Class Recording and Streaming
Instructors may want to record and/or stream their in-person lectures to accommodate students who are unable to attend classes in person. This guide summarizes the recording options that are available to instructors.
Recording and streaming options
UBC IT Audio Visual (AV) Services provides three options for recording and streaming lectures. These options are summarized below, and more information, including quick start guides and available support, can be found on the Learning Spaces website.
In-Room Recording Systems
General Teaching Spaces (GTS) have been upgraded to include in-room recording systems for lecture capture and live streaming. The upgrades include an auto-tracking camera, microphone, and recording software.
Find out if your classroom is equipped with recording/streaming capability by referring to the Recording and Streaming in Classrooms page. You must fill out this recording request form to have your recordings preset and pre-scheduled by UBC IT AV Services ahead of time. Requests have to be submitted at least 48 hours before the initial recording and we highly recommend that you submit your request early. Your recordings will then automatically start and stop based on your class time. If live streaming is required, please make sure to indicate it in the request form.
Refer to the Using the In-Room Recording Systems video tutorial for an overview of the set up.
Refer to the Built-in Classroom Recording and Streaming Quick Start Guide or the Temporary Add-on Classroom Recording and Streaming Quick Start Guide, depending on which set-up your classroom is equipped with.
Refer to the GTS Recording Feature Matrix or use the Find a Space search to see the recording capabilities of each classroom.
Drop-in Recording Kits
If you are teaching in a classroom that is not equipped with recording/streaming capacity, drop-in recording kits are available for instructors to use. You must fill out this recording request form to have your recordings preset and pre-scheduled by UBC IT AV Services ahead of time. Requests have to be submitted at least 48 hours before the initial recording and we highly recommend that you submit your request early. Your recordings will then automatically start and stop based on your class time. If live streaming is required, please make sure to indicate it in the request form.
Refer to the Using the Drop-in Recorder Kit video tutorial for an overview of the set up.
Mobile Zoom Carts
If you require unique features offered by Zoom when teaching in the classroom, you can request a mobile Zoom cart equipped with Zoom for recording. You will be able to connect to your Zoom meeting by entering your meeting ID and passcode. If recording is a priority, it is recommended that you use the In-Classroom Recording Systems and/or the Portable Recording Kits option.
Refer to the Using the Mobile Zoom Cart video tutorial and the Mobile Zoom Cart Quick Start Guide for an overview of the set up.
To request a Mobile Zoom Cart, please contact av.helpdesk@ubc.ca. UBC IT AV Services will assess whether this is the best option for you.
If you have any questions about the three recording options listed above or if you would like to schedule a time with a technician to go over the option you choose, please contact UBC IT AV Services at av.helpdesk@ubc.ca.
For a list of frequently asked questions, please refer to the Recording and Streaming FAQ.
DIY Recording using Zoom
If the above three options are unavailable to you, you can use Zoom to record your in-person lecture using your own webcam, audio, and slides. If you need to borrow professional recording equipment, such as a webcam or microphone, DIY Recording Loaner Kits are available by request. Please submit a request to av.helpdesk@ubc.ca to reserve a kit.
Refer to the Record Your In-person Lecture with Zoom guide for an overview of the set up.
Editing class recordings
After your recordings are processed, you may wish to edit them. If you need to cut out certain segments of the video or separate the video into smaller segments, you will need to first download the recorded file.
If you are uploading your videos to Kaltura and you wish to make some basic edits, you can use the Kaltura built-in video editor. Refer to the Editing videos in Kaltura instructions in the Kaltura tool guide.
For videos not uploaded to Kaltura or require more advanced editing options, refer to the Editing Videos in Camtasia guide.
Sharing recordings with students in Canvas
After your lectures are recorded, you will need to make them available to your students. Depending on which recording option you are using, the steps to make the recordings available may differ.
| Recording Option | Sharing Process | Step-by-Step Instructions |
| In-Classroom Recording System | A link to access the recordings for your course will be provided to you. You can publish the link in your Canvas course. Students will click on the link to access the list of recordings for your course.
Anyone who has access to the link will be able to access the recordings. If you want to prevent your recordings from being shared outside of your class, a more secure way to share your recordings would be to download the recording and upload it to Kaltura in Canvas. If you want a copy of the recording file, please contact av.helpdesk@ubc.ca to have the "download" option enabled for you. | Refer to the How do I add an external URL as a module item? instructions to add your recording link to Canvas. If you want to upload the recording file to Kaltura in Canvas, refer to the Upload a pre-recorded video to Kaltura and Publish a video to Canvas instructions in the Kaltura tool guide. |
| Drop-in Recording Kit | A link to access the recordings for your course will be provided to you. You can publish the link in your Canvas course. Students will click on the link to access the list of recordings for your course. Anyone who has access to the link will be able to access the recordings. If you want to prevent your recordings from being shared outside of your class, a more secure way to share your recordings would be to download the recording and upload it to Kaltura in Canvas. If you want a copy of the recording file, please contact av.helpdesk@ubc.ca to have the "download" option enabled for you. | Refer to the How do I add an external URL as a module item? instructions to add your recording link to Canvas. If you want to upload the recording file to Kaltura in Canvas, refer to the Upload a pre-recorded video to Kaltura and Publish a video to Canvas instructions in the Kaltura tool guide. |
| Mobile Zoom Cart | If you are the creator of the Zoom meeting, the Zoom recording will appear in your Zoom account automatically. You can publish the recording in Canvas via the Zoom link. | Refer to the Publishing a recording instructions in the Zoom tool guide. |
| DIY Recording Using Zoom | You can publish cloud recordings in Canvas via the Zoom link. For local recordings, you can download the Zoom files and upload them to Kaltura in Canvas. | Refer to the Publishing a recording instructions in the Zoom tool guide. |
Principles for recording classroom activities
A document on the guiding principles for class recordings, including information on the following will be posted soon. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact Science LT at LT.support@science.ubc.ca.
- Intellectual property, privacy, and consent
- Notification/consent of third parties
- Storage and distribution of class recordings
- Analytics and data from class recordings
- Class recordings by students
Lecture recording preliminary literature review
To understand the effects of lecture recordings added to in-person lectures, which is different from providing content videos as in a “flipped” class, we did a quick review of the recent (pre-pandemic) literature. Please refer to the Lecture recording literature review page.
Support and training
For questions about the recording/streaming options, classroom equipment, and on-site AV support, please contact UBC IT AV Services at av.helpdesk@ubc.ca or call 604-822-7956. You can also schedule an orientation with a technician to walk through the process.
For a list of frequently asked questions, please refer to the Recording and Streaming FAQ.
For questions about sharing your recordings in Canvas or uploading to Kaltura, please contact Science LT at LT.support@science.ubc.ca or visit the LTR drop-in sessions.
Last updated on: July 15, 2024