Videotaping for the EdTPA
For many candidates the edTPA video clip is the most nerve-wracking piece, because it feels like a performance. It is not. Scorers are looking for authentic teaching and real student engagement, not a polished production. A little planning removes almost all of the stress.
Handle permissions first
Before anything else, secure the video release forms your program and district require for every student who may appear on camera, and confirm the current guidelines on the official edTPA site. Sort this out early; nothing derails a filming day faster than a missing permission slip. Plan seating so any student without consent is out of frame.
Prioritize audio over video quality
Scorers must hear both you and your students. Position the camera where it picks up student voices, not just yours, and do a 60-second test recording in the room beforehand to check sound. Clear audio matters far more than a crisp image.
Frame for engagement, not just the teacher
Place the camera so it captures the interaction between you and your students, the discussion, the questioning, the moments students do the thinking. A wide enough angle to show student participation tells your story better than a tight shot of you at the board.
- Do a short practice recording so students get used to the camera.
- Check the framing and sound, then leave it; do not fuss mid-lesson.
- Teach the lesson you planned, not a special "video day" version.
Keep it real: an ordinary lesson with genuine student talk scores better than a staged one. Your job is to teach well and let the camera catch it.
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How do you record a good edTPA video?
Secure permission forms early, position the camera so it captures clear audio from both you and your students, frame wide enough to show student engagement, and teach an authentic lesson rather than a staged one.
What do edTPA scorers look for in the video?
Authentic teaching and real student engagement: how you question, respond, and support learning, and how students participate. Production quality matters far less than clear audio and genuine interaction.
What if a student does not have a video release for the edTPA?
Arrange seating so any student without consent is outside the camera frame. Confirm your program's and district's specific release requirements before filming day.
