I agree with you. If cameras are installed need to be able to follow the teacher in the classroom, and as importantly focus on what students are doing. And going out side is also an important consideration. I had an experience with being audio taped several years ago. I was conducting seminars for the Bureau of Education and Research and one of my seminars on science teaching was audio taped. As part of the my seminar, teachers had to go outside to measure ozone. The person who was doing the audio taping had to take the wireless mike outside, and since most of the time in the seminar was spend in small group discussions and science activities, he had to move around the room and zoom in on various groups.

As you can tell from the piece I wrote I do not support cameras in the classroom for evaluative purposes. I would however, encourage teachers within a school building to work out ways that video might be used for professional development.

Thanks for your comment. Jack