Audio recording of lectures
An accommodation to record the audio of lectures helps a student access the same information as any other student in your class. For example, a student may not be able to hear you clearly, may lose focus, or need to supplement their notes.
The audio recording is an extension of the student in the same way as handwritten notes. The accommodation would not be in place if not for barriers in the environment or the functional impacts of the student's condition.
The student may leave an unobtrusive recording device, like a phone, at the front of the class during your lecture, or they may keep the device with them at their seat.
Your rights and responsibilities
You do not need to produce or provide the audio recording, although you are welcome to do so. This accommodation may be unnecessary if you provide recordings to all students.
Do not interfere with the student's recording if it does not disrupt your class. The only exception is for personal discussions and self-disclosure by students, for which you may prohibit recording. However, as the audio recording must be treated the same as handwritten notes, you must prohibit all forms of recording by all students, including typing and handwriting.
As an alternative to prohibiting all recording, you may provide the student with a copy of notes immediately after class. The notes:
- should be prepared by a designated note-taker
- should refer only to principles, theories and techniques demonstrated in the discussion
- should not include personal details that were shared
The recording does not violate your intellectual property rights. Please refer to the UVic Libraries page about audio recordings or contact the UVic Copyright Office if you have questions.
You may notify the class that audio is being recorded, but you must not identify the recording student unless they have already explicitly disclosed to the class that they are recording.
The student’s rights and responsibilities
The student must only use the recordings for their own review. The student could be subject to academic misconduct charges if they share the recordings.
The student must provide their own recording device. They can ask their Centre for Accessible Learning advisor for assistance if they do not have a device.
The student does not need consent from other students. Please contact the UVic Privacy and Access to Information Office if you have questions.
The student does not need to destroy their recordings.
How to help
- Record your lectures with Echo360 and share them with your class
- Repeat questions and comments from the class so they are picked up clearly by the recording device
- Face the class when speaking so you voice isn't muffled by the wall