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Lecture Recording Policy

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Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) This policy sets out how Western Sydney University encourages and guides the use of lecture recording and publication of content for the benefit of students.

(2) The University recognises that course content should be available in formats that will enable students to readily access the information provided. Lectures are recorded in Lectures Online and made available to students enrolled in the unit.

(3) Universal lecture capture is an essential part of the blended learning model of course delivery. It adds flexibility for all students and enhances access and inclusion for students with disabilities.

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Section 2 - Definitions

(4) For the purposes of this policy the following definitions apply:

  1. Lectures Online - an automated recording system that digitally captures face-to-face lectures for web delivery in vUWS.
  2. Lecture capture - the process of recording lectures.
  3. vUWS site - the online e-learning site for each unit provided within the University's Learning Management System to support students in their learning.
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Section 3 - Policy Statement

(5) It is standard practice that lectures delivered in classrooms with the relevant technology are automatically recorded and made available on the vUWS site for the respective unit. Audio recordings are made for all lectures, and for some, lectures will be accompanied by a video recording of the speaking lecturer. This includes lectures given by guest lecturers, visiting speakers or anyone else who is invited by the lecturer to speak during a lecture.

(6) Only in exceptional circumstances may lecturing staff request not to have the lecture that they are delivering recorded. (Examples of valid reasons are provided in the Lecture Capture User Guide). Approval is required from the Deputy Dean if the lecturer wishes to opt-out of recording for more than three lectures in a teaching session. Alternative support should be provided for students if recordings are not available.

(7) The University will make every effort to ensure that staff and students are aware that a class is being recorded, by displaying notices in lecture theatres and by issuing general notifications in Learning Guides and elsewhere.

(8) Due to the automated nature of the recording system, recordings are not monitored or edited. The Unit Coordinator and lecturer are responsible for ensuring that all material recorded during a lecture conforms to copyright guidelines. For additional information, see the Lecture Capture User Guide and the Copyright Policy.

(9) The University has in place a mechanism to enable staff and presenters to stop the automatic uploading of a recording to the vUWS site if there is an unforeseen problem in class. Unforseen problems that might occur are inadvertent divulgence of personal information in class, use of materials that would breach a commercial confidence, or an unanticipated event which it would be inappropriate to have recorded and may contravene University policy.

(10) All lecture material provided on the vUWS site must comply with vUWS content accessibility guidelines.

(11) Recordings published on vUWS are copyright, and only students enrolled in the unit, or authorised for other purposes, may download and use those recordings for their personal study. Students are not permitted to share or otherwise make recordings available for downloading or use by others.

(12) Recordings will be stored by ITS for a period of 12 months from the date of creation. Following the 12 months recordings will be deleted and it is the lecturer's responsibility to ensure that a copy of the recording is kept in the School prior to deletion.

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Section 4 - Procedures

(13) Procedures are contained in the Lecture Capture User Guide: Strategies for Engaging Your Students.

(14) Where, in exceptional circumstances, a lecturer wishes to opt-out from having a lecture recorded, he or she must submit an opt-out request form. The lecturer must obtain approval from the Deputy Dean in advance of the lecture to opt-out for more than three lectures in a teaching session. The Lecture Capture User Guide has examples of acceptable reasons for opting out, including the following:

  1. it's a repeat lecture, or a seminar/quiz/tutorial that should not be recorded;
  2. where personal capture is already being used by the lecturer at their desk for this lecture;
  3. the lecture contains culturally sensitive material or material that the presenter does not wish to be recorded.

(15) If unforeseen events occur during a lecture, staff should pause the recording. If there is an accepted reason for not wanting the recording to be made available in vUWS, staff can make arrangements to remove the link from their vUWS site.

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Section 5 - Guidelines

(16) A staged approach to implementation of automatic lecture recording is being taken in recognition of operational issues and an Implementation Plan is available as associated information to this policy.

(17) The Lecture Capture User Guide: Strategies for Engaging Your Students is available as associated information to this policy. The User Guide provides instructions on how to pause the recording or stop the automated uploading to vUWS, examples of reasons why a lecturer may request not to have a lecture recorded, and other information about the Lectures Online system.

Other relevant policies

(18) Suggested sites relating to content accessibility: