The use of digitised video of experienced teachers at work in preservice teacher education

This portfolio describes an action research study designed to improve the quality of teaching and learning in an undergraduate teacher education course. It will describe the process of the initial implementation of an online module containing video segments of teachers at work. Use of the Internet and high quality digitised video has been combined to increase the number of classrooms preservice teachers can observe. Is it the answer to improving the depth of understanding of teacher's work and creating a higher level of reflective practice in undergraduates attending a teacher education program? The study examines the experience of a team of university lecturers and tutors and 232 first year undergraduate students when an online module was introduced into their first year general educational studies unit. In particular the study will investigate how the use of 'high tech' software provided frequent, relevant opportunities for viewing teachers at work and whether they have implications for future teacher training institutions. The presentation of the study in digital form is an innovative way of presenting the results of an action research study. The digital format enables the display of information and evidence not normally available in a print format.