Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Lectures Online system.
How do I access the recordings?
1. Log into the Canvas page for your course
2. Click on the Lectures Online tab located in the left navigation column
3. From the Lectures Online tab, a new page will open listing all of the recordings for your course
4. To review a classroom lecture, click on the recording you would like to view
Why is there no video of the professor in the recordings?
This is due to legal and technical reasons. Legally, students have a right to some form of privacy in a classroom. However the exact extent of this right has not been fully defined. Since a video recording system might inadvertently record students, we will wait until a right of classroom privacy is better defined before we consider adding cameras to classrooms. Technically, for cameras to record well in a classroom, additional lighting would need to be added, the camera would need the ability to automatically track the professor as she moves around the room and, in some rooms, space would need to be created to house the camera. The addition of video to the lecture capture presentations would also increase the network bandwidth needed to view the recordings and possibly increase the amount of time it takes for students to view them.
Why can’t I hear questions from the audience?
This is due to legal and technical reasons. Legally, students have a right to some form of privacy in a classroom. However the exact extent of this right has not been fully defined. Since an audience recording system might inadvertently record students, we will wait until a right of classroom privacy is better defined before we consider adding audience microphones to classrooms. Technically, the placement of multiple microphones in a room to record the audience requires a sizable quantity of costly gear.
Why is the recording name grayed out and unable to be played?
This is an indication that the instructor has made this recording unavailable. Professors can decide to do this for any number of reasons. Any questions about this should be directed to your instructor.
Why must I watch the recordings online / why can’t I download the lecture capture recordings?
Reasons for restricting downloads are various but frequently include copyright concerns.
My professor teaches past the bell, why is this not recorded?
The Lectures Online system is pre-scheduled to record via the standard definition of UT class times. In addition, a number of academic departments on campus are making a concerted effort to end class at the scheduled time and have instructed us to not allow recordings go past this set time.
I bookmarked the page with all of the Lectures Online recordings. Why do I get an error message – “Whoops, looks like something went wrong” – when I go back to access the recordings?
The recordings are password protected via a sign-off with Canvas. If you do not access the Lectures Online tab directly via Canvas, you will not be able to view the recordings. You cannot access the recordings by bookmarking the playback page.
When will a lecture capture recording become available via Canvas?
Professors can decide to delay access to recordings if they wish. If the recordings are delayed, they will be grayed out on the list of recording.
If your professor does not delay access to recordings, the recording will become available as soon as technically possible (usually 2-3 hours after the end of a class meeting).