Recording lessons is beneficial for both students and teachers, as it makes the information more accessible and easier to assimilate. Once you have recorded a lesson with a recording device or computer, you can review the material in your own time and at your own pace. If you are a teacher teaching an online course, you can download a program that makes recording lessons a simple task.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use a recording device
Step 1. Choose a device with hundreds of hours of recording time
This measure is especially appropriate for students in classes that last a year or for people taking classes that include many lessons. Some digital voice recorders can store more than 1000 hours of continuous audio.
- Even if you have a recorder with a lot of storage space, you should get in the habit of transferring files to your computer right away. It is easier to listen to the recordings again on the computer. In addition, you will avoid accidentally deleting a file that you have not transferred.
- You can delete a file once you've sent it to your computer, which will give you more space to record future lessons.
Step 2. Choose a recording device that has a USB memory stick
This will allow you to record lessons and immediately transfer them to the computer when the class is over. Most recording devices today come with a USB connector.
- The prices of these devices vary widely. You can get a basic recording device with a USB connector for about $ 30, or you can pay up to $ 400 for a device with better sound quality and more space to store audio.
- If you're only recording lessons, go for a cheaper option. The sound quality is good and you will have enough space to record at least a few valuable hours of lessons.
Step 3. Record with a smartphone to save money
All smartphones have recording devices and give you the ability to email the file yourself. If you're on a budget and can't afford a recording device, use the phone. You don't need to download a separate recording app, because the one that came with your phone is good enough to get the job done.
Your phone won't have as much space as a traditional recording device to store audio files, so keep sending yourself emails with the files when you've recorded them. You can have a few hours of recordings on the phone; however, since conferences take up a lot of memory, having a lot of large files can slow down the device
Step 4. Test the sound quality of the recording device
Record your voice at different distances from the device to see how far it should be from the teacher. Listen for other noises the device picks up to see if they might interfere with the recording.
- Part of sound testing is making sure the device is not too close to the speaker. Audio can become distorted and unusable if the recording device is sensitive.
- Do a sound check in the classroom where the lesson is taking place. This measure allows you to keep track of the sounds in the specific room that may interfere with the recording.
- If possible, do a sound check with the teacher to find out where to place the recorder. If you are going to do it, tell the teacher in advance.
Step 5. Sit as close to the speaker as possible
As good as recording devices have become over the years, it is still important to have the recorder next to the speaker. If he's speaking in front of a desk or podium, see if you can put him there. This measure reduces the chance that other noises in the classroom will spoil the audio.
- You don't have to sit up front in the classroom if the tape recorder is next to the speaker. As long as you record, you will have the entire class without having to adjust anything during it.
- If you can't put the recorder next to the speaker, sit as close to the person as possible and place the recording device in front of you.
Step 6. Record the lesson in its entirety
If you are sitting next to the recording device, you can adjust it throughout the lesson to get the best possible sound quality. If the device is next to the teacher, you will have to make sure it works in advance, as trying to fix it in the middle of the class can be disruptive. The goal is to get the most out of these lessons.
If you want to divide the recording into two or more files, stop the first recording and immediately start a new one so that you don't miss anything. Dividing the lesson will make it easier for you to email the file or download it to your computer
Method 2 of 3: Record the lesson with a computer
Step 1. Connect the laptop to a power source
If a computer runs out of power, chances are it won't save work that was done on the spot. Many conference rooms have outlets in the student seats. If this is not the case, arrive to class early so that you can choose a seat that is close to an outlet.
Make sure that the seat you choose allows you to get a good look at the teacher and to hear what he is saying
Step 2. Record the lesson with your computer's recording program
If you have an Apple computer, you can download a recording system called Audacity. If you have a PC, look for the Sound Recorder program in the Start menu.
- Using a program like Audacity allows you to shorten the raw lecture file, which is the entire recording of the lesson before doing any editing. A teacher can take a break or go off on a tangent, which means that not every second of the lesson is important.
- You can delete pauses, periphrases, and other unimportant parts of the lesson by highlighting the segment of the recording you want to delete in Audacity and clicking "Delete." The smaller the final file, the easier it will be to download and the less time it will take to listen to it again.
Step 3. Mute the computer's audio output to eliminate other noise
This measurement is essential if you have multiple tabs open, as these can start playing videos or advertisements that can cover the sound of the lesson.
The easiest way to make sure your recording works well is to have as few tabs open as possible. This will prevent your computer from slowing down or crashing unexpectedly
Method 3 of 3: Film the lesson as a teacher
Step 1. Plan lesson and slide content in advance
Teachers who want to record their lessons and make them available to students should prepare slides that reinforce their points, not repeat them. Plan what you are going to say before class starts to make things easier for you.
- If the slides have the same information as the lesson, students will be less likely to see the entire recording.
- This is a splendid resource for teachers teaching online classes, as it allows students to listen directly to them and not just read a bunch of slides.
Step 2. Download a lesson capture program on a Mac or PC
There are many different apps that record lessons, which you can find by doing a quick Google search. Some of the simpler apps are free, while the more advanced ones offer a free trial and then charge a monthly fee.
- Some examples of lesson capture applications are Panopto, Torsh, and Ensemble Video.
- Check with the school to see if they can cover the cost of the application or reimburse you.
- If you plan to use a tablet or smartphone to record any part of the lesson, download the app on your device.
Step 3. Clean up clutter and remove any distractions in the lesson space
Settle into a quiet and clean part of your house or apartment where there is nothing to distract you, such as the noise from the air conditioning or fan. You must make the students focus on you at all times.
Make sure the door is closed, as voices from outside the room can be distracting and damage audio quality
Step 4. Position the computer so that the desk and your face are well lit
Be careful with backlighting and avoid sitting in front of a window. If there is a lot of light behind you, you may end up looking like a shadow in the recording. Put lamps behind the computer that illuminate your face.
- Making eye contact is very important during lessons, so having your face visible and well lit will make you look more attractive and can be understood more easily.
- Try not to go overboard with the lighting. If the lights are too bright or there are too many, your face can look too bright and be a distraction for students.
Step 5. Connect an external microphone for better sound quality
Computers have built-in microphones, but they aren't always reliable for high-quality sound. You can buy a microphone with a USB connector that plugs directly into your computer.
These mics come in a variety of prices, but you can buy a good one online for about $ 30
Step 6. Press the record button and do not turn off the device until the lesson is over
Don't stop recording until the lesson is completely over. If you mess up the recording, just pause it for a few seconds. This measure makes it easier to go back and edit your material when you've finished recording. When you're done, edit all the unwanted parts and upload the lesson to the computer.
The lesson will be uploaded to the video library. Since the file may be very large, be prepared to wait about an hour for it to finish uploading
Step 7. Share the lesson with the students
There are a few ways to do this, but the simplest way is to have the students download a specific learning management system, upload the lesson to the system, and let the students take the lesson from there.
- Other options include uploading the file to Dropbox, uploading it to YouTube, or sharing it on Google Drive.
- If the lesson file is too large, divide it into two or three parts. Be sure to label each part so students see them in order.