Kentucky school district picks VuPal to bolster teacher development
VuPal Network, LLC, announced today a one-year agreement with a Kentucky school district that will use VuPal’s proprietary video technology to aid in teacher development.
Jefferson County Public Schools will use VuPal at three pilot schools to facilitate teacher self-evaluation, intra-school peer-to-peer development and inter-school observation-based learning. Teachers will be using the VuPal system on a voluntary basis.
“VuPal is a perfect storm of opportunity,” said XXXX XXXXX, assistant superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools. “This is not technology looking for an application. VuPal technology addresses multiple needs and is superior to anything else out there.”
The agreement with Jefferson County Public Schools follows a deal announced in May 2009 to bring VuPal’s technology to the athletics program at the University of Kentucky. Together, the two deals give the Louisville-based startup an ideal opportunity to showcase how video can become a critical teaching tool on the athletics field and in the classroom.
“As we worked on VuPal, it was immediately clear how it could revolutionize the use of game video for athletic programs,” said Wes Jackson, VuPal president and COO. “But after conversations with a principal at Iroquois High School, we saw an important opportunity to contribute to education. Teachers are always striving to improve. By using video and VuPal’s proprietary technology, teachers can make the self-reflection and peer-review processes more efficient, more cost-effective and more valuable.”
A critical component of teacher development consists of sending teachers to each other’s classrooms to provide feedback and peer review. With VuPal, schools can videotape a teacher in action, then allow reviewers to comment on the teacher’s classroom technique from anywhere there’s an Internet connection. This generates more relevant, focused feedback and reduces the expense of paying substitutes and having teachers travel to review their peers.
The teacher who is being reviewed can log in anywhere there’s an Internet connection to read reviewers’ comments at the exact moment in the classroom experience where the comments apply.
The VuPal system also enables teachers to share lesson plans, calendars and other critical information to foster collaboration.
“We believe this agreement demostrates the versatility of VuPal's technology,” said Terry K. Minton, chairman and CEO of VuPal. “Whether it’s in the classroom or on the playing field, VuPal drives better results at lower cost.”
For additional information on VuPal, contact us or visit www.VuPal.com.
About VuPal Network, LLC - VuPal’s proprietary technology turns video into the ultimate teaching tool. Teachers and coaches can attach instructive comments to video in a way that allows students and athletes to see the comment at the precise moment in the video where it applies. In both athletics and academia, VuPal saves time and money while offering a more effective learning experience. VuPal is based in Louisville, KY, and is privately held.