Under what circumstances would a professor be offended at students taping or recording his or her lecture?

Question

Are there any policies on taping or recording or even streaming a professor's lecture?

What do professors think about students who do this?

Obviously, most circumstances the professor would never find out, but there was this one instance when a professor got really angry because a student was recording him without his permission.

I don't understand why he would be offended, most likely the student is only using it for review and not commercial purposes as the nature of the class is quite obscure, could anyone shed a light?

Answer 1

I do not believe it had anything to do with the act of being recorded by itself. Most universities are beginning a process of recording lectures for later consumption by the students anyway.

Instead in this case it is likely because the professor was unaware they were being recorded. They may do or say something that they regret or which gets them into trouble. If however they knew beforehand that they were being recorded it would be unlikely that they would do that since they know the repercussions would be more severe. I think it was an instinctive reaction to protect themselves from others using the recording against them.

Answer 2

I can think of some reasons why a teacher would get angry when a student videotapes the lecture without his or her permission:

• Doesn't want a public, permanent record of his/her errors
• Believes that his/her lecture is his/her intellectual property and considers the videotaping without consent as a form of theft

Answer 3

Leaving aside the points already made (that it's exceptionally rude to do so without consent, etc.), I'll just (approximately) state the policy of my institution: anyone speaking or otherwise appearing on a recording made on university property has copyright to their "performance" in that recording. Thus if a lecture or seminar is being recorded, before it can be re-broadcast, every voice and face that appears must explicitly consent.

The usual context is the lecturer recording must either get an explicit release from every student or edit out the appearance of any student from the recording. However, the converse also holds: if a student records the lecture, they need to get the consent of the lecturer (and also all students that might appear on the recording).

There are no cases where I would worry about a student recording me. There are plenty of cases where I would worry that a student recording a session would inhibit or discourage the participation of other students. This is especially true if the other students found out about the recording without having been told in advance and explicitly asked if they're happy about it.

Answer 4

Some people might have a protected identity. Publicly making pictures and movies without consent can endanger lives.

Answer 5

Speaking as a professor, given the capabilities of today's gadgets I'd say get used to it. I teach programming, and note-taking has recently turned into the entire class raising their phones and taking a picture of the screen. I step out of the way so they all get a clear view. Given the topic I really can't object - it's a technology-based course and as with all programming it's very precise - one missing comma produces a lot of frustration.

If I speak as a student, I would also say to the professor get used to it. I paid (a lot) for the lecture, I will have a copy I can refer to later. It's not like hiding the camera is at all difficult. The more noise made about it, the more likely it will end up on YouTube. Any in-class rants on the topic will definitely make prime time.

Answer 6

I've been on both sides of this issue. I've been in classes where recording was encouraged and also seen syllabuses where it was expressly disallowed. The justification for the disallowing was 'intellectual property' and the distractions that recording setups might create.

As a professor I've never had an issue with it. But I liked being asked instead of being surprised. I am not camera shy but I don't like the idea I have to 'perform' well on camera. Sort of adds a layer of anxiety to the teaching experience.

Good point above on the re-broadcasting issue. I'd hate for some bonehead mistake to end up on Youtube and ruin my career. And I don't like the idea that people could take turns going to class and share the videos instead. That's why I do daily quizzes without makeup opportunities.

Answer 7

I am surprised this hasn't been mentioned before, but (at least in Germany) this is first and foremost a personal rights issue. Recording someone without his knowledge and explicit consensus is a violation of their rights and people react very strongly because it is a sensitive topic. Finding out in retrospect that you were recorded doing something, of questionable nature or not, is rarely something people rejoice over. (If you've ever been to an alcohol-heavy college party, you probably know.) Generally, people like to be in control over what is documented about them.

Most lecturers I've had over the (ongoing) course of my bachelor studies made it clear that they were ok with e.g. photos of the blackboard but not with video or sound recordings. But without such clear regulations, basic decency dictates to ask.

Answer 8

In my mind, i think there are different aspects.

The purpose of the recording is one of the main aspects => for personal use only, for the students of this university, for public publishing, etc

The context of the event recorded is another important aspect. If it's a public meeting, it may be difficult to any party to restrict the recording. If it's private, it's another story, even if the lecturer is a public personality i think. In some context, you only can be present because you implicitly agreed on some specific rules linked to the event. If it's secret, it's another another story, ... etc

In a university course for example, do not forget that what your record is owned by the university.

This is not exactly public stuff, so you really should tell and ask the professor if he does agree to be recorded, and also, who will use the record later. The same should be done for everyone present that could be identified on the record.

I think that everything but "personal use only" may even need any kind of written agreement between all the parties (the recorder, the professor, the university, and even the students that could be identified on the record). This agreement may contain some conditions, like "you can publish it only if you hide the face of the professor, or of a students, ... " Some party may also want to keep the possibility to forbid the use of the record afterward.

Anyway, i suppose that if all the parties don't mind, it eventually can stay only a verbal agreement assuming that every party is a witness for the others. But that's pure speculation from my part.

To answer the original question, the reasons for the refusal of one party (not just the lecturer), may be VERY variate (rational or not), and even if it may be frustrating or sounds like an injustice, i am not sure the party even has to tell you why if he don't want. It is his right to refuse and you have to respect his right.

Answer 9

In this particular case, I would think the professor didn't feel respected and therefore became angry. He didn't even get the chance to acknowledge what the student is doing, and also the student didn't give himself the chance to quickly explain why he is recording him.

I think a small dialogue before the class would have easily clarified this and even could have had a positive impact on the professor's reaction.

Imagine yourself being taped by the professor during a in-course presentation without being told. If he just said "Hey, I'm recording you for feedback purposes" or whatever, it would be a whole nother deal.

Answer 10

At least in the UK it is likely to be illegal to stop a disabled student that is unable to take notes from recording a lecture.

Answer 11

I have "solved" this by recording my lectures myself and making the recordings available to students. That addresses the requirement of U.S. law that a performance "fixed in a tangible medium" and so protects my own copyright in the lecture. Students are put on notice every class that the session is being recorded. They're told at the beginning of the term that I am being recorded and they may be recorded. So far, no one has complained.

http://bbrown.kennesaw.edu/papers/podcasting/podcasting_protects_ip.html

Answer 12

A colleague was recorded giving a single lecture at another institution without her permission- the reason given was "we can't afford you next year" - on that occasion she insisted that the recording be destroyed. A student recording a lecture isn't participating fully, much like the person recording a concert, the student is blocked from the experience by the device and action. I put all essential material online for review after a lecture has happened, as I insist on student participation, in the form of discussion / Q&A / replies to direct issues, any record would also record the students- who have not consented formally to being recorded? Finally, this is just plainly rude! Why not ask permission? A lecture is not a rehearsed performance, it will contain fumbles, digressions, new perceptions. You have not bought an experience, you are supposed to be a participant. Put the phone back in your pocket and join in.

Answer 13

There are likely policies on taping or recording lectures, but as with many policies, they will likely vary by institution.

More importantly than that, if you're going to tape or record someone, it's polite to ask their permission first, and if they refuse, to accept that. Even if there's no policy/legal basis for it, nor do they actually need to justify themselves.

Beyond that, the professor may legitimately have concerns beyond just whether or not you intend to sell the recording. Knowing there is a recorder in the room changes how people act. A professor might wish, for example, to have fostered an environment where people are free to make intellectual leaps, push the bounds of their knowledge, make mistakes while discussing a problem etc. in a relatively consequence free environment.

Having a recorder in the room now makes those mistakes permanently recorded, and if you're streaming, it makes it publicly broadcast. It's not unreasonable to presume that will have a dampening impact on those "This might be wrong but..." questions, and the professor may wish to prioritize those over your note-taking convenience.