Teachers discuss what they've discovered through using video. Experts and other educators consider how can it help with observation, inspire new ways of approaching subjects, and open up the learning process.

Action! Teacher Video

What do pupils really think about their lessons?

At Hanham High School in Bristol, headteacher Peggy Farrington wants to engage her students in their learning and is keen for pupils to provide as much feedback as possible on their lessons. Recently, pupils have been asked to fill out questionnaires capturing this feedback at the end of each lesson. In this programme, we see a video made by Year 11 pupils that documents this system in action. Find out how constructive the students have been in their feedback, and see how teacher Lucy Croft deals with the challenge of addressing their concerns. What are the benefits of this system for staff and pupils? Back in the studio, consultant Adrienne Jones is joined by headteacher Peggy and other staff to discuss the video. The experiment at Hanham looks set to be extended, but is it reasonable to allow pupil voice to encroach on performance management?

Being Heard

Pupils get to re-cut archive video to create revision DVDs

Michael Keenan, AST at St Austin's Primary School in Liverpool, has opened his video archive to his pupils, allowing them to re-cut them into bite-size DVD revision guides. Michael has captured the process on video, asking the pupils how they are using the new resources and what they like about them. The pupils are now very enthusiastic about their revision, even sharing their resources with their siblings. The screening of his video is followed by a discussion led by consultant Adrienne Jones with Michael, headteacher Noel O'Neill and teacher Emma Vallely. They ask whether interactive resources really improve motivation and learning, and if pupil ownership the key.

Bite-size DVD

Alex Gibbons presents her creative techniques in teaching science

Alex Gibbons, from Thomas Tallis School in south east London, teaches science by inventing creative activites for a Year 9 class who find the subject challenging. Alex presents a video showing how a puppet making activity and a puppet show have transformed the process of learning the reactivity series at her school. After watching the video, Alex discusses the techniques with consultant Adrienne Jones, arts college manager Jon Nicholls and deputy SENCO Jenny Armstrong. They explore the benefits of this creative approach on pupils' learning and retention, the impact on interpersonal skills and the possibilities of new methods of delivery using technology.

Chemical Puppets

A look at how dance can be used across the primary curriculum

At Broadway Junior School in Gateshead, teacher Chris Horn and his colleagues have been using dance to engage learners of all abilities across the curriculum. Chris documents this process in his video, Dancing Across the Curriculum. Watch Chris and his class in action as they combine words in extended sentences and express these as short dance sequences. There's also a chance to see an example of geography combined with dance, with children asked to use dance to explore ideas about scale from mountain to sand. Chris joins educational consultant Adrienne Jones plus teacher Andrea Noble and headteacher Margarita Acklam to discuss the benefits of this approach to pupils' learning. In particular, the group discuss the approach in terms of creativity, self-esteem and achievement. They conclude by considering how teacher video supports CPD and can help non-specialists embrace this kind of innovation.

Dancing Across the Curriculum

A look at some useful strategies for motivating reluctant readers

In this episode of Action! Teacher Video, teacher Heather Ravenhall presents her inspiring film, How to Motivate Reluctant Readers. Featuring action research carried out at Greet Primary School in Birmingham, the video explores the different methods and strategies used to encourage young children to read and enjoy books. The video is part of a unique showcase of videos made by teachers about their work in schools. Presenter Xanthe Steen is joined in the studio by Heather, as well as education consultant Adrienne Jones and teacher Chris Horn, to discuss the project. They look at what the school's research has revealed to date and the discuss the strategies that have proved successful. They also consider the wider implications of using teachers'videos to record and assess children's learning and to aid teacher CPD.

Foundation Reading

A teacher discusses his video on work experience for students

Teacher Ian Eustace presents a video he made raising the issue of providing suitable work experience for motor vehicle students from Warwickshire College. Eustace's video, The Importance of Work Experience, includes the views of three students as they reflect on the benefits of their work placements and shows the race day climax of a placement involving both students and teachers. Eustace joins presenter Xanthe Steen in the studio to discuss the benefits of work experience, and ask what makes a work placement successful for the student and the employer. They are also joined by education consultant Adrienne Jones and teacher Anthony Partington as they discuss the wider implications of using teacher-made videos for assessment and CPD. The Importance of Work Experience is part of a unique showcase of videos made by pupils about their own learning.

Further Education - Work Experience

Delivering the creative curriculum with the use of characters

At Coney Hill Community Primary School in Gloucester, teacher Melissa Harrison is delivering the creative curriculum with the use of colourful characters like Granny Smith. Melissa captures her Year 2 pupils' encounters with Granny Smith on video - but Granny Smith has actually never been seen! She lives in a shed in the corner of the classroom and leaves notes with tasks for the children to do for her. Following the video, consultant Adrienne Jones leads a studio discussion with Melissa, her colleague Danielle Brayshaw and Mandy, whose daughter Chloe is taught by Melissa. The group's discussion covers not only the impact of Melissa's creative approach, but the differences between boys and girls and how the pupils could make their own videos.

Granny Smith

A look at the novel approach to teaching at Hook C.E. Primary

Janet Huscroft, headteacher at Hook Church of England Primary School in Yorkshire, aims to develop lively, enquiring and creative minds through schemes of work that are based on transferable skills and a thematic approach. The school takes a novel approach to curriculum time, there are no doors on the classrooms, no timetable and no fixed playtime! Class teacher Di Meyer provides an insight into the school through a video she has made, Hooked on Learning, which is her first use of video in the classroom. In the studio discussion that follows, consultant Adrienne Jones is joined by Di, Janet Huscroft and another headteacher, Kate Rowley, from a school in the local network. They explore the benefits of this creative approach on pupils' learning, the impact on interpersonal skills, confidence and attitudes to school and learning. They also consider the wider implications of using a teacher-made video for assessment and CPD and conclude that video is a key tool for them to use in the future.

Hooked on Learning

UK teachers delivering CPD to teachers in a rural Ugandan school

"Whitefriars First and Middle School in north London delivers professional development to teachers in Uganda through teacher exchanges, with the benefits being apparent at both schools. Headteacher Lynne Pritchard has been instrumental in setting up the initiative, with the video shot on location in Uganda demonstrating how the project is affecting teaching practice in Masindi and how the UK teachers have also gained from their experience as teacher trainers. In the discussion that follows, consultant Adrienne Jones is joined by Lynne, teacher-trainer Helen Davies, co-founder of the project, Ronnie Katzler and a visiting teacher from Uganda, Isaac Kizito. Discover the issues facing UK teachers supporting colleagues in a rural Ugandan school, how the Ugandan teachers see the project and what impact is it having, and how making a video changes the way they perceive children?s reactions and the attitudes of teachers."

In Uganda

Sabine Stroud records the impact of laptops on her Year 7 pupils

Year 7 Pupils at the The Arnewood School, in Hampshire school have been given laptops since September 2007 for a long-term project to evaluate the impact on their learning and motivation. Teacher Sabine Stroud makes a video about the experiment and follows the pupils both in the classroom and at home to see how they are being used. Back in the studio Sabine is joined by deputy Nigel Pressnell, headteacher Chris Hummerstone and consultant Adrienne Jones to discuss the project. They see how the scepticism amongst parents disappears as the students enjoy using the laptops, demonstrating an increase in creativity and enhanced thinking skills. Further gains also seem to derive from home learning, by bringing the school and family closer together in a new kind of learning partnership.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Top series

> CPD

> Action! Teacher Video