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The study focused on the Echo360 system Swinburne introduced in 2014. Under the scheme, lectures are automatically recorded unless academics opt out — something few have done, Dr Pechenkina said.Overall, 71 per cent of students said lecture recordings helped them, and 70 per cent wanted more of it. Just 28 per cent of academics wanted more of their classes recorded, with most saying they would prefer lectures were not taped at all.

While lecture-recording provides greater flexibility for students, “it has the potential to do the opposite for lecturers — particularly those whose teaching approach or subject material does not lend itself readily to current models of recording”.The paper says technological developments could spawn new ways of recording, enabling lecturers to tailor their approach to the cameras. But this, of course, could “further decrease student attendance at lectures”.Dr Pechenkina said lecture recording was unlikely to disappear anytime soon. “We need to train academics better in how to use the technology to enhance their teaching.” She said new advances would make recording less restrictive, with cameras able to “move around and capture widely what goes on in the classroom. The capacity is there, or it can be there within a very short period.”

Dr Pechenkina said academics were also using the technology to prerecord and disseminate lectures ahead of time, allowing class time to be focused on group discussion