Using Web Cameras & OneNote to Record Student Performance Increasing the Effectiveness of Deliberate and Reflective Practice Exercises in Skills Courses Professors Larry Farmer & Gerald Williams Copyright © 2004 Brigham Young University

Two Important Preconditions BYU Law School requires all students to own notebook computers that meet or exceed designated requirements All law students have convenient broadband access to the law school’s network

Using Deliberate & Reflective Practice to Master a Skill Set Step 1: Identify a practice task Step 2: Practice the task Step 3: Reflective analysis of the practice experience Informative feedback – e.g. video recording, observer, coach, etc. Performance evaluation Identification of errors Monitor improvement & goals Step 4: Modify practice task then repeat process Problem Area

Essence of the Problem Negotiation Exercises Interviewing & Counseling Exercises Video taping student exercises typically requires the assistance of media services personnel and, therefore, requires special scheduling, is resource intensive and relatively expensive. Exercise video tapes are difficult to distribute for evaluation and review by participating students, instructors, and others. The critically important “reflective analysis of the practice experience” step produces much better learning if practice exercises can be recorded for later review by exercise participants, TAs and instructors.

Problem Solution: Web Cameras Negotiation Exercises Interviewing & Counseling Exercises

General Form of the Web Camera Idea

Technical & Resource Advantages of Web Camera Use to Record Student Exercises Web camera technology is designed to be relatively simple to operate and relatively less resource consuming than standard digital video. Web cameras are less expensive than standard video cameras. All exercise recordings are done by students without the need to involve A/V personnel. Top of the line web camera quality is more than adequate to capture video and audio at satisfactory levels (640 x 480 resolution at 30fps) Exercises are automatically recorded on each student’s notebook computer in digital format for convenient review. Network storage and distribution eliminates the logistical problems associated with the task of preserving and exchanging video tapes and provides convenient access for all interested parties. The instructor and TAs have convenient access to the video recordings of all student exercises for evaluation and feedback.

Instructional and Learning Benefits from the use of Web Cameras Pedagogical benefits: Students can concentrate on exercise performance without the need to try to concurrently assess and remember the details of their performances Students are better motivated to prepare and perform well if they knows the exercise will be recorded and may be reviewed by the instructor Student reflective evaluations of in- class exercises can be done out-of-class preserving class time for group analysis and discussion

Web Cameras Used for In-Class Interviewing & Counseling Exercises

Web Cameras Used for Out-of-Class Negotiation Exercises Screen Image

Negotiation Course Web Camera Implementation Fall 2004

Simple Procedure for Video Recording 1. First week, students go to help desk Install OneNote and web camera software Install software for uploading video files to a dedicated server 2. For each negotiation exercise, students Check out a web camera from law library Connect webcams to their notebook computers Record approximately 30 minutes of practice Video files are automatically named, compressed and saved by OneNote Upload video files to the dedicated network server Return web cameras to circulation desk

Video Review Procedure 1.Students will always: Review the video on their own Write a reflective journal installment about it 2. Students will sometimes also: Review video with instructor or a TA Receive formal feedback Instructor randomly reviews some each week, check on weak students, etc. Students can access all video files for the semester (e.g. can “research” next opponents, etc.)

Legal Interviewing and Counseling Web Camera Implementation Fall 2004

Interviewing & Counseling Implementation Interviewing & Counseling Fundamentals (Theory class-1 credit) Interviewing & Counseling Practicum (Practice exercises - 2 credits) Two in-class exercises per week All reflective reviews are done out-of-class Concurrent Registration

Procedure for Video Recording 1. First week, students go to help desk Install OneNote and web camera software Install software for uploading video files to a dedicated server 2. For each in-class exercise, each student will Pick-up a web camera from the camera cart Connect webcams to their notebook computers Record their exercise performance Video files are automatically named, compressed and saved by OneNote Upload video files to the dedicated network server Return web cameras to camera cart

Video Review Procedure 1.Students will always: Review the video on their own Write a reflective analysis of their exercise performance 2. Students will sometimes also: Review video with instructor or a TA Receive formal feedback 3. Instructor will review selected exercise videos each week, check on weak students, etc. 4. As designated by the instructor, students review can prior exercise video files as as for the semester

Privacy Safeguards

Web Camera Related Student Privacy Issues 1. Obtain permission or waivers from students for video recording 2. Permit students to opt out of having videos used to demonstrate points in class 3. Rules or other protections against unauthorized use of videos 4. Others?

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