Policy on the recording of lectures and other teaching and learning activities
23 Sep 2013
Information for academic staff from Professor Richard Reece, Associate Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students
Over the course of the last few years, the University has been trialling a variety of mechanisms to allow the content of lectures and other group-based teaching and learning activities to be recorded and to be made available to students registered on units associated with such activities.
Lecture capture, sometimes called ‘podcasting', is specifically designed to provide a useful resource for students that can be used to, amongst other things:
- provide a study aid for review and revision
- help accommodate different learning styles
- assist students who have particular educational needs
Following a successful pilot last year, and prior to the start of teaching in September 2013, approximately 60 lecture theatres across the University have been equipped with lecture capture recording equipment.
There is a list of lecture capture-enabled locations. More teaching spaces will be equipped during the course of the academic year. Recordings of teaching and learning activities taking place in these locations will be made unless the member of academic staff running the session indicates that they do not wish for this to occur. Requests to opt-out of the recording system will be honoured without question, or requiring explanation.
Some recordings may still be made if a class contains students with needs identified by the DSO that could be supported by recorded material. Under these circumstances, recording will only be available to those students identified by the DSO.
Possible reasons for opting-out of the lecture capture process may include, but will not be limited to, the following:
- not all teaching styles are suitable for lecture capture, eg: where there is use of whiteboards, chalkboards, etc. or if a high degree of student interactivity is used
- a requirement for academic staff to change their preferred teaching style for the purpose of recording may be detrimental to the student experience, and is not encouraged
- ethical issues, or the use of sensitive material may render the recording of some teaching and learning activities as being inappropriate
Further information
FAQs are available, but if you have any questions about lecture recordings, please email: