ICITE
Improve teaching through video-enabled reflection and collaboration.ICITE (IRIS Connect Initial Teacher Education)
IRIS Connect is an integrated part of practicum experience for all primary and secondary students. Students record themselves using a state of the art system designed for initial teacher education and annotate the videos, noticing key aspects of their emerging teaching practice. They then reflect on and discuss the teaching practice in an iterative way, with associate teachers, supervisors and student colleagues.
You can find out more about IRIS Connect at https://help.irisconnect.com
After extensive trialling between 2021 and 2023, we are now integrating the deeper reflective practice enabled by this tool into our programmes, including on campus courses.
We’re working directly with school leaders to ensure partner schools are satisfied about the safeguards that are in place. If you have questions about your student teacher recording themselves in your classroom, speak to your schools ITE liaison officer, or your school leader.
You can also contact our project team on icite@auckland.ac.nz.
If you want a bit more detail, check out the FAQs on the right.
Contact the Project Team:
More frequently asked questions
What is this project called?
ICITE (IRIS Connect Initial Teacher Education).
What is IRIS Connect?
IRIS Connect is the video-based professional development tool being used within the ICITE project that empowers teachers to record, reflect on, analyse and share their lessons.
Why are we doing this?
- This approach to ITE is used widely in the UK and other countries. Evidence shows a significant improvement in the quality of teacher practice compared to traditional approaches to ITE practicum.
- This pilot project is designed to assess how the approach will work in our settings here in Aotearoa.
- The University of Auckland is the first university in New Zealand to explore using this tool within its ITE provision.
How will this affect my school if we are hosting students involved in the ICITE project?
- We anticipate the workload for associate teachers will be similar to a traditional practicum.
- We’ll provide training and support for your staff on how the tool works and ensure they can access the tool to take their part.
- Some of the observations and feedback work that associate teachers do can take place within IRIS Connect in relation to video recordings, rather than observing live classes.
- There is no change to the overall learning outcomes for student teachers or the assessment documentation required of associate teachers working with them.
What about Security?
- Every teacher has a personal, password protected account for IRIS Connect and videos are uploaded to our secure cloud-based platform where they can be accessed only by those who have been granted permission.
- Schools will have admin-level access to this system to maintain control of video recordings.
- Video recordings can be anonymised to further protect students and staff.
- Video content cannot be shared outside the secure platform.