FAQ for Administrators & District Leaders

Can a school or district administrator view a teacher's camera without their knowledge?

• This is a school district policy decision. The Kloud-12 system can be configured to allow or not allow school administrators to have access to the classroom camera. By default, administrators do not have access, and this is our recommended best practice. A teacher will always be able to see who has access to their camera, but are not notified when their camera has been accessed.

Will classroom video be used for evaluative purposes?

• Whether classroom video will be used for evaluative purposes depends on the school district's policy. Kloud-12 strongly advises against using video for evaluative purposes and instead recommends its use as a professional learning and development tool. However, there may be instances where administrators, for their professional growth, use video to calibrate their observational practices and ensure alignment and equity with instructional proficiency levels (e.g., inter-rater reliability). Ultimately, the decision regarding the use of classroom video for evaluative purposes rests with the school district's policy.

Does a school administrator have access to classroom recordings?

• Classroom recordings are sent directly to the camera owner’s (typically classroom teacher) Drive - meaning that they are the only person who has access to the recordings they create through the Kloud-12 Dashboard. If your district chooses to utilize the Network Video Recorder (NVR), you will be able to choose which school and district personnel will have access to this footage.

Besides the teacher, who benefits from Kloud-12?

• Kloud-12 offers benefits to everyone involved in the educational process, from students to superintendents. The presence of Kloud-12 Cameras enhances safety and security for both students and teachers.

  Moreover, instructional coaches now have unprecedented opportunities to improve instruction by reviewing "game film" with teachers. Observations can occur authentically and non-intrusively, fostering collaboration among teachers, principals, and instructional coaches. Together, they can collect data and set goals to enhance instruction.

  Kloud-12 video enables teachers to capture and share exceptional teaching moments with their principals, who can then showcase these videos to the school faculty through Best Practice Libraries. Superintendents, curriculum and instructional leaders, and other district administrators can also leverage Kloud-12 to better support schools and help them achieve their school improvement plan goals.

We cannot put one more thing on our teachers. How is this a benefit to teachers and not a burden?

• Understanding the paramount importance of safety for both students and teachers, Kloud-12 ensures a secure learning environment while simplifying professional development. By automating classroom video recording, Kloud-12 aids educational improvement and serves as a safety measure, providing a comprehensive record of classroom activities. This feature supports data-driven decisions for enhancing classroom efficiency and offers a valuable resource for monitoring and addressing safety concerns. Kloud-12 is a holistic solution, combining convenience, efficiency, and safety for educators and students alike.

How is the teacher in control of their camera?

• Teachers have full control over their 360° Kloud-12 classroom camera, allowing them to optimize the camera view to suit their instructional needs. They can easily share their camera with other users and schedule recordings at specific times throughout the day to capture key instructional moments. Once recordings are completed, they are seamlessly and securely delivered directly to the teacher's Drive without any manual intervention. Only the teachers have access to their Kloud-12 recordings, unless they choose to share them with others.

What are the most powerful uses and benefits of Kloud-12 for teachers?

• Kloud-12 offers numerous benefits to teachers, enhancing their classroom experience in various ways. The seamless ability to create recordings without the hassle of manual starting, stopping, and saving allows teachers to capture their day uninterrupted. Classroom video enables teachers to engage in self-reflection on their lessons, collaborate with colleagues, build video libraries, and more.

  Additionally, teachers can invite other users "into" their classroom via a shared real-time video stream, facilitating non-intrusive, authentic observations beneficial for both themselves and students. This feature proves invaluable for gathering authentic student data.

  Furthermore, Kloud-12 provides teachers with editing capabilities within the software, enabling tasks like cropping videos to different start and stop times and isolating instructional views. Such functionalities empower teachers to tailor recordings to their specific needs.

  Lastly, the presence of Kloud-12 Cameras instills peace of mind for both teacher and student safety, further enhancing the overall classroom environment.

Can teachers schedule recordings outside of traditional school hours (i.e. parent-teacher conferences or one-on-one tutoring)?

• Yes, teachers have the flexibility to schedule their cameras for recording at any point during the day. Many choose to proactively record to safeguard themselves in the event of an incident. For instance, a teacher falsely accused of harming a student outside of regular school hours shared her experience with Kloud-12. She could readily access her recordings, demonstrating the falsehood of the accusation and averting an unnecessary and expensive investigation. This feature underscores how Kloud-12 empowers teachers to protect themselves and maintain a safe environment in their classrooms.

How does this protect my teachers and not intrude upon their classroom autonomy?

• This approach protects teachers and respects their classroom autonomy by placing them in control. With Kloud-12, teachers have the authority to manage their cameras, adjust the classroom view, schedule recordings, and share access with others as they see fit. They have the freedom to decide when to record and share those recordings based on their instructional needs and safety concerns. For instance, a teacher might opt to schedule recurring recordings for certain classes to facilitate reflective practices, or they may choose to record a one-time after-school tutoring session to safeguard themselves in case they are alone with a student. Kloud-12 empowers teachers to make these decisions autonomously, ensuring their comfort and security in the classroom.

How is privacy ensured in the classroom, particularly when parents express concerns about their child being recorded?

• In our experience, school districts typically apply the same usage policy to classroom cameras as they do to surveillance and safety cameras, including those in hallways and on buses. Parents generally cannot opt in or out of security footage. Video can be accessed by any instructional personnel responsible for the student, which may include various school staff members, such as Special Education Case Workers in cases involving an IEP.

How do FERPA guidelines and student privacy concerns impact the use of classroom video?

• FERPA guidelines apply once a video has become part of a student's education record. Districts already have policies in place to handle FERPA compliance.

Can parents log into the system to see a classroom or view a video recording?

• No, neither parents nor students have access to the Kloud-12 system. It is exclusively for use by school system personnel. However, if a recording is created for student or parent use, such as a teacher solving a math problem as homework support, the teacher can isolate their instructional view and share the video through existing district tools for file sharing, such as Google Classroom or their Learning Management System (LMS).

Will this impact our District Google Drive storage?

• Our Google Drive Storage quota management system alleviates this concern. We also have optional local and cloud storage solutions available to districts if they wish to minimize the amount of video stored in their District Google Drive.

Can our network handle the traffic?

• Certainly, with modern data networks capable of managing traffic efficiently, a significant portion of data traffic has transitioned to wireless networks, leaving ample capacity for traditional wired switched network equipment.

Are the cameras accessible from off-campus?

• The Kloud-12 system operates exclusively within the local network, accessible solely through the school or district intranet network. Users have accounts created on the Kloud-12 server within their respective building or district and are provided with a specific login address to access their dashboard. Access to Kloud-12 is restricted to the school or district network, making it inaccessible from home or via the Internet. Furthermore, as the system is designed to remain localized to the school building or district, Kloud-12 users cannot share access to their cameras with individuals outside of their school or district. The cameras are not accessible via the Internet.

Do you have additional questions?

We're delighted to assist you with more information about Kloud-12 camera deployments in your school or district! Feel free to reach out to us at support@kloud-12.com, and we'll ensure you're connected with the right team—whether it's Technical Operations, Customer Success, or Business Development.