A Basic Look at Recording Instruction in the Classroom

As we have progressed through the pandemic, we have learned many new skills - including using online conferencing tools and equipment to help facilitate teaching from home. Now that we are back in the face-to-face environment, it is possible to use all the online tools that have been used at home in the physical classroom to create recordings of our live face-to-face classrooms. The need for this is vast, from meeting students’ needs for accommodation, reviewing the lecture a second time, or just as a helpful tool to revisit your own lectures. Below, you will find a basic overview of how you can start recording instruction while you’re in the classroom. 

Bring the Right Tools to the Classroom 

Begin by asking yourself what equipment do you need to succeed in recording your classroom lecture, while still being able to produce the content for your students in a face-to-face course. Keep in mind different disciplines may have different equipment requirements, so this list just touches on the fundamental requirements and adds on some optional ones. 

Required Materials 

• Computer - this can be the in-class desktop or your personal laptop 

• Microphone - this can build into the computer, hovercam, or external webcam 

Optional Materials 

• Webcam - if video is desired

  • This can be a built-in laptop webcam or an external webcam. Not everyone likes to have their face on the recording, so this is not a requirement 

  • This can also serve as a microphone by itself, even if video is not used, most classrooms do not have a built-in microphone so it may still be good to have 

• Tablet / Drawing Tablet 

  • Many Math and Chemistry teachers prefer to use this so they can write their problems on the digital whiteboard with ease 

  • If you must write on the whiteboard in class, we recommend using a digital whiteboard instead while in your conferencing tool. There is not a good way to capture the content on the physical whiteboard in most classrooms. 

• Projector 

  • If content does not need to be presented to the face-to-face classroom this is not a requirement. 

If you need equipment, talk to the Library and Learning Commons as they offer equipment checkout. You can find them at https://guides.fscj.edu/ 

So How Exactly Do I Record in the Classroom? 

The recording process will work like an online session, teaching from the computer, but instead we are just adding in the face-to-face environment as well. Follow these steps on the computer while in the classroom to set up your recording while in class. 

1. Navigate to your Canvas Course 

2. Navigate to, create, and start your BigBlueButton or WebEx session 

   1. BigBlueButton Support Page 

   2. Everything WebEx Course 

3. Load your lecture content into the session 

   1. How to upload content in BigBlueButton 

   2. How to upload content in WebEx 

4. Press Record 

   1. How to record in BigBlueButton 

   2. How to record in WebEx 

Please note: If content needs to be presented to the class in tandem, this is when you need to have a projector in your classroom. You will still do the above steps, the only extra step you will be taking is that you will be projecting the screen that you are recording. If you have a laptop, make sure that you have the HDMI cable connected to your laptop. 

Watch the Training Video for Recording in the Classroom! 

We have recently recorded a video reviewing the methods mentioned above with more detailed strategies and tips to be successful to record in the classroom.