Lecture Recording – FAQs

1. Automated recording with Panopto
   “I want to save time and let the system take care of it for me.”

2. Manual recording/DIY
   “I want to record the lecture myself using Panopto or another platform, or use my own device.”

3. No recording

Automation is the default because it is the most convenient for staff. It’s based on the central timetabling system, and all classes labelled as "lectures" (LT) are included (Policy 6.1). However, lecturers have full discretion to opt out of automated recording for any reason (Policy 6.2). For example, you may prefer to record manually, or you may have pedagogic, privacy, or personal reasons not to record.

📢 Important: If you’d like to record manually, or not record at all, you must actively opt out of automation. See further information below. 

Only lectures are set to be recorded automatically for you. If a class is not labelled as a 'lecture' on the timetable, it will not be recorded unless you decide to record it manually. Tutorials, seminars, workshops, and labs, are excluded because they typically involve higher levels of student interaction (Policy 6.7).

The University aims to make lecture recordings available where possible and appropriate (Policy 5.1), but ultimately the lecturer makes the decision about how they wish to approach recording their teaching. If you decide to opt out of all lectures, your decision will be respected (Policy 6.2).  

Note: It is recommended that only lecturers change their recording settings. However, if needed, staff with a Teacher, TA or Course Designer role in the Canvas module can change the recording settings. This arrangement should be discussed in advance with the lecturer. Timestamps show who last edited the settings. 

Use the Panopto Automated Scheduling Tool on Queen’s Online to manage your recording settings. Instructions are available here.

You will need to use the Scheduling Tool at the start of each new semester, but you can opt out or adjust your settings at any time, up to one hour before the lecture start time.

It’s recommended that the teaching team agree on an approach to lecture recording in advance. If preferences differ, each lecturer can set their own preference for their individual lecture(s) using the “Partially Automated” option in the Scheduling Tool.

📢 Important: For team teaching, do not use the other options (Bulk Update / Fully Automated / Not Automated), as these may overwrite your colleagues’ settings.

Recordings begin 5 minutes after the scheduled lecture start time and end 5 minutes before the scheduled finish time. This is to allow the lecturer time to get ready for teaching and to wrap up the class without being recorded. 

For two-hour lectures, the recording will continue through to the next hour unless the lecturer stops or pauses it (i.e. for a comfort break). 

For example:

• A one-hour lecture scheduled 10:00–11:00 will record 10:05–10:55.

• A two-hour lecture scheduled 10:00–12:00 will record 10:05–11:55.

Note: For automated recording to begin, you must be logged in to the teaching room PC, but you do not need to launch Panopto yourself. Automation will begin itself at five past the hour. 

At present, automated recordings capture everything shown on PC screens in the teaching room, including rooms with a single screen or multiple screens. 

⚠️ Before the session begins, do a quick privacy check — close your email and any windows containing sensitive information.

Note: If something is captured unintentionally, you can edit the recording after class. Recordings do not become visible to students on Canvas for 48 hours, giving you time to make any changes first.

Yes. Press F9 to pause and resume again. The indicator light will flash yellow as a sign that recording is paused.

Press F10 to stop completely. This shuts off the automated recording for that lecture. 

There will be signage in teaching rooms to remind you about these shortcut keys. 

Note: In the unlikely event that a recording starts unexpectedly (for example, if you forgot to opt out), simply stop the recording by pressing F10. Afterwards, you can delete the recording in Panopto or Canvas before it becomes visible to students.

Signage is in place in all rooms where automated recording may occur.

There are also recording indicators (lights) in teaching rooms. 

🔴 Red = recording in progress

🟡 Yellow = recording paused

🔵 Blue = error 

Recordings focus mainly on the presenter area, not the students (Policy 5.4). 

If you didn’t manage to pause a recording in time, don’t worry. You can edit the recording afterwards. There is a 48-hour privacy window before it becomes visible to students on Canvas, giving you time to review and make any edits needed (Policy 12.1). 

Recordings are intended for educational use and are not expected to meet professional production standards (Policy 12.3). Editing is normally not required, except in exceptional circumstances (for example, if a student disclosure is made during class). 

Staff are encouraged to make use of the pause functionality (pressing F9 to pause and resume again) as a way to reduce the need for post-class editing. 

Automated recordings are available only to students enrolled in the relevant Canvas course (Policy 7.11).

By default, they are released 48 hours after the lecture, giving you time to review and edit if necessary.

Students can access recordings by opening the Canvas course and selecting Panopto Video in the left-hand navigation menu. This opens the Panopto folder with all recordings for that course.

To make recordings easier for students to find and engage with, we strongly recommended that you also embed the video in the relevant Canvas page.

Recordings are provided as a supplementary learning tool and are for personal study only. They do not replace the requirement to attend lectures (Policy 5.5). 

By default, students cannot download lecture recordings. Recordings are designed to be viewed via Canvas or Panopto’s online player only (Policy 11.5). 

Students must not use, modify, publish, or share recordings without explicit permission. Unauthorised use is a disciplinary offence and may be investigated under the Student Conduct Regulations (Policy 7.13).

Sometimes technology fails. If this happens, you can still record the lecture manually using Panopto. Simply open the desktop recorder by clicking on the Panopto app on the computer desktop. Alternatively, you can use MS Teams or another alternative to record your teaching. 

Technical issues should be reported so they can be resolved. Contact AV support by calling 6499 from the teaching room or emailing avs@qub.ac.uk.

The policy states that the unavailability of a lecture recording will not be accepted as grounds for a student complaint (Policy 13.4) and there is no expectation to re-record the lecture if there was a tech issue in the room.