Recording—Best Practices
Cancelling Classes
If you must cancel a class session, inform the CAETE studio personnel immediately so that students can be advised as soon as possible.
To arrange for make-up sessions, contact the CAETE studio.
Pre-Recording Classes
If you will be away from campus during your scheduled class time, you can pre-record your lesson. Arrange a studio time with the CAETE studio staff at least one week in advance . Be sure to provide the associated handouts to Student Services in the CAETE Office.
Special Review Sessions
If you conduct special review sessions for on-campus students contact the CAETE studio staff to reserve a room, we can usually televise them for off-campus students as well. If we are unable to broadcast the sessions live, we can make a recording at your request.
Contact the CAETE studio staff as soon as possible to arrange for special sessions.
Numbering Class Sessions and Media
Each class session is assigned a number (e.g., # 1 for the first session, # 2 for the second session, etc.). Media are numbered consecutively.
If a session is cancelled, that media number is given to the following session (e.g., If Session # 5 on Monday is canceled, then the media of the following class on Wednesday becomes # 5).
When referring to a previous class during a lecture, refer to the Session and Media Number rather than the date of the class, since students at remote sites view the media at different times.
Dressing for Success
No special clothing or make-up is necessary. However, tight repetitive patterns can cause image problems for the camera as does bright white or black shirts or blouses or combinations of white and black as this affects the contrast. Just about anything else is fine. Be aware of the placement of the lavaliere microphone as jewelry and fabric folds can affect the audio quality.
Voice Levels
Speak in a normal voice. In the larger classrooms, there is an audio boost so that students seated at the rear of the room will be able to hear you clearly. Pause for emphasis after special points. Avoid monotone effect by varying volume and pace.
Instructor Movement
While most of your presentation can be given from behind the desk/podium, some movement is permitted within the lighted area. If you wish to move about, tell the board operator beforehand and a wide shot will be used so that you can move without the camera having to follow you across the platform.
Session Timeliness
Be sure to start and end each session on time. We are on a tight, fixed schedule. Try to get to the studio five minutes prior to class start time. This gives you an opportunity to get comfortably settled in before class begins. It gives our studio personnel an opportunity to do a microphone check and ensure that everything is ready for your class session.
Two minutes before class end time, you will see the CAETE logo card displayed on your preview monitor. This is the signal that you have two minutes to wrap up the class session. Be sure to end sessions on time as another class is typically scheduled after yours. Take after class discussions with students into the hallway so that staff can properly prepare the studio for the next class.
Interaction with Students
Below are some best practices to use in order to make distance learning students feel that they are an integral part of the class:
- Periodically acknowledge your distance students by speaking to them directly at times and soliciting responses/communication from them via e-mail or threaded discussion groups on the course website, CULearn, or eCollege. You might refer to them during the class lectures, perhaps sharing some of their input with the in-class students. One suggestion is to have the distance students submit a short (four-sentence) bio that you could share with the in-class students as a means of introduction.
- Solicit the participation of the distance students. Encourage their questions for discussion in the next class period.
- When you get questions from your in-class students, repeat or rephrase the question prior to responding to ensure that all students have heard the question.
- To preclude extraneous noise from being recorded, keep your classroom door closed.
- In addition to making eye contact with the in-class students, remember to make eye contact with your distance students as well by looking directly at the mid-room or rear camera. Treat that camera as another student in the classroom—it represents all your distance learning students.
- Write legibly on the tablet using large letters and numbers.
- Share how you and your TA can be contacted (office hours, phone numbers, e-mail address, etc.)
- Keep distance learning students informed about deadlines. Remind them of the delay (one week typically—sometimes longer for international or hard-to-reach areas) for media delivery.
