As every COVID-era instructional modality necessitates entirely virtual and online technological course elements, many faculty and students alike have many questions regarding how to best protect student privacy—especially privacy relating to class video recordings, since SMU faculty will be recording all synchronous class sections this fall. Most simply, online and SMUFlex classes and any activities therein (course recordings, online proctoring, Zoom sessions, etc.) are covered by FERPA protections in the exactly same ways that traditional classes are covered. SMU Canvas offers a password-protected, secure environment which makes it easy for faculty to share all class recordings in a safe, secure digital environment. If you are leveraging non-SMU systems for hosting class recordings or any other media that feature students or their work—please review the information below and consider using Canvas and university-supported course management systems instead. Continue reading FERPA & Class Recordings: What You Need To Know
Tag: FERPA
Student Zoom Expectations: Camera On, Please!
While clear behavioral and classroom expectations have always been routine for traditional face-to-face classes, the swift movement toward adapting routines in virtual and digital classrooms has generated many questions. One particularly important question from faculty has been, “Am I allowed to request that my students enable their cameras during a live Zoom class session?” As it happens—yes, faculty can absolutely request that students adhere to desired virtual online classroom etiquette, though expectations should be clearly articulated in each course’s syllabus. Continue reading Student Zoom Expectations: Camera On, Please!
