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Accessible Learning

Audio recording of lectures

An accommodation to record the audio of lectures helps a student access the same information as any other student in your class. For example, a student may have a hearing impairment and not able to hear you clearly, or a student with ADHD may lose focus and need to supplement their notes.

The audio recording is an extension of the student in the same way as handwritten notes. The accommodation would not be in place if not for barriers in the environment or the functional impacts of the student’s condition.

The student may leave an unobtrusive recording device, like a phone or digital recorder, at the front of the class during your lecture, or they may keep the device with them at their seat.

Student responsibilities

Do not disrupt class with your recording. Possible disruptions include noises from your recording device and interrupting the instructor.

Use the recordings solely for your own review. You could be subject to academic misconduct charges if you share the recordings.

Provide your own recording device. You may contact your accessibility advisor for assistance with grants, loans and technology programs if you do not have a device.

You do not need consent from other students or the instructor. Please contact the UVic Privacy and Access to Information Office if you have questions.

You do not need to destroy the recordings.

This accommodation does not provide permission to use generative AI or other technologies. Follow course policies on the use of generative AI and related technologies for recording lectures.

Instructor responsibilities

You do not need to produce or provide the audio recording, although you are welcome to do so. This accommodation may be unnecessary if you provide recordings to all students.

Do not interfere with the student’s recording. The only exception applies to personal discussions and self-disclosure by students, for which you may prohibit recording.

In such case, because the audio recording must be treated the same as handwritten notes, you must prohibit all forms of recording by all students, including typing and handwriting. As an alternative to prohibiting all recording, you could consider providing the student with a copy of notes that summarize any non-private information relevant to course content, assignments, or assessments, either directly or through a designated note-taker.

The recording does not violate your intellectual property rights. Please refer to the UVic Libraries page about audio recordings or contact the UVic Copyright Office if you have questions.

You may notify the class that audio is being recorded, but you must not identify the recording student unless they have already explicitly disclosed to the class that they are recording.

How to help

Many students benefit from incorporating accessible pedagogical approaches during lectures. Consider the following:

  • record your lectures with Echo360 and share them with your class
  • repeat questions and comments from the class so they are picked up clearly by the recording device
  • face the class when speaking so you voice isn’t muffled by the wall
  • provide all students with a copy of instructor notes after class