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Teachscape 'Reflect' 360-Degree Video System Ensures No Student Goes Unnoticed

by Warren Riddle on October 14, 2010 at 07:20 AM

Professional athletes already employ motion-capture technology and 3-D imaging to identify weaknesses in their various swings, gaits and throwing motions. Now, another group of dedicated and intense professionals hopes to perfect the techniques of its members through a similar system of video analysis. According to CNET, the second-grade classroom at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in San Francisco now houses a Teachscape Reflect "360-degree multimedia classroom panorama and audio system."

Sparked by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Measures of Effective Teaching Project, the Reflect system is intended to help teachers comprehensively analyze their lesson plans, material delivery and how they communicate with students. A panoramic "vertical convex camera" captures 360-degree, 1080p images of the entire room, while another 720p camera stays focused on the front of the class. Two microphones -- one attached to the teacher and one stationed in the classroom -- record every sound.

The captured footage can be sent to the Educational Testing Service for outside analysis, so the days of spontaneous, hipster, off-the-cuff educators may be numbered. And, with teachers now actually having (virtual) eyes in the backs of their heads, the bell may be tolling for classic-classroom shenanigans.

Tags: BillAndMelindaGatesFoundation, cameras, education, kids, motioncapture, PanoramicCamera, school, students, top

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