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.
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Dr. Heigle-
ReplyDeleteHow proud you must be to see your daughter follow in you and your wife's footsteps, as educators! I agree with you that using a variety of strategies and techniques can definately enliven the classroom. ELementary kids love to have their pictures taken, I will try a movie camera!
Joan
I can buy into the Hawthorne Effect as kindergarten students love the ABC action photos I took and made into a learning tool. We use it on the Smartboard, so they are really on the big screen. I am looking forward to taking the images and importing them into something smoother as I have them in a word document now- perhaps powerpoint or one of the web slide tools.
ReplyDeleteI also am going to write a small grant-I have 2 sources in mind-to get a Small Wonder for my classroom. We often perform Reader's Theatre so it would be great as a learning tool and to capture the final performance. It would also be great on a school wide basis to capture the students in their community service work, the talent show, and in their learning.
Thanks
Denise
While browising on web yesterday I came upon a similar idea: The Georgia Tech ESL teacher taped his non-native speakers while they were practicing short dialogs in purpose to learn some American phrasal verbs. Unfortunatelly, students pronunciation is so poor that the material is not good enough as a teaching tool but the idea is great and is absolutely feasible in classrooms. I am thinking of using camera in my class: kids would be thrilled.
ReplyDeleteAbout once a year I do a lesson on careers. I use the talk show format, where each guest is in the career of their choice. They must research and be prepared to answer all of the questions asked by the host.
ReplyDeleteThe classroom is always listening as we video each segment and they love to watch the replay.
Now I finally have a name for a social phenomenon that I've observed for years--the Hawthorne effect! I think that many of have noticed the same change in behavior when a pricipal pops into a class for a few minuntes and even the most voisterous student turns into an attentive and engaged dream student. I've never thought to try to consciouslly harness the power of the "Hawthorne effect." This has given me some "food for thought."
ReplyDeleteI experienced "the Hawthorne effect" just today in my Bodypump class. I was video taping myself for form and technique, and assured everyone that it was I that was being video taped. Even with that being said, I saw some people really pushing themselves, who don't normally. Human behavior is indeed fascinating.
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