VIRTUAL TRAINING SYSTEM
A system for training a participant in professional practice. The system including a video playback device; one or more video recording devices for recording first video footage of a master practitioner interacting with one or more clients, and second video footage of an interviewer interacting with the master practitioner while watching the first video footage on the video playback device; a video editing device for preparing a video segment, the video segment including at least a portion of the first video footage and at least a portion of the second video footage; and a computer network for transmitting data to a training participant, the data including the video segment.
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This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/902,606, filed Sep. 24, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/846,335, filed Sep. 22, 2006, entitled “Virtual Training System.” Both U.S. application Ser. No. 11/902,606 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/846,335 are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to methods and kits for professional development and training of participants, more particularly, to methods and kits for professional development and training which incorporate video segments and written materials to provide virtual field experiences to participants to accelerate professional development.
2. Related Art
Traditionally, in many professional fields, instruction and development of participants, for example, novice participants, often requires the participants to view master practitioners in action. By doing so, the participants can observe the practical use of theoretical and/or academic techniques by master practitioners in the relevant field. For example, in the educational training field, in particular the professional development of elementary, middle-level, and secondary school teachers and teachers-in-training, actual field observation of master teachers is typically a requisite part of the curriculum for many certified teacher training programs.
Notwithstanding the obvious benefits to participants that result from such observation, live field experiences still have several drawbacks. For example, the physical presence aspect can be disadvantageous and inconvenient to a participant due to the fact that the participant must travel to and from a particular setting to observe the master practitioner in person. Furthermore, the participant may be limited in terms of access to diverse field experiences encompassing, for example, different environments or settings, diverse student demographics, varying subject matter or content area, and/or different master practitioners. Even more, the presence of the participant may sometimes remove some of the authenticity of the field experience based on the fact that the master practitioner and/or others may be distracted because of the presence of the participant. Moreover, the participant may be a novice in the relevant professional field and, accordingly, is generally unable to see and understand professional techniques being used by a master practitioner. A novice participant also typically lacks the professional vocabulary and know-how to discuss what he/she has seen during the field experience. Also, even when a participant observing a master practitioner in a field experience is able to pick up on the practical application of some theoretical techniques, much of the master practitioner's methods and applications of essential principles can often be lost because the participant is unable to “get into the head” of the master practitioner during the field experience.
What is needed then are improved and more readily available methods and materials to accelerate professional development of participants in a given field while also increasing the participants' depth and breadth of understanding in the given field.
SUMMARYIn one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for training a participant in professional practice is provided. The method may include video recording a first session of a master practitioner interacting with clients in a professional environment, video recording a second session of an interviewer interacting with the master practitioner about the first session, preparing a video segment comprising video footage from the video recording of the first session and the video recording of the second session, and providing the video segment to the participant.
In another exemplary embodiment, the video recording of the first session may include utilizing a first camera substantially directed toward the master practitioner to obtain first video footage. The video recording of the first session may further include utilizing a second camera substantially directed toward the clients to obtain second video footage. The video recording of the second session may include utilizing a third camera substantially directed toward the interviewer and the master practitioner when the interviewer and the master practitioner are watching the first session on a video playback device to obtain third video footage. The video recording of the second session may further include utilizing a fourth camera substantially directed toward the video playback device when the interviewer and the master practitioner are watching the first session on the video playback device to obtain fourth video footage. The preparing of the video segment may include editing together the first, second, and third video footage from the first, second, and third cameras to obtain the video segment, wherein an editor views the fourth video footage from the fourth camera during editing to inform the editing process. The video segment may be stored on a video medium. Alternatively, the video segment may be provided to the participant over a network such as, for example, the internet. The clients may include students and the professional environment may include a classroom. The master practitioner may include a master teacher. The interviewer may include an educational video host.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method may include providing an assignment instruction document to the participant. The assignment instruction document may correspond to the video segment. The method may include providing a lesson plan document to the participant. The lesson plan may correspond to the first session. The method may further include providing an analysis document to the participant for use when the participant views the video segment, and providing a rubric document to the participant for guidance in preparing a written assignment about the video segment. The assignment instruction document, the lesson plan document, the analysis document, and the rubric document may be provided to the participant over a network such as, for example, the internet.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a kit for training a participant in professional practice is provided. The kit may include a video segment, the video segment comprising video footage from a first video recording of a first session of a master practitioner interacting with clients in a professional environment and a second video recording of a second session of an interviewer interacting with the master practitioner about the first session. The kit may further include an assignment instruction document corresponding to the video segment, a session outline document corresponding to the first session, an analysis document for use when the participant views the video segment, and a rubric document for guidance of the participant in preparing a written assignment about the video segment.
In another exemplary embodiment, the first video recording of the first session may include first video footage from a first camera directed toward the master practitioner and second video footage from a second camera directed toward the clients. The second video recording may include third video footage from a third camera directed toward the interviewer and the master practitioner viewing the first video recording. The video segment may be stored on a video medium. Alternatively, the video segment may be provided to the participant over a network such as, for example, the internet. The clients may include students. The professional environment may include a classroom. The master practitioner may include a master teacher.
Further features of the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.
The foregoing and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements.
In describing the exemplary embodiments of the invention, the following definitions are applicable throughout.
A “computer” may refer to one or more apparatus and/or one or more systems that are capable of accepting a structured input, processing the structured input according to prescribed rules, and producing results of the processing as output. Examples of a computer may include: a computer; a stationary and/or portable computer; a computer having a single processor, multiple processors, or multi-core processors, which may operate in parallel and/or not in parallel; a general purpose computer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a super mini-computer; a mini-computer; a workstation; a micro-computer; a server; a client; an interactive television; a web appliance; a telecommunications device with internet access; a hybrid combination of a computer and an interactive television; a portable computer; a personal digital assistant (PDA); a portable telephone; application-specific hardware to emulate a computer and/or software, such as, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a chip, chips, or a chip set; an optical computer; and an apparatus that may accept data, may process data in accordance with one or more stored software programs, may generate results, and typically may include input, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.
“Software” may refer to prescribed rules to operate a computer. Examples of software may include: software; code segments; instructions; applets; pre-compiled code; compiled code; computer programs; and programmed logic.
A “computer-readable medium” may refer to any storage device used for storing data accessible by a computer. Examples of a computer-readable medium may include: a magnetic hard disk; a floppy disk; an optical disk, such as a CD-ROM and a DVD; a magnetic tape; and a memory chip.
A “computer system” may refer to a system having one or more computers, where each computer may include a computer-readable medium embodying software to operate the computer. Examples of a computer system may include: a distributed computer system for processing information via computer systems linked by a network; two or more computer systems connected together via a network for transmitting and/or receiving information between the computer systems; and one or more apparatuses and/or one or more systems that may accept data, may process data in accordance with one or more stored software programs, may generate results, and typically may include input, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.
A “network” may refer to a number of computers and associated devices that may be connected by communication facilities. A network may involve permanent connections such as cables or temporary connections such as those made through telephone or other communication links. Examples of a network may include: an internet, such as the Internet; an intranet; a local area network (LAN); a wide area network (WAN); and a combination of networks, such as an internet and an intranet.
An “interviewer” may refer to one who conducts a conversation in which facts or statements are elicited from another. An “educational video host” may refer to an interviewer knowledgeable in a given professional field such as, for example, teaching methodology.
A “master practitioner” may refer to a person of great skill and experience in a particular profession. In the context of educational training, a master practitioner may be, for example, a “master teacher” which may refer to a person skilled in educational techniques and student development. The master teacher is capable of being videotaped both in the classroom with students and afterwards in an interview with an educational video host.
“Clients” may refer to individuals receiving information from a master practitioner in a professional environment. Clients may include, for example, “students” which may refer to children (or adults) in a classroom or in other educational setting.
“Participants” may refer to people who access the virtual training system for professional development and/or educational experience.
An “assessor” may refer to an instructor or other professional who assesses participants' learning in a professional development program.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONExemplary embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. In describing and illustrating the exemplary embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. The examples and embodiments described herein are non-limiting examples.
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method and a kit are provided for training a participant in professional practices within a given field. Although the following discussion is directed to the employment of such methods and kits in the context of use within a teacher-training program, in particular a K-12 teacher education program, this is done for illustrative purposes only and one of ordinary skill will recognize that the methods and kits may be utilized in other professional training programs related to a variety of disciplines or areas of professional development. The exemplary method and kit may be included within a college course or other professional development program and relate to a virtual training system configured to provide field experiences to participants of such programs in a virtual manner to accelerate and enrich professional development. The system is designed to “get into the heads” of master teachers or other master practitioners in order to convey the complexities of practice (e.g., teaching) and the minute-by-minute decisions that must be made, for example, in the classroom, in order to assure learning for all students. In the educational context, the virtual training system may replicate the experiences that teachers would have if they were to visit a classroom (or multiple classrooms) in the field and observe master teachers. The system improves upon typical field experiences, however, by providing a greater diversity of students, master teachers, and school settings than typical field experiences provide. Additionally, the system provides for the playback of the field experience pinpointing competencies relevant to effective teaching.
According to the exemplary embodiment shown in
As further depicted in
Exposure to multiple virtual field experience kits 101, 102, 103 (inclusive of video segments, printed materials, and assessments) in a professional development program provides participants with an opportunity to move through the developmental continuum from novice to expert at an accelerated pace and with deeper understanding (see
As embodied in a network-based platform, participants may receive the video segment 12, text-based material 14, 16, 18, and all instructions for interacting with the video segment 12 and text-based material 14, 16, 18 via an online connection (not shown). The instructions may include, for example, instructions for completing an assignment, links to the text-based materials 14, 16, 18.
The video segment may be obtained from two separate video recording sessions. For the first video recording session, the interaction between a master teacher and students may be recorded using two cameras. The master teacher may be pre-screened (e.g., in a phone conversation) to determine competence and relevance of the course content. The classroom site may also be scouted to ascertain the feasibility for inclusion in a field experience video segment. Little or no preparation of students would be performed so that an authentic learning experience can be captured in the recording. As shown in
An interviewer such as, for example, an educational video host (EVH) 605 (not shown in
In a second video recording session depicted in
The footage of the first video recording session (e.g., cameras 601, 602 in
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should instead be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A training system comprising:
- a video playback device;
- one or more video recording devices, wherein the one or more video recording devices records: first video footage of a master practitioner interacting with one or more clients, and second video footage of an interviewer interacting with the master practitioner while watching the first video footage on the video playback device;
- a video editing device for preparing a video segment, the video segment including at least a portion of the first video footage and at least a portion of the second video footage; and
- a computer network for transmitting data to a training participant, the data including the video segment.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first video footage comprises video footage from a first recording device of the one or more video recording devices substantially directed toward the master practitioner.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first video footage further comprises video footage from a second recording device of one or more video recording devices substantially directed toward the clients.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the second video footage includes video footage from the one or more video recording devices substantially directed toward the interviewer and the master practitioner when the interviewer and the master practitioner are watching the first video footage on the video playback device.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second video footage further comprises video footage from another recording device of the one or more video recording devices for recording the second session substantially directed toward the video playback device when the interviewer and the master practitioner are watching the first video footage on the video playback device.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the preparing of the video segment comprises:
- editing together the first and second video footage to obtain the video segment, wherein an editor views the video footage from the another recording device during editing.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer network is the Internet.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more clients comprise one or more students and the first video footage is recorded in a classroom.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the master practitioner comprises a master teacher.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the interviewer comprises an educational video host.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitted data further includes at least one of:
- an analysis document for use when the participant views the video segment,
- a rubric document for guidance in preparing a written assignment about the video segment,
- assignment instructions corresponding to the video segment, or
- a lesson plan corresponding to the first video footage.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the video playback device is a computer.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the video editing device is a computer.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more video recording devices are cameras.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-readable medium containing instructions for:
- receiving, by a computer, a first video recording of a master practitioner interacting with clients in a professional environment;
- receiving, by the computer, a second video recording of an interviewer interacting with the master practitioner, wherein the second video recording records the interviewer and the master practitioner viewing the first video recording;
- preparing, by the computer, a video segment comprising at least a portion of the first video recording and at least a portion of the second video recording; and
- providing, by the computer, the video segment to a participant on a non-transitory video storage medium or over a network for viewing by the participant.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein non-transitory computer-readable medium contains further instructions for providing the participant with at least one of:
- an analysis document for use when the participant views the video segment,
- a rubric document for guidance in preparing a written assignment about the video segment,
- assignment instructions corresponding to the video segment, or
- a lesson plan corresponding to the first video footage.
17. A method of training a participant in professional practice, comprising:
- video recording a first session of a master practitioner interacting with clients in a professional environment using at least one video camera to obtain first video footage, wherein the master practitioner is skilled in educational techniques and student development;
- video recording a second session of an interviewer interacting with the master practitioner about the first session using at least one video camera to obtain second video footage, wherein, during the second session, the interviewer and the master practitioner are watching the first video footage from the video recording of the first session on a video playback device, wherein the interviewer is knowledgeable in teaching methodology;
- preparing a video segment using a computer or video editing device, the video segment comprising at least a portion of the first video footage from the video recording of the first session and at least a portion of the second video footage from the video recording of the second session; and
- providing, by the computer or the video editing device, the video segment to the participant on a non-transitory video storage medium or over a network for viewing by the participant.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising at least one of the following:
- providing an analysis document to the participant for use when the participant views the video segment,
- providing a rubric document to the participant for guidance in preparing a written assignment about the video segment,
- providing assignment instructions to the participant, wherein the assignment instructions correspond to the video segment, or
- providing a lesson plan to the participant, wherein the lesson plan corresponds to the first video footage.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 12, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2014
Applicant: Laureate Education, Inc. (Baltimore, MD)
Inventors: Jacqueline A. Hook (San Diego, CA), Barbara L. Schadlow (Los Angeles, CA), Kathleen A. Winberry (Long Beach, CA)
Application Number: 13/964,808