do students still use recorders for lectures?

[jasper60103]

I'm just wondering because I suggested it to my entering freshman.
Then I thought, hmmm...do kids still use them?
If so, appreciate any recommendations. Thanks.

[paying3tuitions]

Some use it as an assistance strategy if they have learning disabilities; for example, can't take notes fast enough. If they perceive gaps in their written notes, they can go to that part of the tape and fill in the info. They keep a running number of tape-location in the margin, too, so can find the right place on the lecture for fill-ins.

Some professors have policies against recording devices because they don't want students to send in their machine with a friend and skip the lecture. Students with Documented learning disabilities in note-taking can get a waiver from such a policy, so can bring a recorder -- in addition, not instead of themselves.

[Pizzagirl]

Ah ...memories of going to lectures and seeing all the little tape recorders lined up on the stage! These days, one could use the recorder built into an iPhone to record lectures.

[umcp11]

It's not the norm at my school. I mean, it requires a certain degree of hard work/lack of procrastination that a lot of students don't have.

For example, what's the point of using a recorder? To fill in gaps in your notes. Are you really gonna be studying for a test, though, and going back your recorded lectues? Will you have been that organized to save them all and are you studying in advance enough to even do that? When I have gaps in my notes I tend to pass over them or use wikipedia or some other internet site or a textbook...and if I do the work and turn it in on time I still get an A :P

However I could see how it would be immensely helpful to someone with difficulty writing notes, or somebody who is really organized and into really going the extra mile.

[Pizzagirl]

In my day (20 years ago), we did indeed re-listen to our lectures! But then again, we didn't have the option of wikipedia or internet sites. If we missed writing something down in our notes, well, then, re-listening was the only way to capture it!

[compmom]

For anyone who needs to do this due to a disability, visit the disabilities office at your school, and soon! I realize the original poster may have a different reason for asking about recorders.

There is a lot of new technology too: someone on CC told me about the livescribe pen, that records.

Also, many schools have lectures online now.

[member]

Most students don't even go to class, let alone record lectures. Lectures are quick becoming obsolete, as many students simply learn from the text books. When a 20 or so people of a 400 person into to chemistry class show up, you know something is not right,

[kathiep]

Most students don't go to class? I highly doubt that. Even large colleges don't have more then 100 students in very many classes, and if they do, it's just a few classes freshman and sophomore years. My kids (private colleges) have never had a class with more then 25 students and attendance was if not required, highly noticed.

Back to the recorders though, I think it's more likely that students get the notes e-mailed from the teacher or another student if they can't make the class for an illness. Some teachers even have a transcript available for that reason. But, just to supplement their own notes? I know my kids haven't ever done that.

[pugmadkate]

I didn't do it my first time in college but 20 years later I did do it sometimes. I just told my professors, "I'm pushing 40 and while that's not a disability, I really do need to listen to this twice to get the overall gist of it." Not one of them said "no" and several offered to email me their notes after each class instead.

[FauxNom]

Just a few comments from a professor:

Don't assume the professor always wants to share his/her notes; some profs lecture from an outline or from memory, so the notes might not be detailed enough for student use.

It's always best to ask a fellow student for information on missed classes, or to fill gaps in one's notes. Professors expect students to be in charge of getting caught up, and won't be too excited about a student plopping down in office hours asking "Did I miss anything important?"

Most instructors don't mind being recorded, but a student should always ask if it doesn't explicitly say that in the syllabus.

Some instructors routinely videotape or podcast their class sessions, and they can be accessed online. But don't take that as an invitation to skip class!

[demeter]

I've only seen one student use a recorder in the lecture classes I've taken and that was because her English wasn't that great. There are some laptop programs (OmniOutliner, for example) that allow you to record lectures while taking notes. And some of my professors recorded their own lectures to put online (I actually did listen to those). But depending on the kinds of lectures, it may not be worth it to record them. For example, recording an orgo lecture would be worthless because you wouldn't have the accompanying diagrams.

Granted, live lectures do trump online notes because sometimes professors go into more detail in their lectures than they do in their notes. But for the most part, I think it's more efficient just to compare notes with a classmate.

[percussiondad]

My D has had to get permission to use a digital recorder if needed. She has a registered hearing handicap and communicated this to the college when applying to make sure there would be no problem. She does take copious amounts notes but depending on the size of the lecture hall and noise the lectures can get buried in other sounds. She can get permission to put her digital recorder on the lectern and record. She does not use unless needed but it is always a backup for her. She then downloads it onto her computer and can transcribe what she did not catch. Once getting permission she was told that she will have to erase all lectures at the end of the semester as it could be conceived as a copyright violation. All lectures are the intellectual property of the professor.

[starbright]

Another professor chiming in here:

It's rare to see a tape recorder nowadays. Though in our school there is a strong norm for professors to provide their powerpoint slides and notes on line.

As a sidetrack, I have to say a word about attendance. I don't take if my students come to class. As I see it, it is their learning opportunity, tuition and course grade.

It does no one any favors to have unprepared, unengaged students merely warming seats in the room.

And if my students can do well in my course without attending my lectures, it suggests I'm doing something wrong (I'm obviously not very useful and I should be doing something different with the time we have together).

[TwistedxKiss]

With permission from the professor, I have known a few students that use it. I do occasionally, but I do have a learning disability and it's listed in my accommodations paperwork. But I have known handful of other non-disabled students that do, and if that's something that would help your student I'd highly recommend that they go ahead and ask their professors if they mind. Who cares if it's something students still do? As long as the professor doesn't mind, a student should go ahead and do whatever it takes for them to do well.

[4everamom]

My son has a documented learning disability and has difficulty keeping pace with note-taking while listening to the professor. He met with the disablities office at his college orientation, and they agreed he could use a tape recorder. This especially helps if you want to hear only one sectino of the lecture again. However, he is interested in a digital recorder that allows the lecture to be downloaded onto his computer that transcribes the notes- rather than retyping everything. Thanks for suggesting the Omni Outliner. That would allow his to take notes as best he could and still focus on the lecture.