This lecture is recorded If the light is red, we are recording You can access the recordings via Learn, clicking on Lecture Recordings Some lectures might not be recorded. Your questions will be recorded If you’d prefer not to be recorded, say so and I will pause the recording If a particular lecture will not be recorded, you will be informed in advance and we will tell you why that is. Click the link at the bottom for more information. http://edin.ac/2zItXhy CC By NC SA 2.0, by Simon Fokt Illustration: Press Play by John Vincent, Flickr

Make the most of lecture recordings Students say that lecture recordings help them learn. So far, there is no convincing evidence that access to recordings actually results in better learning or higher grades. The only hard evidence we have is that lecture recordings are useful for: courses that have a multiple choice test at the end non-native speakers in their first year students with learning difficulties So what should you do? NOTE: This slide is there to grab attention – use it to suggest that like any technology, lecture capture can be used better or worse, and that it’s only when it’s used well that it’s beneficial. The linked paper offers a broader overview of best practice in using lecture recordings. Nordmann, E., & McGeorge, P. (2018). Lecture capture in higher education: time to learn from the learners. CC By NC SA 2.0, by Simon Fokt Illustration: Press Play by John Vincent, Flickr

Do’s Don’t’s Attend the live lecture If you couldn’t attend, watch the full recording at normal speed ASAP Take own notes during the lecture or while watching a lecture you missed Revise 2-3 days later, using notes only Identify gaps in your notes and use the recording to fill them Watch only the parts you actually need, at a higher speed if you wish Watch the recording in a group. Pause to discuss or explain when needed Miss lectures and rely on recordings only Rely on recordings instead of taking notes Watch the recording immediately after the lecture Watch the full recording (unless you missed the lecture) Watch multiple times Binge-watch before the exam Watch while doing something else We have really good evidence that three things are highly positively correlated with better learning and grades: Lecture attendance Distributed learning (learning incrementally throughout the semester, not binge-learning before the exam) Taking own notes (notes paraphrasing the content are best, but even verbatim notes are better than no notes) Why is that? Taking notes requires you to actively think about the content of the lecture. This is when the learning happens. Just watching the recording is passive, and thus not very useful regardless how many times you watch. That is also why you should only watch the parts you actually need to fill gaps in your notes – identifying and finding those parts is an active process, and thus makes for better learning. Anything else you can do to make the revising more active, such as watch and discuss recordings in a group, will also be beneficial. Reviewing 2-3 days after is the best way to tap into the way memory consolidation works: that’s when you can most effectively refresh your memories. Reviewing too early or too late is not as useful. And binge-learning before the exam is even less useful, as your initial memories would have already faded. So far, there is no evidence that revising by watching recordings at a higher speed is bad, but we would recommend that at least the first time you watch a recording, you do so at a normal speed. Nordmann, E., & McGeorge, P. (2018). Lecture capture in higher education: time to learn from the learners. CC By NC SA 2.0, by Simon Fokt Illustration: Press Play by John Vincent, Flickr

Two most important Don’t’s Don’t think that attending or watching lectures is the only, or even the main thing you need to do. A lecture is never an A-Z of what you need to know. It is an inspiration, a beginning for your individual enquiry. If you rely on lectures only, live or recorded, you will not do well. Don’t think that having the recording means that you can’t ask me questions. Always ask questions. There is no better way to learn than to ask questions. As the lectures are just a beginning of your inquiry, it is very important that you read the recommended readings very soon after the lecture. If you have a question to ask, ask in class, or immediately after, or just email me soon after the lecture. Nordmann, E., & McGeorge, P. (2018). Lecture capture in higher education: time to learn from the learners. CC By NC SA 2.0, by Simon Fokt Illustration: Press Play by John Vincent, Flickr