Joshua Walker: Life, Learning and Making Progress

The video above is Joshua Walker’s interview in full. He is asked a series of questions including, “What made the biggest difference in his life?”. In addition, his Mother, Diane, shares her son’s success story from her own perspective. Below is a series of responses from Joshua regarding how education can benefit from having cameras in the classroom.

Cameras in the Classroom…
by Joshua Walker

Here is Joshua’s response about why video-recording is really a good idea in classrooms:

1. It opens up more opportunities for individuals with disabilities because people who have sensory issues don’t have to take on a busy college campus. They can be in an environment that works for them and participate with other classmates via online blackboard situations.

2. It works for people who have auditory processing problems and who need to listen to the professor’s or teacher’s lecture/presentation several times. Some students need to hear it several times before the concept really sticks in their minds.

3. Some students have medical problems, which would make it difficult for them to attend on a daily basis. This would allow for more flexibility on attendance and yet videos can be monitored for viewership so that attendance is assured.

4. It would allow ASL and captioning of the videos for those with hearing or other difficulties with communication.

5. Lectures or presentations could be reviewed throughout the semester/term to help ensure that if a concept is lost (think TBI or other memory issues), they can review the material again.

6. For professors and teachers, it’s a way to observe their own teaching performance to see if they are getting their points across in the manner that they intended. It was communicated to me that many professors liked to watch from time to time to see how well the material was received.

7. It creates an almost instant online video series so that more online classes can be offered in the future for those who work, cannot attend at specific times, etc..

8. It allows the professors or teachers to use their videos again to cover specific topics in the after-class hours so that they can present the material of the day with the bonus of sharing the formerly recorded material for more information.

9. Video cameras are a good safety measure for all people in the classroom and ensure academic integrity.

10. It allows students to attend schools that they might not otherwise be able to afford (due to housing expenses). They can simply live where they are and participate in the online experience.

11. Video can be either one way or two way (meaning live online session) depending on the interactive needs of the class and student.

12. Stationary video cameras are cost-effective because they free up disability funds to go to other purposes instead of paying individuals to video record classes.

Overall, I think they are a great idea. I think the applications are as broad as the conditions with which people deal as they try to accomplish their college goals or other higher education goals.

I felt that my accommodation helped me focus on the subjects rather than manage my sensory issues. I was able to be a student and not a person with a challenge that had to be met daily.

Joshua

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This post originally appeared on our September/October 2017 Magazine