A videotape analysis provides an objective view of your course - a record from which you can analyze your teaching. You can investigate nagging questions about technique or explore successes and problems with innovative approaches. Most importantly, you can see what is working and why.

How can I get the most out of this process?
Discuss with your consultant before the taping your concerns about your teaching or what different techniques or approaches you plan to use in the class that will be taped. Such a conversation can help you define your questions about teaching.

What is the taping like?
Ahead of time, think about the way you teach and what you'd most like to analyze on tape. Camera operators can usually tape the students as well as the teacher, and student interactions can be informative. Remember, too, that most people (both teachers and students) forget that the camera is there after about ten minutes.

What is the consultation like?
First, we want you to see what you're doing right. If you don't already know all those things, we help you find them, using objective evidence from the class informed by our experience teaching and consulting with faculty and TAs from a variety of academic disciplines. Then guided by your interest, we help you focus on areas of concern and recommend possible responses. Consultations normally last an hour. We won't see the entire tape, though we'll cover many of your concerns. You take the lead in deciding what we discuss.

Can I have a copy of the tape?
If you would like to keep the tape of your videotaped classroom session, please let us know and bring us a new Mini-DV tape prior to videotaping. Mini-DV tapes may be purchased at the U.Va. Bookstore or any electronics supply store. Regrettably, we are not able to help with copying tapes or transferring them to other media. NB: In accordance with our policy of confidentiality and federal privacy laws, classroom sessions videotaped by the TRC are intended for consultations or personal viewing only. If you intend to show all or part of the tape in a public forum, you are responsible for obtaining permissions or Institutional Review Board (http://www.virginia.edu/vprgs/irb/) approval, when necessary.

We conduct videotape analyses throughout the year. To schedule one, submit your request online at any time during the semester. The number of videotapings we conduct is limited and filled on a first-come first-served basis.

If you have questions, please call us at 982-2815 or e-mail trc-uva@virginia.edu.