Classroom observation is critical in a variety of applications including teacher induction, teacher professional development, and observation research. In-person observation is limited by barriers such as expense, time, travel and obtrusiveness thereby limiting the validity and reliability of observation data.

The IRIS system consists of two primary components: a portable hardware device and a web application.

IRIS Connect enables remote classroom observation from anywhere in the world using a personal computer and web browser.

Features and benefits of IRIS Connect

Remote observation - When invited, observers can remotely pan, tilt and zoom (48x) the IRIS Connect video camera, hear the entire classroom, and "snap" still images using a PC and web browser.

Video recording - Observers can record observations that can be played back later over the Internet (by authorized users). These recordings can be imbedded with commentary, observation notes, and performance feedback.

Data Collection - The IRIS Connect web application provides a variety of customizable data collection tools. These tools allow observers to make audio and video commentary about the observation, to complete observation rubrics and checklists, or to count occurrences of specific events as they watch live or recorded observations. All these data are securely stored on our servers so that authorized users can view the data alongside the recorded observation.

Advanced Microphone solutions - IRIS Connect comes equipped with a high-quality, omni-directional microphone that captures classroom audio. IRIS Connect can also be configured with additional, built-in desktop and/or lapel microphones. IRIS also comes equipped with an external microphone jack for adding additional microphone systems. thereNow will customize and recommend microphone solutions for your specific needs.

Security - Unauthorized access of live and recorded video is prevented with multiple levels of security and encryption. All data transferred by IRIS Connect is encrypted using the 128-key Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), the same encryption used by the U.S. government to protect our government's sensitive data.

AES was the encryption standard adopted by the U.S. government in 2002. In 2003, AES was determined by the National Security Agency (NSA) to be secure enough to be used for classified government information. This is also the standard used across the internet and other networks by banking institutions and retailers to protect financial transactions and sales data. In addition, each time a user attempts to access an IRIS Connect, they must first authenticate their identity with a username and password. After doing this, they are presented with a randomly generated username and password, unique to that observation, that they must also enter. Each new observation session requires users to enter a unique, randomly generated username and password.

Portability - IRIS Connect is easily portable; it is lightweight, small, and has an optional wheeled stand. The wheeled stand allows IRIS to easily see over common classroom objects. IRIS Connect can also be easily wall mounted.

Unobtrusiveness - IRIS Connect is less obtrusive than an in-person observation. IRIS gives no indication as to what specifically is being observed. The result is observational data that is more likely to be valid and reliable.

Feedback & Communication - The IRIS Connect web application provides a variety of different means by which to provide feedback and communicate. Feedback can be provided via audio annotation, video annotation, text notes, customizable observation rubrics and checklists, and behavioral counters and timers. All of these tools are easily customizable for your specific needs. In addition, these data are stored on secure servers for secure, easy access. Communication is enabled with both video and audio conferencing built right into the web application!

Inexpensive - IRIS Connect can be leased per device per year. This will provide you with all of the hardware you need: the IRIS Connect camera "head" and microphone, and the wheeled stand. (Additional configurations are available and may cost more). This will also provide your organization with as many as 150 logins to access the IRIS Connect web application. In addition to enabling observation and feedback that is otherwise virtually impossible, an IRIS Connect can pay for itself through savings of transportation and staff expenses.

Environmentally Sustainable Classroom Observation - Observation is a critical component of effective induction, professional development, and educational research. However, driving or flying around to observe classrooms in person is neither economically nor environmentally sustainable. IRIS Connect enables remote observation that allows observation without the large carbon footprint associated with travel.

Applications of IRIS Connect: IRIS has been designed to be flexible and is effective in a variety of applications including: student observation, lesson capture, teacher pre-service training, teacher induction, teacher inservice, enabling communities of practice, research, evaluation, and more.