Video as a Tool for Teachers’ Professional Development

This paper will discuss the production and use of classroom video‐tape as folows: 1) The academic (as opposed to technical) production of video‐tape of mathematics classrooms. 2) The use of video‐tape as an inservice education tool for teachers of mathematics. It results from extensive experience and research by members of the Centre for Mathematics Education at the Open University, UK, in filming real mathematics lessons of teachers of pupils in the 5 to 18 years age range, and the use of the material produced for teachers’ professional development. This use is two‐fold, including both face to face workshops with teachers and as a component of distance learning materials. The paper will not discuss technical details of filming or tape production 1 1. Such details can be obtained from the author, or from members of the Centre for Mathematics Education at the Open University, or from members of the BBC, Open University Productions Unit, as the Open University, Milton Keyenes, UK. The two stages described are independent of each other. It is possible to produce video‐tape which others will use. It is possible to use videotape which others have produced. However, in what is described below, each stage has been enhanced by experience gained from the other.