Hawthorne Effect

The Hawthorne Effect, that is a short-term improvement caused by observing worker performance, was most likely observed last week when I took my little RCA EZ201 video recorder to the class where my daughter Sarah is doing her student teaching. Sarah warned me that this particular class was her most lethargic and unresponsive. She was attempting to wake her students up with a role play in which Sarah and her cooperating teacher played the roles of talk show hosts and the students were guests on a show examining the points of view of parents, experts, and those who profit from the Barbie Doll culture. The students had assigned rolls and researched points of view about how Barbie has impacted the view/self perception of women in todays culture.

Not to take anything away from Sarah's preparation or her execution (there is no substitute for good teaching) of the plan but I observed what seemed to be a rapt attention to the camera and to what was happening on the 'stage'. I can't be sure but my experience tells me that students are quite aware of being recorded and that being recorded is somehow different from being merely observed. In today's media rich world there seems to be a pervasive sense of 'quiet on the set' as cameras roll.

The Hawthorne Effect as its definition states is a 'temporary' improvement. Therefore, setting up a permanent camera to watch big-brother-like probably will not improve engagement in the long run. However, occasional use of video or still cameras as well as other 'gimmicks' to capture student attention is probably a valid and useful teaching technique. Once student engagement is established it may be easier to maintain.

Just some thoughts on using techno-gear in the classroom.