's graduate assistants to help you make the video, if you prefer.  You may check out video equipment from iTAC, or you may find it more convenient to use your department's equipment, or perhaps you have your own.  If you are uncertain about making these arrangements, let me know.  I'll help.

Second, you view the video.  This is the hardest step for many people, but you shouldn't put it off.  You'll learn more from the experience if you view the results within a week of making the video.  [For this reason alone, I do not want you to use video that you have made before this semester.]  Remember to consider both what went well and what might be improved.

Third, get your team's impressions of your video. The point here is to get others' interpretations of what they see and hear.  Their interpretations may be quite different from your own impressions since they were not the one teaching.  As a collaborating colleague, it will be your responsibility to offer constructive feedback.  Again, it's always important to consider both what went well and what might be improved.  You can complete this step by either exchanging videos to watch separately or by getting together to watch each other's videos.

Fourth, give your video to me so that I can view it.  I'm not viewing the video so that I can evaluate your performance.  That's your job.  If you want my opinions, I'll share them with you ... but that's not the point of this exercise.  If you make more than one copy of the video or make it available one way or another online, then this step could be completed simultaneously with the second and/or third step.

Fifth, your team makes an appointment to discuss what you've learned from the experience of analyzing your teaching in the videos.  Do not schedule this meeting until you and your partner(s) have completed steps 1-4.

REMEMBER:  All five steps should be completed by November 25, 2009 .  This requirement is graded as credit/no credit.  Once you have completed all five steps, you get the credit. 

Did you understand that you should not wait until the last minute to start on this requirement!