9/24/2023 0 Comments How to secretly record lecturesWhy Zoom and other live meeting apps may not be the best way to engage and instruct. How can I be sure I’m providing the best solution for my students?ĭon’t worry! Whether you’re new to the online learning space or a verified virtual veteran, this guide to recording lectures will answer those questions and a lot more. What tools are available for recording lectures? Will they be difficult to learn? SARAH ORMANis senior attorney for legal services with the Texas Association of School Boards in Austin, Texas.Even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced most K12 and higher education institutions to switch to fully online learning, the virtual education space was growing and thriving.īut for some instructors, there are still questions about how to best record lectures and other instructions to ensure student access and success.įor example, is it better to pre-record lectures or will students better learn in a Zoom or other online meeting environment? When a parent acts unreasonably, document your efforts to resolve the issue. When a student needs a recording device to learn, work with the parents to find an arrangement that addresses student privacy and minimizes disruption to the school environment. Whether a student needs to use a recording device should be determined through the legal procedures that protect students with disabilities. If a student requires a recording device in order to receive educational benefit, federal disability laws may require the district to accommodate the student by making an exception to a general recording ban. However, a policy that restricts anyone on campus from making a recording of any kind is unrealistic and may be impossible to enforce. A policy that prohibits making secret recordings or taking pictures or videos in sensitive locations such as restrooms or locker rooms is defensible. Research the laws in your area to ensure your practices are consistent. Collective bargaining agreements may address whether teachers can be recorded. Some states have adopted statutes that restrict the use of recording devices in school. In addition to FERPA, recording in schools relates to federal and state wiretap laws. ![]() Department of Education, a photo or video that depicts a student participating in school activities that are open to the public, without a specific focus on any one person, should not be considered an education record.īefore taking a position on recording devices in your school system, consider these tips: Taking pictures and videos at school activities such as musical performances and athletic events does not raise the same concerns under FERPA as recordings in the classroom. Of course, no principal in her right mind would try to prevent proud parents from snapping photos at graduation. To avoid releasing student information to unauthorized individuals, districts often choose not to allow recording or photography in the classroom. ![]() Nonetheless, a device may record information that is contained in a student’s education record. Audio or video footage of students recorded by a parent’s or student’s personal device cannot be an education record if the school does not maintain it. The federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, prevents school districts from disclosing personally identifiable information in a student’s “education record,” which the law broadly defines as a record maintained by the school that is “directly related” to a student.įERPA does not allow or prohibit recording devices in schools, but districts must take steps to ensure student privacy when devices are around. Public schools are obligated to protect student privacy. The authority to use a recording device at school is not a simple matter, however. In addition, video technology could provide valuable feedback in evaluating teacher performance. For example, a student who struggles with note taking can use a smart pen to record lectures. Recording devices also have clear educational uses, particularly with students who experience learning challenges. In 2015, Texas became the first state to mandate that schools place cameras in certain special education classrooms upon request. Advocates argue that security cameras in special education classrooms could protect the most vulnerable students from abuse or neglect. The wide availability of new recording technology has many potential benefits. Parents of a nonverbal student sue over a school district policy that prohibits recording on campus, claiming it violates their son’s right to “tell” about his day at school.Įach of these real-life situations demonstrates the challenges presented by the proliferation of recording devices in schools. ![]() A student uses a “spy pen” to secretly record her class reciting the Mexican pledge of allegiance and posts the recording on YouTube. ![]() A MOTHER SENDS her daughter to school with a hidden smartphone, hoping to record evidence of bullying.
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