To enhance your learning and attainment and ensure an inclusive learning environment for all, the University is extending its use of teaching room recording software to record more of your taught sessions on campus.
From Semester A 2022, up to 180 teaching rooms will be equipped with audio capture and integrated with the timetable to automatically capture teaching and learning sessions taking place. List of rooms with automatic recording is available here.
Recordings of taught sessions are not intended as a substitute for attending classes but rather to help you to review, revisit and revise important topics or complex ideas and can enhance the accessibility of sessions via features such as subtitles and volume and pace controls. See our tips below for how you can make the most of recordings as part of your studies and for more information about engaging with your studies to help you get the best out of your time at the University of Hertfordshire please see ask.herts.ac.uk/student-engagement-monitoring .
Tier 4 / Student visa student? Please note that Tier 4/Student visa students are required to engage in mandatory attendance checks to ensure that the University remains compliant with Home Office regulations. For more information see: ask.herts.ac.uk/international-student-attendance.
- FAQs
- Make the most of recordings as part of your studies
- Use of recordings: regulations for students
- Privacy and confidentiality issues
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my classes being recorded?
Most universities recognise the value to students of recording lectures and other teaching events. The benefits include the ability to review complex ideas, to revise before an exam and, in some cases, being able to view a ‘flipped lecture’ online before a seminar or tutorial. For certain groups of students with specific learning needs, recordings can be invaluable for understanding and keeping up with their course.
Is the recording a substitute for attending classes?
No, you would be missing out on the essential benefits of engaging with your fellow students and teaching staff. Research shows that students learn in a variety of ways, most importantly from interaction with their peers, and from feedback from lecturers to their questions. In certain cases, where students are unable to attend, a recording might help to indicate what material is being missed but it is not a substitute for attendance and engagement. Again, research has also shown that where attendance has dipped following the introduction of recording, very quickly it picks up again, as students realise the importance of face-to-face interaction.
How do I know if a session is being recorded?
Teaching staff will let you know at the start of the session if it is being recorded. There are also indicator lights on the lectern that change from blue to red when recording and flash yellow when paused. See the posters in the room as a reminder.
If you want to speak but do not wish to be recorded, please raise your ID card so the lecturer can see it.
What if I don’t want to be in the recording?
In most cases, only audio is being recorded so, if you don’t want your contribution to be recorded either inform the lecturer at the start or hold up your ID card when talking. This will signal to the lecturer to pause, or edit out, that section of the recording. If a camera is being used, it will normally point only towards the lecturer but, if you want to be certain, inform the lecturer at the start of the session.
How and where can I access recorded sessions?
Recordings of your taught sessions will normally be available for you to view from your Canvas module site four working days after the teaching session has taken place. This gives the lecturer time to review, and possibly edit, the recording.
Are there any restrictions on my use of the recordings?
Yes, there is a student code of conduct which specifically forbids the external copying, sharing, or uploading of recordings which are for the sole use of the student in studying the module. In addition to any misuse being a case of misconduct, it would also be a breach of copyright and, possibly, other laws. See Use of recordings: regulations for students
Make the most of recordings as part of your studies
See our tips below for how to get the best out of recordings and enhance how you learn and study. Doing this will help you engage better with your lectures/classes; take better notes; and revise for assessments and exams.
Attend and Engage
- Attending all of your classes gives you the best chance to succeed. Knowing that the lecture is being recorded means that you can concentrate less on ‘getting everything down’ and more on listening and engaging with what is being said in the class so that you gain a better understanding of important concepts and knowledge.
- Building your knowledge is a two-way process. You can make the most of your time in the lecture by asking questions of the lecturer and making sure you’ve clarified any misunderstandings or difficult concepts.
- Your peers can also help you to learn more. Your lectures are one of the places where you will be encouraged to discuss and debate topics with other students to enhance your understanding and learning. Make the most of your fellow students and help others develop their understanding too.
Review and Recap
There are occasions where you might want to review a whole lecture from start to finish, for example, if you missed a class due to illness. However, there are some other ways you can use the recording to improve your understanding that might be more useful. Examples include:
- Adding notes to yourself to return to a particular point in the lecture later when doing revision.
- Making connections with other parts of the module, for example, additional reading materials or other classes where the same concepts have been discussed or taught.
- Making connections with other modules in the course where you can see links and overlaps to gain a better understanding of the subject as a whole.
- Noting down things that you are still unsure about and deciding how you are going to get help clarifying them – emailing your tutor, speaking to your classmates, doing some additional research or reading etc.
- Refining and restructuring your notes so that you are more organised for when you are revising for assessments and exams.
- The note-making mind map has some extra ideas to support your live and recorded note-taking.
Revise and Rewind
- Remind yourself of the key concepts and ideas across the whole lecture series by skimming through the contents.
- Alongside your structured notes, revisit those parts of the recordings you’ve highlighted as important, to refresh or fill in any gaps you still have in your knowledge.
- Take regular breaks and rests when playing back recordings and don’t try to cram too much into too little time.
- Intersperse watching or listening to recordings with other types of revision activity and study.
- Reflect on those areas where you still have any unresolved questions and take positive steps to get them answered.
Use of recordings: regulations for students
The recordings are to be used as teaching materials for the sole use of students of the University to support and enhance personal learning. They must not be used for any other purpose either inside or outside the University. Recordings and parts of recordings may not be redistributed, edited or re-used. For example, it is prohibited to add them to a website or social media platform.
Misuse of lecture recordings will be treated as a disciplinary offence and a breach of the Student Code of Conduct.
Personal recordings by students may be made where permission is given; subject to the same conditions above.
Privacy and confidentiality issues
In certain circumstances the lecturer has the discretion to pause the recording or subsequently edit it; for example, if dealing with sensitive material or if students are likely to be included in a recording (for example during a discussion activity) and do not wish to take part.