Introduction
Introduction...2
1. Before you get started 3
Obtain consent 3
Equipment 3
Common devices and user guides 4
Device storage 5
Camera settings 5
2. How to record video of your teaching practice 6
Familiarisation and practice for you and your students
6
Equipment placement 6
Video and audio recording tips 6
3. Editing videos 8
4. How to compress and re-encode video files 8
5. Checklist for taking quality videos 9
Guide for capturing quality video recordings
Introduction
Introduction...2
1. Before you get started 3
Obtain consent 3
Equipment 3
Common devices and user guides 4
Device storage 5
Camera settings 5
2. How to record video of your teaching practice 6
Familiarisation and practice for you and your students
6
Equipment placement 6
Video and audio recording tips 6
3. Editing videos 8
4. How to compress and re-encode video files 8
5. Checklist for taking quality videos 9
Table of Contents
Introduction...21. Before you get started...3
Obtain consent...3
Equipment...3
Common devices and user guides...5
Device storage... ...4
Camera settings ...6
2. How to record video of your teaching practice... ...7
Familiarisation and practice for you and your students...7
Equipment placement... ...7
Video and audio recording tips...8
3. Editing videos...9
4. How to compress and re-encode video files...10
5. Checklist for taking quality videos...11
Introduction
This guide provides general technical guidance and video recording tips for producing quality videos in a teaching context. The Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) thanks the Department of Educa-tion for allowing QCEC to adapt these guidelines for the use of Queensland Catholic EducaEduca-tion.
The guide has been developed for teachers applying for voluntary national certification at the Highly Accom-plished Teacher or Lead Teacher career stages but may also be used by teachers at all career stages, seeking to use videos for reflection on practice.
This document includes information about: • consent requirements
• equipment
• video and audio recording tips • how to reduce the size of video files.
This guide does not include detailed information about the national certification application processes. The Queensland College of Teachers Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Guidelines outline Stage 1 and 2 ap-plication process requirements, including file size requirements for applicants when they are submitting their applications to the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) on myQCT.
Before you read this guide, it is important to familiarise yourself with the file size requirements outlined in the QCT’s Guidelines. These are as follows:
Application for Stage 1 Assessment
The total file size of the Stage 1 portfolio is 2 gigabytes (GB) and all portfolios (except for iTunesU portfolios) must be zipped. While there is no limit on the number of videos submitted as Stage 1 direct evidence, if they are included, portfolios must still be under the 2 GB size limit. It is recommended that each video should be no longer than 3 minutes, so it is clear for assessors which information/practice they are to focus on.
Application for Stage 2 Assessment
Two unedited 30-35 minute recordings of lessons are required to be uploaded on MyQCT along with other re-quired documentation outlined in the QCT’s Guidelines. Each recording must be no larger than 2GB, i.e. 2GB per video.
1. Before you get started
Before you commence any video recordings of a class you must:
• obtain consent from the school and individuals who will be recorded
• make sure the school equipment and device storage are adequate for the task.
Obtain consent
Consent must be obtained from all individuals (for example volunteers and/or colleagues), and the parents or legal guardians of all students, who will appear or be heard in the video or audio recordings. Please refer to your Em-ploying Authority’s consent procedure for more information. Parents will need to be informed that you may record videos in order to compile your application, and as part of your ongoing reflection on your professional practice. If a student’s parents do not provide consent, please do not attempt to edit or blur videos to de-identify students. Instead, it is recommended those student(s) are seated out of the camera’s range and cannot be identified.
Equipment
Can I use a personal device? Please do not use personal cameras or mobile phones to photograph or record stu-dents unless prior approval has been given by your Principal or manager. The use of mobile phones or cameras to photograph students must be for official purposes only.
What equipment is recommended? QCEC does not recommend or endorse the use of any particular product or supplier. It is recommended that teachers investigate what equipment is already available in their school, in nearby schools or Catholic School Authority (CSA). Contact the HAT and LT contact in your CSA if you need support to source equipment.
Important Tip for Stage 2 Applications: If you are unable to obtain consent from
the majority of individuals and parents/carers of your class and therefore cannot
capture an authentic demonstration of your practice, please contact the QCT on
(07)33774711
Important Tip for Stage 2 Applications: If you are unable to obtain consent from
the majority of individuals and parents/carers of your class and therefore cannot
capture an authentic demonstration of your practice, please contact the QCT on
(07)33774711
VIDEO RECORDING TIPS
s Guidelines. Each recording must be no larger than 2GB, i.e. 2GB per video.
The following list suggests useful equipment or resources for video recordings that may be available at your school:
E Q U I P M E N T
Video camera, smart phone, tablet, auto-track and capture video camera (SoloShot)
Memory card for device (if required)
Optional auto-tracking camera mount e.g. Jigabot or Swivl Tripod or stand or colleague to hold the video camera * Microphone or other voice projection device
Extension cords, charging cables, docks and/or batteries
The following options suggest useful equipment or resources for video recordings that may be available
at your school:
Video devices:
Microphones:
The following list suggests useful equipment or resources for video recordings that may be available at your school:
E Q U I P M E N T
Video camera, smart phone, tablet, auto-track and capture video camera (SoloShot) Memory card for device (if required)
Optional auto-tracking camera mount e.g. Jigabot or Swivl Tripod or stand or colleague to hold the video camera * Microphone or other voice projection device
Extension cords, charging cables, docks and/or batteries
The following options suggest useful equipment or resources for video recordings that may be available
at your school:
Video devices:
Microphones:
VIDEO RECORDING TIPS
s Guidelines. Each recording must be no larger than 2GB, i.e. 2GB per video.
Common devices and user guides
iPad (video camera) iPhone (video camera) Soloshot (video camera
https://support.apple.com/manuals/ipad https://support.apple.com/manuals/iphone https://assets.soloshot.com/static/guides/ SS3_User_Manual_V2.1.pdf
Jigabot (auto tracking camera mount)
https://www.swivl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ https://www.jigabot.com/docs C-Series-User-Guide-print.pdf
Device storage
Can I store videos in the cloud from my device?
Common devices and user guides
iPad (video camera) iPhone (video camera) Soloshot (video camera
https://support.apple.com/manuals/ipad https://support.apple.com/manuals/iphone https://assets.soloshot.com/static/guides/
SS3_User_Manual_V2.1.pdf
Jigabot (auto tracking camera mount)
https://www.swivl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ https://www.jigabot.com/docs
C-Series-User-Guide-print.pdf
Device storage
Can I store videos in the cloud from my device?
VIDEO RECORDING TIPS
s Guidelines. Each recording must be no larger than 2GB, i.e. 2GB per video.
Camera settings
It is also important that you familiarise yourself with the resolution settings of your device (camera, iPad, iPhone, Swivl) before you start taking videos. Resolution is the number of pixels presented in video. Generally, a smaller resolution size will result in a smaller sized video file. 720p is recommended.
Videos need to be able to be clearly seen and heard by the viewer, but you do not need a high definition video recording for it to be a quality recording of your teaching practice. Camera and microphone placement and other important tips are detailed below.
To check and change the resolution size of the videos captured by your device, please refer to the User Guide links above or to your recording device’s User Guide which should be able to be located online if it was not provided with your device.
Camera setting instructions for some common devices follow:
iPhone and iPad:
To change the resolution of your video, tap on Settings > Camera > Record Video > select 720pHD at 30 fps
Swivl (C Series Robot):
After you have set your iPhone/iPad settings using the above instructions, on the Swivl app tap on Settings in the navigation bar on the left of the app interface to access settings for the Swivl app and robot > under Recording > Video Quality > select SD.
Tip for Stage 2 Applications: When you are practicing recording videos, make sure you
cap-ture one 30 to 35 minutes long, then check the file size of your video to find out if it is greater
than 2GB (the maximum file size that can be uploaded to the MyQCT for Stage 2 Assessment is
2GB). You may need to download the video onto your school laptop or computer to check its
size. If the file is larger than 2GB, you may need to try compressing the video file.
Tip for Stage 2 Applications: When you are practicing recording videos, make sure you
cap-ture one 30 to 35 minutes long, then check the file size of your video to find out if it is greater
than 2GB (the maximum file size that can be uploaded to the MyQCT for Stage 2 Assessment is
2GB). You may need to download the video onto your school laptop or computer to check its
size. If the file is larger than 2GB, you may need to try compressing the video file.
VIDEO RECORDING TIPS
s Guidelines. Each recording must be no larger than 2GB, i.e. 2GB per video.
2. How to record a video of your teaching practice
Familiarisation and practice for you and your students
Until you and your students get used to the experience, recording classroom practice may not present an authentic or realistic view of your practice. If the first-time recording equipment is present in a lesson many students may not behave as usual. You may also find you act differently in front of a camera, the first few times you are recorded.
Here are some tips to help you and your students get used to video recordings:
• Practice making videos so you become familiar with taking videos. It will also help you and your students to be more relaxed and assist you to present an authentic video of your practice and your students’ experi- ences during your lesson
• When practicing, be conscious of the time, and the video and audio quality
• View your practice videos to reflect on your teaching and use tools such as AITSL’s Classroom Practice Con- tinuum and Looking at Classroom Practice guide to explore areas for improvement. Through the video, watch what was said, made, done and written and what students said, made, did and wrote as the lesson unfolded
• Record different lessons and varied teaching formats, including whole class lessons, and students
undertaking group work (including large and small groups). In order to show your usual teaching context, these practice recordings should be made during the usual class times and not created during non-contact time or after school.
Equipment placement
When making a video, place the video device either on a tripod or stand, in an auto-tracking camera mount (e.g. Swivl) or in a vantage point (for example, on top of a file cabinet) where the camera view takes in all of the students participating in the class. Some equipment user guides may include placement recommendations. Alternatively, ask a colleague to operate the video recorder.
Record several sessions and watch these recordings to become accustomed to how the video looks and sounds. Notice what students are saying, making, doing and writing, and reflect on students’ learning and how to capture this. Once you have established the ideal placement of equipment or the person holding the video recorder, note the placement for future reference.
Important Tip for Stage 2 Applications: If you have practised capturing videos but your
stu-dents are unable to relax or continue to be distracted by the video, and you cannot capture
an authentic demonstration of your practice, please contact the QCT on (07)33774711.
Important Tip for Stage 2 Applications: If you have practised capturing videos but your
stu-dents are unable to relax or continue to be distracted by the video, and you cannot capture
an authentic demonstration of your practice, please contact the QCT on (07)33774711.
Video and audio recording tips
Once you and your students are more familiar with video equipment in your lessons, use this to produce good quality videos that best capture your teaching practice. Your videos do not need to be of professional quality, but it is important the viewer can see and hear everything that is happening in the video.
Audio quality is important and can be challenging in classrooms and particularly outdoor settings. If you or your students cannot be heard, it will be difficult for others to watch the video and understand what is happening. There are environmental and technical challenges when trying to get the best audio quality, including being outdoors, or in areas with flat, echoing walls.
When more than one person is speaking it is also difficult to hear everything that is being said. For these reasons, always check that the cables, the video and the microphone are working before you start, and refer to the following video and audio recording tips:
Video tips
• Where possible, use a tripod, stand or auto-tracking camera mount such as a Swivl or Jigabot so that the video is steady and smooth.
• In general, the camera should be focused on people when they are speaking. When your students are speak ing, the camera should capture them so consider the best spot in the room when placing your recording device.
• If a person is assisting with recording the video, they may need to follow you, moving from group to group to capture what is happening. However, avoid having the camera follow a conversation back and forth be- tween different people it may be better to capture both people at once.
VIDEO RECORDING TIPS
s Guidelines. Each recording must be no larger than 2GB, i.e. 2GB per video.
• If you are using a tripod or stand, look through the viewfinder before you start recording to make sure that everyone who is sitting, or standing is in full view.
• If writing on a whiteboard/smartboard is an important part of your lesson, be sure what is written is cap tured on the video recording and is legible. This may require:
o refocusing the camera on the board and checking on the camera that the writing can be seen o moving the camera to reduce the amount of glare on the board
o using dark markers on the board.
• The amount of light in the room generally improves the quality of video recording but avoid aiming the cam era towards bright light. Be sure to check and note the combination of lights, open curtains or blinds which provide the best recording. If there are windows on one side of the room, have the recorder try to shoot with the lens facing away from the window otherwise your video may be over-exposed.
Audio tips:
• Eliminate noises that may interfere with recording, such as fans, or avoid recording when competing with outside noises, such as a lawn mower.
• Keep the recording device microphone close to the action or use an external microphone that is compatible with your video camera which can be moved closer to the action. The location of the microphone is key to capturing quality audio. Remember that the closer the microphone is to the action, the better the sound recording.
3. Editing video Length
The most important quality of your video is that the viewer can see and hear everything that is happening in the video.
It is important to manage the length of your videos – i.e. aim for 3 minute videos for Stage 1 Applications and 30 to 35 minute videos for Stage 2 Applications.
When you upload your two videos to myQCT for Stage 2 assessment, they must be 30 – 35 minutes each and must be continuous with no breaks, music, dubbing, subtitles or any other editing and no more than 2GB in size.
VIDEO RECORDING TIPS
s Guidelines. Each recording must be no larger than 2GB, i.e. 2GB per video.
There are a range of video editing tools available you could use to manage the length of your videos including:
• Adobe Premier Pro – please check with your CSA regarding availability of this program
• Free software can be downloaded from the internet. QCEC does not endorse any particular software and cautions users about services which require them to store their videos in the cloud. These services are not recommended for use as videos are stored on overseas servers and the security of your recordings are at risk.
• Free and paid apps are available to reduce video size on iPad/ iPhone for example iMovie.
In order to upload your videos either as part of your Stage 1 portfolio application or for the Stage 2 virtual site visit, you may need to compress and/or re-encode your video files to meet file size requirements.
It is important to note that the Zip function available through windows will not significantly reduce the file size of your videos. There are a range of tailored video compression tools available:
• Adobe Premier Pro – please check with your CSA regarding availability of this program
• Free software can be downloaded from the internet. QCEC does not endorse any particular software and cautions users about services which require them to store their videos in the cloud. These services are not recommended for use as videos are stored on overseas servers and the security of your recordings are at risk.
• Free and paid apps are available to reduce video size on iPad/ iPhone
• Another option is to re-encode your video file format to one with higher compression efficiency, for example converting H.264 MP4 to HEVC. There is free software available on the internet
This document was produced with the assistance of the Queensland Department of Education.
Important Tip for Stage 1 and 2 Applications: Editing of video recordings is not permitted
for this process and may bring into question the integrity of the recording. Please do not split
and splice videos, add music, include visual effects, blur faces, or fade in and out. If recording
a video for Stage 2 Assessment, the recording must run continuously for 35 minutes.
Important Tip for Stage 1 and 2 Applications: Editing of video recordings is not permitted
for this process and may bring into question the integrity of the recording. Please do not split
and splice videos, add music, include visual effects, blur faces, or fade in and out. If recording
a video for Stage 2 Assessment, the recording must run continuously for 35 minutes.
Important Tip for Stage 1 and 2 Applications: If you have compressed and/or re-
en-coded your video, check the file size again to confirm if it is smaller than 2GB. If it is
larger than 2GB, please contact the QCT on (07)33774711.
Important Tip for Stage 1 and 2 Applications: If you have compressed and/or re-
en-coded your video, check the file size again to confirm if it is smaller than 2GB. If it is
larger than 2GB, please contact the QCT on (07)33774711.
VIDEO RECORDING TIPS
s Guidelines. Each recording must be no larger than 2GB, i.e. 2GB per video.
Checklist for taking quality videos
Before you start
Read the Queensland College of Teachers Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Guidelines Obtain consent from the school, individuals and parents/carers of students who will be recorded
If consent is not provided, ensure students are seated out of the camera’s range and cannot be identified
Use school or CSA equipment, not personal equipment. Contact the HAT and LT contact in your CSA if you need support to source equipment.
Ask a colleague to help you with your recordings
Make sure you have the following equipment
Video camera, iPad, Smart Phone, tablet, an auto-track and capture video camera such as a SoloShot, or other recording deviceMemory card for device (if required)
Optional auto-tracking camera mount e.g. Jigabot or Swivl Tripod or stand or colleague to hold the video camera Microphone or other voice projection device (if required) Extension cords, charging cables, docks and/or batteries
Familiarise, set up and test your equipment
Read the user guide for your equipmentCheck the cables, video and microphone are working Check you have appropriate storage available on the device
Check the resolution settings of your device and ensure it is set to record at 720p
Make sure videos are saved onto your school device – do not use cloud storage on the record-ing device
Checklist for taking quality videos
Before you start
Read the Queensland College of Teachers Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Guidelines Obtain consent from the school, individuals and parents/carers of students who will be recorded
If consent is not provided, ensure students are seated out of the camera’s range and cannot be identified
Use school or CSA equipment, not personal equipment. Contact the HAT and LT contact in your CSA if you need support to source equipment.
Ask a colleague to help you with your recordings
Make sure you have the following equipment
Video camera, iPad, Smart Phone, tablet, an auto-track and capture video camera such as a SoloShot, or other recording deviceMemory card for device (if required)
Optional auto-tracking camera mount e.g. Jigabot or Swivl Tripod or stand or colleague to hold the video camera Microphone or other voice projection device (if required) Extension cords, charging cables, docks and/or batteries
Familiarise, set up and test your equipment
Read the user guide for your equipmentCheck the cables, video and microphone are working Check you have appropriate storage available on the device
Check the resolution settings of your device and ensure it is set to record at 720p
Make sure videos are saved onto your school device – do not use cloud storage on the record-ing device
VIDEO RECORDING TIPS
s Guidelines. Each recording must be no larger than 2GB, i.e. 2GB per video.
Checklist continued...
Practice recordings
Familiarise yourself and your students with video recording by practicing
Record different lessons and varied teaching formats (whole class lessons/group work)
Look through the viewfinder to make sure that everyone is in full view, and can be heard using the microphone
If writing on a whiteboard/smartboard is an important part of your lesson, be sure what is writ-ten is captured on the video recording and is legible
Check and note lighting, open curtains or blinds which provide the best recording Eliminate/avoid noises that may interfere with recording (fans, lawn mowers, etc). View your practice videos to reflect on your teaching and use tools such as AITSL’s
Classroom Practice Continuum and Looking at Classroom Practice guide to explore areas for improvement
Check video length and size
Check your videos and edit their length if required to meet the QCT Guidelines (i.e. approxi-mately 3 minutes for Stage 1 and 30-35 minutes for Stage 2).
Check your Stage 2 videos to determine if they are 2GB each in size or less
If your Stage 2 videos are larger than 2GB each, try specific video compression and/or re- en-coding software. You can also compress your videos for Stage 1 if required to keep your total portfolio size under 2GB.
Further support for stage 2 applications:
Checklist continued...
Practice recordings
Familiarise yourself and your students with video recording by practicing
Record different lessons and varied teaching formats (whole class lessons/group work)
Look through the viewfinder to make sure that everyone is in full view, and can be heard using the microphone
If writing on a whiteboard/smartboard is an important part of your lesson, be sure what is writ-ten is captured on the video recording and is legible
Check and note lighting, open curtains or blinds which provide the best recording Eliminate/avoid noises that may interfere with recording (fans, lawn mowers, etc). View your practice videos to reflect on your teaching and use tools such as AITSL’s
Classroom Practice Continuum and Looking at Classroom Practice guide to explore areas for improvement
Check video length and size
Check your videos and edit their length if required to meet the QCT Guidelines (i.e. approxi-mately 3 minutes for Stage 1 and 30-35 minutes for Stage 2).
Check your Stage 2 videos to determine if they are 2GB each in size or less
If your Stage 2 videos are larger than 2GB each, try specific video compression and/or re- en-coding software. You can also compress your videos for Stage 1 if required to keep your total portfolio size under 2GB.
