Skip links

Type and hit enter

Training

AI

Digital Teaching

Digital Skills

Menu
Recent Posts
QUB Riddel Hall
Published in: Guidance

Lecture Recording at Queen’s: What’s Changing?

Author
Published on:

As part of Education Strategy 2030, a new Recording of Teaching Policy has been developed under the Digital Transformation in Education workstream. The policy is designed to improve accessibility, promote flexible learning, and support students in being able to review key teaching content. 

The policy introduces scheduled lecture recording by default in centrally bookable teaching spaces. This page provides further information and outlines the steps which should be taken for Schools to prepare. 

Note: The policy is currently pending final approval by Academic Council. The information on this page remains subject to approval.

🔗 View a high-level summary of the proposed policy (full policy to be shared once approved) 

Strategy 2030 at Queen’s University

Scheduled Lecture Recording

From Semester 1, all lectures taking place in a centrally bookable teaching spaces will be recorded automatically by default using Panopto.

These recordings will be:

  • Fully automated – No setup or manual intervention required
  • Automatically uploaded to the Panopto folder in the relevant Canvas module
  • Hidden from students for 48 hours to allow time for editing (optional)
  • Visible only to enrolled students and staff on that module by default

Note: Other types of live teaching are excluded from scheduled recording, such as tutorials, seminars, workshops and labs. 

Lecture recordings include:

  • Audio
  • Video of the presenter
  • Screen content (e.g. slides)

Even with scheduled lecture recording, it’s possible to pause or stop the recording if needed using keyboard shortcuts.

In teaching spaces, a light will indicate recording status:

  • 🔴 Red = Recording in progress
  • 🟡 Yellow = Paused
  • 🔵 Blue = Error
Example of a lecture recording on Panopto

What Do Staff Need To Do?

No action is required unless you want to opt out. Recordings will start and stop automatically. They are also uploaded automatically to the Panopto folder in Canvas. Simply embed the recording into the relevant Canvas page for ease of access for students. You are not expected to edit recordings unless a legitimate issue arises (e.g. a student disclosure).

If choosing to opt out:

  • Opt out via Queen’s Online
  • Inform students in advance (e.g. via Canvas) that a recording will not be available
  • Consider providing alternative resources to support students where a lecture is not recorded

What Do Schools Need To Do?

Schools play a key role in ensuring a smooth rollout. 

✅Check and Clean Up Timetable Data: All classes labelled as a ‘lecture’ (LT) in the timetabling system will be recorded by default. School support staff must ensure this is correct. All timetable corrections must be submitted via the usual Change Request form on QOL and changed in the QSIS Course Catalog.

✅ Raise Awareness: Schools should make sure relevant teaching staff are aware of the changes and the opt-out mechanism in place. Schools should issue reminders at the start of term and support local discussions where needed.

How To Opt Out?

Staff retain full discretion to opt out where recording is not appropriate. For example, there may be pedagogical or personal reasons not to record. Additionally, staff using non-standard equipment or alternative platforms, such as MS Teams, must opt out.

Opting out takes just a few clicks via Queen’s Online. You can opt out of an entire lecture series or individual lectures. It is recommended to opt out at the start of the semester, but changes can be made up to one hour before the lecture start time. 

Staff with the following QSIS roles for a module can manage opt-out preferences in Queen’s Online:

  • Teacher
  • TA
  • Designer

👉 View this demo of how to opt out on QOL

What Does This Look Like In Practice?

Here’s an example of how scheduled recording works in a typical lecture scenario. 

Dr Wilson delivers a 1-hour lecture on Monday at 10am in the PFC. She has not opted out of recording.

Before the lecture

  • The session is accurately marked as a 'lecture' (LT) in the timetable
  • Panopto schedules the recording automatically

During the lecture

  • Recording begins at 10:05am
  • A red light confirms that recording is in progress
  • At 10:25am, Dr Wilson pauses the recording using the keyboard shortcut and the light turns yellow
  • She resumes recording a few minutes later and the light turns red again
  • Recording stops automatically at 10:55am

After the lecture

  • The video uploads to the relevant Panopto folder in Canvas
  • It remains hidden from students for 48 hours. Dr Wilson decides that review/editing is not required
  • She takes a few moments to embed the video in the appropriate Canvas page so students can locate it easily
  • At 10am on Wednesday, the recording becomes visible to students

FAQs

Yes. If you prefer to manage your own recordings, whether using Panopto, MS Teams, or other tools, you must opt out of the scheduled lecture recording via Queen’s Online. You will then be responsible for starting, stopping, and sharing the recording with students manually.

Opting out is recommended in the following scenarios:

  • You are using an alternative recording platform
  • You are teaching in a non-standard room or using specialist equipment
  • You have pedagogical, legal, or personal reasons not to record a lecture

Yes. Only activities labelled as a 'lecture' (LT) in the central timetable will be recorded by default. Seminars, labs, tutorials, and other live teaching types are not included.

Lecture recordings are based on the central timetable. Please ensure any changes are submitted promptly and that the timetable is updated.

Yes. You can use keyboard shortcuts to pause or stop a recording. Signage in the room will indicate how to do this.

No. The recording of teaching does not require student consent. Lecture recordings that include video will predominantly record the presenter area rather than students. In teaching rooms with audience engagement facilities, students may be recorded if this functionality is enabled by the lecturer via the touch panel. Staff may pause or edit the recording if needed i.e. to exclude a student contribution.

All centrally supported teaching spaces display a recording status light at the front of the room:
🔴 Red = Recording in progress
🟡 Yellow = Paused
🔵 Blue = Error

Any staff member with the appropriate QSIS role can manage opt-out preferences. Staff should coordinate within their teaching team to agree recording settings in advance.

Where to get help?

For discipline-specific queries, we encourage local discussions within Programme Teams or at School level.

In addition, you can contact: 

You may also like