Recording Lectures?

earwax_man

Hey guys,
I'm just in first year and I'm planning my general things for study and learning. I've heard of people using dictaphones to record lectures. I want to do quite well in engineering, so I was wondering if this is common practise? I'm planning on taking notes, and recording the lecture for reference in case I need to review something I don't fully get.

Also, I've seen that there is a podcast subdomain of the trinity website; is this for the aforementioned idea above?

godtabh

I did engineering. Detailed notes are the most important. What the lecturer puts on the board is sometimes more important than what he says. Difficult to capture that on a dictaphone

languagenerd

My friend used record some lectures (not engineering, mind) where the lecturers spoke fast and it was difficult to take everything down.

Make sure to ask the lecturer first if they mind you recording it. Also, you'll probably have to sit in the front row if you want to catch anything audible (we had one lecturer that speaks very quietly and the recordings my friend took were almost entirely useless).

NeuroCat

On a side-note, I believe you can purchase a microphone attachment for iPods, iPhones, and other apple stuff. Makes it very easy to record from what I'm told!

I'll probably be recording most of my lectures this year coming. Most lecturers seem to be fine with it, in fact I've yet to hear any of them raise it as an issue.

FloatingVoter

I'm going into 4th year in Information systems. We recorded a lot of the lectures and distributed them around the class. They come in handy when exams are looming. But the recordings were used as well as (not instead of) notes.
As an above poster stated, clear it with the lecturer and sit near the front.

Buster Keaton

Well the question you should ask is would you like to be recorded as you go about your day at your place of work? I think we both know the answer to that breh....

Michael Collins

NeuroCat wrote: »

... in fact I've yet to hear any of them raise it as an issue.

I'd say they'd be unlikely to mention it out of the blue, if that is what you mean. By rights you should probably ask before you do it, especially if the recordings are likely to be spread around.

taxus_baccata

I think recording lectures might be illegal.

Either way it is polite to ask the lecturer first.

Nuts!

taxus_baccata wrote: »

I think recording lectures might be illegal.

Either way it is polite to ask the lecturer first.

I think recording anybody without their consent is morally questionable. Not sure about the legality of it.

That said, there are several iPhone apps that work well for recording lectures. I've never had an issue with sound quality provided you're close enough to the front.

Lawliet

taxus_baccata wrote: »

I think recording lectures might be illegal.

No its not, though students are suppose to ask permission and technically should sign a Code of Practice that states that the recordings made are for their own personal use and will not be shared. I don't know if anyone actually bothers with the latter though.

blubloblu

I had a lecturer make it clear in his first lecture that you must ask him if you're recording a lecture.

Fair enough, they sometimes add in jokes or off the cuff comments that could get them in trouble out of context.

NeuroCat

Michael Collins wrote: »

I'd say they'd be unlikely to mention it out of the blue, if that is what you mean. By rights you should probably ask before you do it, especially if the recordings are likely to be spread around.

Well now, I know there quite a few lecturers I've had over the years who would be anything but shy when it comes to calling someone out on something they don't agree with. I wont be naming any names but I'm sure the science people know who I'm referring to.

I remember one of them was quite excited that students wanted to record his lectures last year. As always, it's polite to ask, but I have never heard of any lecturers objecting to it.